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'Jesus Christ Dancers' Asked Not to Perform at Holiday Festival Event
Agape Press ^ | 12/12/05 | James L. Lambert

Posted on 12/13/2005 2:10:00 PM PST by dukeman

SAN DIEGO - An official with the City of Chula Vista (California) Recreation Department asked a local Christian hip-hop dance group to not perform at a city-sponsored "Holiday Festival" last weekend.

The dance group was scheduled to perform at the city-sponsored event on December 3, but was told after the program began that it could not perform. The six-girl dance troupe -- with participants ranging in age from 8 to 12 -- wore shirts identifying themselves as a "Jesus Christ Dancer." AgapePress was told of the incident by Phil Magnan of Biblical Family Advocates.

John Gates, senior supervisor for the Parks and Recreation Commission of the City of Chula Vista, declined to comment on the reasoning for his decision to cancel the performance. When asked about the decision, Gates said that he "was asked to refer the matter to the city attorney's office." Four calls were made to the city attorney's office with no response.

An eyewitness to the event and a father of one of dancers, Al Reyes, questioned the supervisor's decision. Reyes told WorldNetDaily that Gates was asked about a Hawaiian dance group that, according to Reyes, performed "Feliz Navidad," "The First Noel," "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" and a Hawaiian prayer song that was sung in another language.

After challenging a city representative on this point, Reyes said Gates told him that, "I don't understand those songs, but I do understand what those shirts say."

The dance group, which normally numbers 11 dancers, is headed up by dance instructor Lita Ramirez. Ramirez said she is "disappointed with the decision to stop the performance," adding that she "made it clear to city officials that this was a Christian hip-hop dance group and that they would perform a Christian hip-hop dance."

Ramirez also has a contract with the Parks and Recreation Commission to conduct dance classes that are scheduled to start on January 17, 2006. A brochure for the city lists that Ramirez will be teaching on Christian hip-hop dance next month. She stated that "because of this incident I am concerned about my future employment with the city."

Referring to removal of her group from the Holiday Festival, Ramirez asserts the city "made a biased decision. I was told that there were complaints about the T-shirts. When asked further about the complaints, a city official changed his story."

The Jesus Christ Dancers group is sponsored by Calvary Christian Academy and is associated with Calvary Chapel of Chula Vista.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: antichristianbias; chulavista; dancers; moralabsolutes
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Finally! Something outside of Wisconsin.
1 posted on 12/13/2005 2:10:01 PM PST by dukeman
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To: dukeman

I'm not even a Christian and this offends me! Has this country lost ALL common sense?!?


2 posted on 12/13/2005 2:12:12 PM PST by proudofthesouth (Boycotting movies since 1988)
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To: dukeman

Sad.


3 posted on 12/13/2005 2:12:17 PM PST by BenLurkin (O beautiful for patriot dream - that sees beyond the years)
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To: dukeman
Referring to removal of her group from the Holiday Festival, Ramirez asserts the city "made a biased decision. I was told that there were complaints about the T-shirts. When asked further about the complaints, a city official changed his story."

Gee, a little more info on this would be nice.

4 posted on 12/13/2005 2:14:08 PM PST by mewzilla (Property must be secured or liberty cannot exist. John Adams)
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To: dukeman

Graduates of the St. Vitus School of Dance, I assume...


5 posted on 12/13/2005 2:14:31 PM PST by orionblamblam ("You're the poster boy for what ID would turn out if it were taught in our schools." VadeRetro)
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To: dukeman
Christian hip-hop?

Kinda like vegetarian meatloaf.

6 posted on 12/13/2005 2:14:34 PM PST by Darkwolf377 (An agnostic who never, ever says "Happy Holidays")
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To: dukeman

If they were the "Che Guevera Dancers" they could probably not only dance, but be paid to perform by federal grant money.


7 posted on 12/13/2005 2:17:24 PM PST by silverleaf (Fasten your seat belts- it's going to be a BUMPY ride.)
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To: dukeman

I smell a huge discrimination lawsuit.


8 posted on 12/13/2005 2:19:20 PM PST by randog (What the....?!)
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To: dukeman

This stuff is just soooo stupid! Petty bureaucrats and city officials who are stupid enough to make these kind of decisions are too damned stupid to hold public office and they need to be hounded out of office. I hope the good Christian folks of Chula Vista hound this clown right out of a job.


9 posted on 12/13/2005 2:20:35 PM PST by pgkdan
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To: dukeman

Christian hip hop....hmmmmm..sounds like an OXYMORON!!


10 posted on 12/13/2005 2:20:55 PM PST by Ann Archy (Abortion: The Human Sacrifice to the god of Convenience. T)
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To: proudofthesouth
I'm not even a Christian and this offends me! Has this country lost ALL common sense?!?

Yes, it has.

11 posted on 12/13/2005 2:23:13 PM PST by highlander_UW (I don't know what my future holds, but I know Who holds my future)
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To: Ann Archy
Christian hip hop....hmmmmm..sounds like an OXYMORON!!

Why? Hip hop is a music genre. While it's true the majority of hip hop lyrics are bad, it doesn't mean we cannot have clean hip hop music. If many youths actually listen to this kind of music, I think we can actually reach them with Christian hip hop.

12 posted on 12/13/2005 2:23:25 PM PST by paudio (Is it OK to say Merry Christmas to you...?)
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To: dukeman
Gates was asked about a Hawaiian dance group that, according to Reyes, performed "Feliz Navidad," "The First Noel," "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" and a Hawaiian prayer song that was sung in another language.

After challenging a city representative on this point, Reyes said Gates told him that, "I don't understand those songs, but I do understand what those shirts say."

Gates' budding career as a spokes-model comes to a screeching halt.

Must be a San Diego thing. The weather is way too clement. "We're trying to celebrate the holy-days, let's keep Jesus out of it, please."

13 posted on 12/13/2005 2:23:58 PM PST by siunevada (If we learn nothing from history, what's the point of having one? - Peggy Hill)
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To: Darkwolf377

Almost as funny as Christian Heavy Metal.


14 posted on 12/13/2005 2:24:16 PM PST by Trampled by Lambs (I think, therefor I Zot!)
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To: proudofthesouth
I'm not even a Christian and this offends me! Has this country lost ALL common sense?!?

Do you really need an answer to that question? :-s

15 posted on 12/13/2005 2:25:04 PM PST by GLDNGUN
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To: proudofthesouth

Yes, and some of us are trying to fight this leftist insanity.


16 posted on 12/13/2005 2:25:50 PM PST by doug from upland (Hasta la vista, Tookie)
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To: dukeman

I guess the part of the 1st amendment that mentions that freedom of religion will not be prohibited kind of slipped by these idiots. I hope the dance groups' parents sue these worthless bast***s for suppression of religious rights(And I am not a Christian!)


17 posted on 12/13/2005 2:26:17 PM PST by calex59 (Seeing the light shouldn't make you blind...)
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To: dukeman
Had he just asked the little girls to remove their shirts and dance topless, he would have 1/2 of Hollywood on his side.
18 posted on 12/13/2005 2:26:37 PM PST by Random Access (ol)
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To: dukeman

What holidays are these people talking about???? Isn't there only one coming up?


19 posted on 12/13/2005 2:26:43 PM PST by SkyDancer ("Talent Without Ambition Is Sad - Ambition Without Talent Is Worse")
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To: SkyDancer

Ok, speaking of Holidays, are you aware that Holiday really means Holy day? The left will sh** it's pants when Christians start celebrating the Holy days(meaning the 12 days of Christmas). We(all conservatives, Christian or not) should all point out what Holidays really means. The celebration of the 12 Holy Days of Christmas, and then wish them all a very happy Holidays:).


20 posted on 12/13/2005 2:29:52 PM PST by calex59 (Seeing the light shouldn't make you blind...)
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