Celebrating Black History Month and BEYOND....

An Interview with,

Apostle Darrell Moore Sr.

        Apostle Darrell Moore Sr.

In an earlier edition of my blog, 'Picture This', I correlated the gift of dancing and photography, as some unusual tools the Lord uses to preach His gospel.  The dancer highlighted in my blog was, Apostle Darrell Moore, a very earnest and talented man of God.
In my interview with Darrell, I learned he started dancing at the young age of five years old. From such a young age, the Lord has had his hand on him directing his life through the list of achievments he acclaims today: Apostle, Pastor, Preacher, Teacher, Dancer and Mentor, that's not to mention husband and father.
Darrell is now pastoring with his wife, Cheryl at, Whole Armour of God International Church, in Sanford, Florida. Together they have been pastoring for four years and making an impact in their community and surrounding areas reaching here to Titusville, where I live.
Throughout his years of dancing he has acquired many affiliates around Florida that are instrumental in furthering his vision for school aged children.
In his past, Darrell dedicated his youth to dance, now he gladly dedicates his life to helping the youths of our communities.

The Young Darrell
I mentioned Darrell started dancing at age five. His father didn't consider dancing as a good source of income, but Darrell kept at it and danced in groups with anyone who loved dancing as much as he. When he turned eighteen and began dancing professionally, his father allowed him attend, Ballet Western Reserve, in Youngstown, Ohio, under the artistic director, Anita Lin.  In one week Darrell progressed from beginner to advance to everyone's amazement.
Darrell said, "I knew all the dance steps, I just didn't know the terminology.
Because of his achievements at the dance studio in Youngtown, Ohio, he simultaneously began commuting on the weekends, to New York City, to perfect his dancing skills at the, Broadway Dance Center, in Manhattan, under the instruction of, Frank Hachett, well known for his created dance style VOP, which Frank explains in his book, "Jazz Dance;" '"VOP is not a real word or definition, and the letters do not stand for anything. VOP is a verbal incarnation of a feeling. It sounds like what the feeling feels like. When you've finally found it - you're VOPPING!" ' (Frank Hachett is a long ranking guest faculty member at the school, among so many well known guest choreographers, you'll recognize, such as, Mandy Moore, Mia Michaels, Tyce Diorio, Sonya Tayeh, Travis Wall, just to name a few, all participators on the show, "So You Thing You Can Dance").
In 1989 Darrell stop teaching at the, Ballet Western Reserve. After three or four years teaching there, Darrell made the final move to Titusville, Florida, at the request of the artistic director from Emma Parrish Theater, to direct and choreograph the first black gospel praise performance, "Pearly".  It ran for three weekends and grossed, $32,000. A great accomplishment.
Soon after his success with, "Pearly", Darrell went on to teach at, park & rec's in Titusville, Merritt Island and different studios in Brevard County, including our own, Titusville Ballet and Jazz Studio.
After ten years, in 1998-99, with assistance from, Florida Endowment for the Humanities, Darrell received a grant for $87,000.00 dollars to start the production of, "Liberation Story", that was performed in libraries all across Brevard County.

Leaving Secular Behind
Liturgical Dance finally caught the eye of Darrell who soon found himself dancing at, U.I.C.I.(United In Christ International Ministry), of which he is still currently affiliated.
The purpose of Liturgical and Davidic dance, Darrell explains, is the expressional interpretation of the song through movement. There is a difference he mentions between, Liturgical and Davidic dancing, the later of which he performs. Liturgical, is a modern female approach with many graceful ballet movements incorporated, compared to the traditional Davidic form of dancing perfomed more by men,with it's masculin demeanor.  Davidic dancing dates back to Old Testament times, and borrows it's name from King David who danced before the Ark of the Covenant, to the annoyance of Michal, his wife, King Sauls daughter.

Today Darrell is doing much more than dancing. He is busy pastoring a church with his wife, Cheryl, at Whole Armour of God International Church, in Sanford, FL.  Always displaying great vision and leadership in his dancing career, Darrell now continues the process in his ministry.

Cheryl also sharing Darrell's vision for preaching the gospel in as many mediums available; together have launched, a live streaming, TV and gospel music radio broadcast, 24 hours daily. You can listen online at, www.thabnmediahosting.com/armour. 

They also started, Spirit of Dance Academy, for the serious dance student. This is a satellite campus in affiliation with, Dr. Pat Rush, founder of, Spirit Fire School of Ministry & Spirit Fire School of Sacred Music. Darrell now offers degreed courses using, Spirit Fire School of Sacred Music curriculum. If you would like to learn more about the curriculum and other degreed couses offered at the school of ministry visit, www.wordalive365.org.

Darrell's Future Plans
Helping under priviledge school children excell, is paramount to Darrell. He has been working closely with federal agencies to acquire grants that will help finance future programs he can offer in communities around Brevard County.
One dream is to begin an after school tutorial program named, 'Wag Zone'. This program will  assist children in their homework and teach them how to study, so they may achive better grades in school.

Children need to learn to think independently from the confines of their surroundings, and broaden the vision for their lives. The activities offered by the after school program will center first around good grades, and secondly by introducting fun activities that will require them to become diligent: dance, TV production, sports and photography. 
The creative discipline attained through these activities will help break through the barriers of tacit limitations;  it will broaden their vision, help them become focused, and engage them in new endearvors far beyond their normal grasp, creating a, "can do" attitude, by displacing a, "can't do" attitude. Once they grasp this new concept they will be shown how to  use it to their own benefit. Darrell is planning the start of such programs by April or May of this year. 

Sponsorship Needed
A very important element for the success of this program, are sponsors. Darrell is hoping to have fifty persons willing to participate in the development of these school age children through active sponsorships. You may call Darrell to find out what a single sponsorship covers per child.

Gospel Rap Competition
Another enterprise being offered in and around Orlando is a fun, Gospel Rap Competition. This will take place in seven cities around Central Florida. The grand prize is, $10,000.00 dollars, to be awarded to one talented person. For more information on the gospel rap competition email: gospel.sodo@bluetie.com

You can get in touch with Darrell and his wife anytime by email: moore.sodo@bluetie.com; or you can write to their address: P.O. Box 2652, Sanford, FL. or by phone: (407) 235-5023.

Jetty Park

  Rock Jetty

Jetty Park, what an awesome place to visit. In my twent-one years of living in Florida, I have never been to Jetty Park. My four grown children often spoke of it as a great place to go to for surfing, swimming and relaxing on it's shallow beach with lovely sand dunes and scenic rock jetty, but I never went. How I wished I had because it truly is a wonderful place with so many things to see and do.

Dunes at Jetty Park

As a photographer, I am always on the lookout for interesting backgrounds filled with detail and ambiance. Jetty Park offers so many backdrops to chose, from the playground to the sand dunes, with gigantic cruise ships passing by the fishing pier. There is something for every event and age group.
Now, when out of state travellers call for beach pictures, I can add Jetty Park to my list.

I have beautiful pictures of Cherie Down Park, a few miles south of Jetty Park.  It  offers a boardwalk over the dunes filled with sea grass, and has a small pavilion that is a perfect setting for beach wedding pictures.

Hardy Family at Cherie Down Park

Compared to Jetty Park, Cherie Down Park is much smaller. Nestled snugly in a friendly neighborhood it only offers two small parking lots that fill up quickly during the holidays for out of area guests.

Jetty Park, on the otherhand, offers campgrounds for RV and tents, and advertises for out of state campers. It is also home to the eigth busiest port in the world, Port Canaveral.
It has a beach pavilion and snack bar with a small souvenir shop that sells anything from soda to bathing suits.
The 1200 ft. long pier parallels the rock jetty and is busy with people fishing off  it's sides along with perched pelicans looking for a snack. Below the pier near the rocks, you'll spy sea turtles swimming and  poking their heads out of the water briefly, while children eagerly wait to catch a glimpse.

Norwegian Sun

And then slowly making its way down the channel come the cruise ships that tower over you, being guided by heavily guarded Coast Guard patrol boats.

Carnival Dream

The sand dunes lend for some very interesting picture taking, that give the illusions of a ship stuck on land.
For photography, Jetty Park offers a plethora of subjects to focus on throughout the day. The colorful sunsets are breath taking and so vivid. But it's the people that give the most candid shots as they go about their everyday lives, you'll find them bicycling, jogging or playing with their kids.



Carnival Ecstasy

 
This was the last cruise of the night (below). The Disney Magic cruise ship was lite up like a christmas tree. Simply stunning to watch as it made it's way down the channel to begin the voyage.

Disney Magic

This is just a sample of what Jetty Park has to offer photographers. There is no end to creativity here. It offers charm and variety and even a touch of romance for a beach wedding, engagement pictures, groups, whatever the event is, Jetty Park will enhance it.

Dancing and Photography

Dance Dance Dance


^{Song of Solomn 2:8 "}The voice of my beloved! behold, he cometh leaping upon the mountains, skipping upon the hills". 

Dancing and Photography, two Fine Art Mediums that capture the unspoken word.

Dance is a medium that the Lord created to touch our lives. Photograhy is the medium I use to touch lives.
The many references to dancing throughout the bible is proof how it's intended it to be used, mixed with much rejoicing; very strong display of emotions. The two go hand in hand.
Dancing is a window into our soul. An expression of our emotions. Tacit words spoken through abstract motions. All of them coming together to present a story, all of them working to emphasize a concept. For God, He is emphasizing the assuredness of His presence.
When we are in the presence of God there is much rejoicing and worshipping that cannot be contained, it spills over in one medium of expression or another. Loud shouts, singing, clapping, dancing, fading often into stillness, a quieting from within that comes from God.

So let me introduce to you a great man of God, Apostle Darrell Moore, a dancer and minister of the Lord. I want to talk about Darrell's dancing talent to present the gospel of God in a way that does more than enhances the spoken word but transcends deep down through our hard, crusty exterior right into our hearts. Knowing the importance of visualization, Darrell couples his preaching with dancing. It is an absolute joy to watch his garments whirling around completing one motion as his body begins another. But he is not arbitrarily gesturing his body, he is speaking from  within himself things hard to articulate.

Every moving gesture is designed to release an emotional response from us as it does from the dancer. You can't depict well on paper 'motion' without much scribbling and difficulty, and then it can hardly be understood. The camera, I'm happy to say, has the ability to capture motion and give it extended life. It lives on well after the preaching, well after the doors are closed and the night is over. Without hearing a word you can understand by studying the photo and the storytelling begins, with many photographs the story is complete. I don't want you to think this is accomplished by simple human endearvor. It is not. Darrell is not a common performer, as I'm not a common photographer. We both operate by God's Holy Spirit.

Not everyone who dances, dances for the glory of God as you well know. But Holy Spirit enables us to glorify God in dance, and then moves through the dancer to touch us by the beauty of it . Our emotions triggered a response and begin to feel something we may never have felt before, in a place where we don't usually feel anything. That's God's presence showing up inside us bringing healing, deliverance, love, joy, forgiveness, peace, whatever we are in need of, He brings. My photography is much the same. I capture God's heart, in dance, praise, worship, in beaming faces of brides and grooms, expectant mother's, babies and wherever I aim my lens. It's a great feeling knowing what I capture in print is a moment caught in time, and all the emotions attached are just as real today as the day it was taken; precious moments and memories continually re-telling their story, with not a word added or subtracted. Ciao.

Looking into God's Word

Some pictures are meant to be displayed for pure enjoyment.
I am a wedding photographer, and cover all kinds of events, but there is a side of me that wants to be surrounded with lovely, Landscapes, Portraiture's, and creative Abstract Prints to grace my walls.
Walls are like a blank canvas. One picture starts a sentence. Two pictures makes a paragraph, but a wall full of pictures tells a story. I'm into story telling. That's what I do for a living with photography. Every wedding, person, group, has a story to tell, and that's what I do for them, help them tell their story.

Beauty, they say, is in the eye of the 'beholder'. However, I know that all beauty comes from God and ends with God; He is the creator of beauty. I am inspired by God's creation, therefore many of my photographs depict His indescribable handiwork's. From sunsets, foaming waves crashing, to people, and so much more. Just open your eyes and see all the beauty that surrounds us.
People, as a subject, are marvelous, they have an indefatigable spirit about them that comes from within, they are filled with unspeakable emotions that the camera, in it's uncanny way, seems to target and captures with a snap, and then the allusive, 'breathe of life', comes forth, oh can't you just see it.
And laughter is said to be, 'a good medicine' for the soul. I use my camera as a spotting scope to hunt out the 'joy's' of life and draw them out to the attention of my audience. We need to laugh and feed on the, 'fruit of joy' that has the ability to transform our own lives. May my photography do that, may it be, 'medicine to the soul'.
It's now available for purchase, offered in different mediums, at Fine Art America. Go to my link in the right hand column.

Pictures are being updated regularly.