Philosophy
Expressions of Praise exists to teach dance and gymnastics that focuses on the One who created us while encouraging and equipping young girls to be disciples of Jesus Christ.
It is my heart’s desire that any activity that I am involved with would be for God’s pleasure and glory. I hope that my dance and gymnastics will draw people to give praise and honor to the Lord. This means:
I firmly believe that when those leading in worship services are worshipping, the believers watching will be drawn to do the same, so Expressions of Praise encourages worshiping the Lord with all of ourselves!
It is my heart’s desire that any activity that I am involved with would be for God’s pleasure and glory. I hope that my dance and gymnastics will draw people to give praise and honor to the Lord. This means:
- Every dance is choreographed to encourage worship and not to draw attention to the dancer
- Dance attire is chosen so that the dancer’s body is not the focus
- Songs are chosen for Biblical accuracy and to draw hearts to worship
- Dancers and gymnasts are encouraged to work with as much excellence as God has graced them and to keep their own focus on the Lord
- In choreography, it is my goal to illustrate the lyrics of the song to help both the performers and the audience set their minds on the Truth.
I firmly believe that when those leading in worship services are worshipping, the believers watching will be drawn to do the same, so Expressions of Praise encourages worshiping the Lord with all of ourselves!
History
Expressions of Praise began in response to local believers coming to Kimm Quinlan asking if she would be willing to teach dance in a way that would exalt Christ and point the children to our King. It is a work in progress that began in 2010 when a group of homeschool families asked if she would take over a dance class taking place in one of their homes. The class did not work out the following year, but other families began approaching her with similar requests, so her husband hung some full length mirrors in their living room and she taught a few students in her home during the 2011-2012 school year. During the summer of 2012 she felt many times that the Lord was calling her to do more from home. Shortly after stepping down from a position of service in her local church, more families approached Kimm about teaching dance and Expressions of Praise was born. Mrs. Kimm fervently taught ballet, worship, banners, and timbrals in her home for 5 years. In the summer of 2014, Mrs. Lee Ann joined Expressions of Praise and co-taught with Mrs. Kimm in many classes and helped coordinate the winter performance.
Winter of 2014, Mrs. Kimm felt the Lord calling her away from running Expressions of Praise and drawing her to other things. Mrs. Lee Ann and Mrs. Kimm easily made the transition shortly after and Mrs. Lee Ann began running and instructing classes in the early spring of 2015, then moved back to Arkansas in the spring of 2016! Expressions of Praise is thrilled to be open again with a renewed focus on loving the Lord through dance and tumbling!
In February 2016, Expressions of Praise reopened through the Crosspoint Community Life Center. We began offering gymnastics lessons August 2017. The Lord has blessed us with continued growth and ministry. It is our goal and desire to use dance and gymnastics to draw students to worship the King of Kings!
Winter of 2014, Mrs. Kimm felt the Lord calling her away from running Expressions of Praise and drawing her to other things. Mrs. Lee Ann and Mrs. Kimm easily made the transition shortly after and Mrs. Lee Ann began running and instructing classes in the early spring of 2015, then moved back to Arkansas in the spring of 2016! Expressions of Praise is thrilled to be open again with a renewed focus on loving the Lord through dance and tumbling!
In February 2016, Expressions of Praise reopened through the Crosspoint Community Life Center. We began offering gymnastics lessons August 2017. The Lord has blessed us with continued growth and ministry. It is our goal and desire to use dance and gymnastics to draw students to worship the King of Kings!
About Mrs. Kimm
In my preschool through elementary years, I took gymnastics, ballet, jazz, tap, and what I call Broadway dance. The latter was with a woman who spent her summers in New York choreographing dances for and instructing the dancers at one of the Broadway studios. In our class we did dances that were dramatic representations of Broadway plays such as ”Annie.” I have found that much of my choreography is influenced by this experience. At about 9 years of age, I was invited to the competitive gymnastics team and had to choose between dance and gymnastics. I chose gymnastics. Thankfully, the competitive team gymnasts were required to do dance training. I continued in competitive gymnastics for many years, and then began coaching gymnastics at 15. I have coached beginner through competitive levels for over 30 years. Artistic gymnastics includes many dance skills and I continued to learn more about proper execution and ways of teaching that part of dance. I left US Gold Gymnastics May 2011 when my husband and I felt that was God’s calling for our family. During the Christmas season of 2009, God began using me in our church body in dance ministry. Through that I have worked with preschoolers through adults, choreographing and teaching various styles of dance for performance as part of leading out in corporate worship. Out of that ministry, Expressions of Praise was born because parents came to me asking me to teach dance classes.
I am married to a wonderful husband who loves the Lord and His Word. His passion is teaching the Bible-- making Truth known and more deeply understood. We have two sons, Ryan and Alex, who are a blessing and a joy. We are a homeschool family seeking to do all things to the glory of our great God. Not every day is easy, but every day, Jesus is worthy of our praise!
I am married to a wonderful husband who loves the Lord and His Word. His passion is teaching the Bible-- making Truth known and more deeply understood. We have two sons, Ryan and Alex, who are a blessing and a joy. We are a homeschool family seeking to do all things to the glory of our great God. Not every day is easy, but every day, Jesus is worthy of our praise!
About Mrs. Traci
Hello! My name is Traci Nelms, and it my privilege to assist Kimm this year with dance and gymnastics. I look forward to getting to know you and your children. We're going to have tons of fun twirling and tumbling!
I was born and raised in a small town in southern Ohio. When I was eight years old, my best friend began dance lessons. And, like any best friend would, I joined her! I never anticipated what a blessing dance would be in my formative years. I quickly fell in love with ballet, tap, and jazz and spent most of my free time in high school either fine-tuning technique in the studio or competing at local and regional competitions. In addition to dancing, I also participated in cheerleading and gymnastics.
In college, I majored in dance for a short time prior to changing my major to early childhood education. During that season, God began softening my heart to hear and receive the Gospel--the good news that Jesus, both fully man and God in flesh, came to save sinners. On November 28, 2000, after living wildly for twenty years apart from God, I joyfully welcomed Jesus into my life as my Lord and Savior. A cleansing flood spilled over me; I was white as snow! The Lord redeemed my broken heart and mind, filled me with His Spirit, gently led me through steps of confession and repentance, and set my feet firmly on His path.
My life forever changed that blustery winter day and continues to change daily by the grace of God. My loving husband, Matt, and I have three awesome, ornery, goofy, and precious children--Isaac, Malayna, and Taylor. We're a retired Air Force family that plans to stay in the area. We love our community, our Rocky Bayou Baptist family, and all the friends we've made in the surrounding area. Perhaps life is best at the beach!
I was born and raised in a small town in southern Ohio. When I was eight years old, my best friend began dance lessons. And, like any best friend would, I joined her! I never anticipated what a blessing dance would be in my formative years. I quickly fell in love with ballet, tap, and jazz and spent most of my free time in high school either fine-tuning technique in the studio or competing at local and regional competitions. In addition to dancing, I also participated in cheerleading and gymnastics.
In college, I majored in dance for a short time prior to changing my major to early childhood education. During that season, God began softening my heart to hear and receive the Gospel--the good news that Jesus, both fully man and God in flesh, came to save sinners. On November 28, 2000, after living wildly for twenty years apart from God, I joyfully welcomed Jesus into my life as my Lord and Savior. A cleansing flood spilled over me; I was white as snow! The Lord redeemed my broken heart and mind, filled me with His Spirit, gently led me through steps of confession and repentance, and set my feet firmly on His path.
My life forever changed that blustery winter day and continues to change daily by the grace of God. My loving husband, Matt, and I have three awesome, ornery, goofy, and precious children--Isaac, Malayna, and Taylor. We're a retired Air Force family that plans to stay in the area. We love our community, our Rocky Bayou Baptist family, and all the friends we've made in the surrounding area. Perhaps life is best at the beach!