Empower
She later attended Tennessee State University, where she danced on a university performing arts scholarship. Upon graduation, she relocated to Chicago where she has danced with the renowned Muntu Dance Theatre under the direction of Amaniyea Payne. She has had the pleasure of performing the works of such notable choreographers as Abdel Salaam, Jeffrey Page, Monique Haley, Ronald K. Brown, and the late Pearl Primus.
Evolve
As churches began to seek out individualized help with their church dance groups, she launched Errin Ministries in 2012 in an effort to continue to train, disciple, and equip other dance ministers. In this effort, she has produced and presented workshops and seminars extensively in order to help dancers build a more effective ministry.
Min. Errin has established two companies, Mojuba! Dance Collective and How Excellent! Dance Ministry, as well as conceived the original production, How I Got Over: A Cultural Journey of Faith. The companies and the production unite ministers, community dancers, and professionals in the study of dance and culture, the transformative powers of movement, and dynamic faith which sustains us.
She has taught at workshops and conferences nationally, including the Ohio Black Dance Festival and the International Association of Blacks in Dance Conference. She serves on the board for Cleveland Dance Movement and has worked with such prominent master teachers as Terence Greene, Michael Metcalf, Babacar N’Diaye, and Baba Chuck Davis.
Meet The Dancers
Gabrielle Shipley Born and raised in the sunny isles of Nassau, The Gabrielle Shipley, discovered her love for dance at a very early age. Throughout her years in the Bahamas, Gabrielle has trained and performed under the tutelage of Dr. Anne Peterson, Dr. Marilyn Deveaux and Dr. Melanie Wilkinson. During the summer seasons she participated in the National Dance School of The Bahamas’ workshops and attended the American Academy of Ballet’s pre-professional masterclasses. In 2012, Gabrielle and her dance partner won 1st place in the E. Clement Bethel National Arts Competition in the Lyrical Duet Division. The following year, Gabrielle had the honor of performing in Istanbul, Turkey as a part of outreach under the Youth with A Mission organization. In 2016, moved to Cleveland, Ohio and commenced her modern dance training through an apprenticeship with Elu Dance Company. During this time, she was trained in Hawkins – based release technique and non – traditional partnering.
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Christian Sims, born and raised in Cleveland Ohio, realized his love for dance at an early age in church through praise dancing. He began technical training at the age of 17. He then became a dance major at Bowling Green State University and served as a prominent member of Elem3nt dance Team and BGSU Dance Alliance. As a former member of the Duffy Litt Dance Ensemble, Christian danced under Terence Greene and the Greene Works Dance Company. He was a principal dancer in The Wiz, at the Karamu House, and performed on many stages throughout the state of Ohio. Most recently, he has danced as a part of Errin Ministries, under the direction of Errin Weaver. Mr. Sims is looking to continue to grow and touch as many people through the art of dance.
During her apprenticeship with Elu Dance Company, Gabrielle was cast in their original work, “Caught”, an evening-length work performed at Cleveland Public Theater’s DanceWorks 2017. Over the past few years, Gabrielle has had the pleasure of performing in various humanitarian – focused works by local choreographers such as Errin Weaver, Anne Howard (of Levity Dance), Akane Little, Katherine Dyke, Erin Pennebaker and Lauren Holler. She has performed for consecutive years at local events such as Parade the Circle and Station Hope. Gabrielle most recently performed in works for Cleveland Dance Project’s Showcase and Terre Dance Collective’s, “Layers”. She is grateful for every opportunity that has presented itself through gracious teachers and choreographers. She looks forward to continued learning as she believes that dance is a boundless art form that she has not even began to scratch the surface of.