I’m Miss Lydia Sawyer, the artistic directer/owner.

I started this journey in January 2015 when I experienced a sudden severe injury dancing. It took 4 years of dancing with only my hands/arms to heal. During this time God gave me the verse Ecc 3:4 “a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance.” He reclaimed in me that just being His daughter was so much more meaningful than being a dancer, even though it was my pride & joy. There is a time for everything under Heaven, no matter how difficult or how good. What He started during my time of something ending felt like the worst thing, but turned into the best thing! He knew what I didn’t. He had plans that were different than my plans. I can finally say that I would choose that injury all over again if I had the chance, not because anything about it was any form of easy, but because the ministry & business teaching dance has brought into my life and others’ has been so worth it. That injury several years ago was when God started “And A Time To Dance.” Gods faithfulness is alive, my friends!

I am a dancer for worship to my savior, a performer, choreographer and teacher! I've been training in dance my whole life, and started teaching in the 8th grade. Dancing is my passion, my personal communication with the Lord. It is truly healing for me, joyful and freeing. I have been trained in most styles, like Ballet, Modern, Jazz, Swing and a little Aerial Silks! I was a member of Juline Regional Youth Ballet Company, performing with them in their pre professional devision. I studied and performed with Modesto Junior College, and won a scholarship for choreography I auditioned in their Humanities Celebration Contest. I am a currently in a professional Christian Ballet company, called Anastasis.

I teach mostly Ballet and creative dance to all age groups and levels, I drill in classical technique with an emphasis in worship dance. I spent two summers away with Youth With A Mission experiencing dance missions and learning dance as prayer and intercession. I love that dance is oriented around personal growth. Dance brings out what we are made of. It feels like art in motion, which feels like being a part of something greater than yourself. To dance for Jesus through missions & ministry, feels like living out my God given purpose and it has begun my life journey to fulfill His desire for me. My hope is that every student I meet feels the love of the Lord, and loved by me not only as a teacher but as a friend and fellow sister in Christ.

To dance feels like I have been given a gift, and well, I have! Thank you for dancing with me!!

Experience:

Company dancer: Anastasis Ballet Company, Dublin CA

Teacher: SONdance Christian Dance School, Manteca CA

Dance missions internship: YWAM, Brussels Belgium

YWAM dance Lakeside, Montana

Modesto Junior College, Modesto CA

Former company dancer: Juline Regional Youth Ballet Company, Modesto CA

Juline School of Dance, Modesto CA

Center For Urban Performance and Service, Turlock CA