From a Love of Theater to a Love of Jesus Christ 

I was a 1950 wife.  I took care of the children and house, and went along with my husband with most everything..  The last large theater production, I was involved with was, "The King and I" at El Camino College. I had one of the lead dance parts.   I also was selected for parts in two other full productions, which my husband insisted I drop out of.    It was the night time rehearsals that bothered him.   Rehearsing during the daytime was theater activity to which he did not object.  

In the 1960s, there was a lot happening in the world of all the arts, performing, music, plastic, and revolutionary “trash can art”.  Interest in UFOs, psychic phenomena, self-actualization, vegetarianism, experimentation with drugs, such as the sacred mushroom and LSD were the buzz for those in the arts. 

I was not interested in altering my consciousness artificially.  I wanted to be in full control, but with a more spiritually expansive awareness of my world.  I had not been brought up with any religious directions.  After getting married in 1955, I would sometimes write down my thoughts, more as a help to myself then to share. With neither direction nor guidance, I was pondering the heavens and the meaning of life. I had read books on the concepts of altered consciousness and dream analysis, and I wondered about the reality of other dimensions. 

Win's first job was in the Weaverville California, the small mountain community in the center of a national forest.   Among the friends I made was Helen, the wife of the minister of the Congregational church.  She helped me understand something important. I was seeking spiritual direction from outside myself. She explained o look for direction from within.  Helen introduced me to books on psychic phenomena and the works of known psychics such as Edgar Casey and others. We lived in Weaverville a short school year, but I explored diverse topics such as cosmic consciousness,  peak spiritual experiences and quantum theory. I was convinced that the world we were living was a very limited reality.   We were only seeing and living in a part of  reality.  We were not seeing the full picture.  It was in Manhattan Beach that I experienced a life-changing Acts 2:2 experience.

I did not understand what had happened; I can best describe it as a powerful force of wind and electricity that flooded my room, with such incredible force that I could not move.  We lived over the hill, but walking distance from the beach.   I thought we had had an earthquake and a tsunami had blown away the side of the wall.    I tried to stretch my hand out and touch Win.  I wanted to get to the children, but I was pinned down and Win did not awaken.  I could not understand how he was sleeping through what sounded like a hurricane to me.  The room was filled with sparkling, flashing ribbons of electricity moving around. Very slowly the presence disappeared.  Everything was quiet in the room. The house was completely intact. 

The presence visited me two more nights.  I was a little frightened the second night, but by the third night, I knew there was no reason to be afraid.  I did not know at that time what the force was,  but what resulted, was a yearning in my heart to read the Bible.  Many times I would get up in the dark and read while lying next to the heater on the floor in the bathroom. My journal writing started to express an awareness, beyond the enjoyment of the beauties of nature, I started to see the divine mind in God’s world.

I felt I was being led by the spirit to become a minister and started taking a correspondence course from the Unity School of Christianity, located in Lee’s Summit, Missouri.  I was pondering the heavens and the meaning of life in an abstract way, looking for concrete examples of a non-physical existence, fully accepting that the mine was a source of godly power. I continued writing down my thoughts in little versus.  It was fun observing Aury and Tawn, appreciating God’s expressions in nature.

During the summer of 1964 I had the opportunity of actually going to Missouri for a month long, summer session in studying for the ministry.  Mom came and helped Win with the kids. 

It was at the Unity School of Christianity  that I understood what had happened in the quiet of my room. When I described the experience to one of the students, he said, “You mean you don’t know what you’ve experienced.  Haven’t you read the New Testament? I said. “No, I started reading the Bible at the beginning, I had not gotten to the New Testament.”

Towards the end of the concentrated summer session, I decided not to pursue the ministry. As some of the already practicing ministers shared their experiences, I felt that I would not have the strength needed to help families dealing with death. I realize now, it was because I did not understand death in its whole role, in the plan of eternity.

Upon returning from Missouri, I formed a dance group, the Dancers of Truth.  The focus was basic principles as revealed in the Bible. The style of dance was modern. With Aury and Tawn both in school ,  I enrolled as a dance major at UCLA and was considering pursuing a Ph.D.  The theme for each dance was based on selected biblical verses. Although we were a new dance group, we were written up in the Dance magazine. The well-known and elderly Ruth St. Denis, had a studio in Hollywood and invited us to participate with her.

"The Bible in Dance"
by the Dancers of Truth
Daily Breeze, Manhattan Beach, May, 1965 

Poetic verses from the old and New Testament, familiar to us, take on a new dimension with the dramatic artistry of this group.  The actual verses from the Proverbs are read as background from one dance, while various biblical selections provided the information inspiration for the additional number numbers are set to music.

The program designed by Moira Deyer  interprets each of the seven numbers:
 "In the Beginning" - an interpretation of the first chapter of Genesis, danced by four.
"Women" - Proverbs differentiating between types of women. 
"Esther" - solo, loving attitude of the Queen of Persia, from the book of Esther.
"Beloved" - danced by three accompanied by music and singing. Verses from John.
"Ye are the Lights" - as God's children we should be strong, courageous, danced by five.
"Think upon these things" - solo emphasizing the importance of right-thinking  Philippians.
"Praise the Lord" - a dance of praise verses taken from the Psalms, danced by four.

Dancers include: Kim Allred, Juanita Boldt, Gwen Marsh, Marsha Billings, Mickey Myzel, Maurline Piels, and Barbara Zupke.  Janice LaDoucieur serves as the pianist for the group and Melba Anderson is wardrobe mistress.  Sally Palm is their artist and Jack Wilson, secretary. Many residents have volunteered their efforts for the practical side of the production.  Ushers will be  S.  Rutherford and Laura Beck.  

Organizer and director Mimi brought together the talents of f many Bay Area residents to create this unusual program.  She combines her choreography talent with a professional theatrical approach to costuming and lighting to obtain vivid effects. She received her Masters degree at the University of California Los Angeles in Recreational Drama and Theater. She is currently enrolled at UCLA for additional dance technique and theory.

Her personal interest in combining dance movement with dramatic spiritual communication was responsible for bringing the group together.  The churches represented among the group include: Baptist, Catholic, Christian Science, Disciples of Christ, Lutheran, Methodist, Mormon, Presbyterian, and Unity church.

 Program cover below: 

       
Guenther's Murrieta Hot Springs only presents as part of its Yom Kipper observance, the Old Testament in Dance, October 9, at 8:30 p.m.  performed by the Dancers of Truth.  This spiritually motivated true is only one year old, but has met with amazing success in this short time. Organized and directed by Mrs. Win Holtzman, the group is united by the belief that there is one God, Spirit, or Divine Mind behind all life and material existence.

This universal approach has United individuals belonging to all the different faiths and one common grave effort. Prayers precede each rehearsal and performance.

The Dancers of Truth were organized in November 1964 with a specific purpose of presenting and enlarging upon positive truths from life and history through the approach of dance. Using the art form of dance, they're able to project a spiritual experience to their audiences, by achieving a beauty and harmony of movement, combined with the spiritual content of each dance.

This creative approach to choreography has been developed by Mrs. Holtzman, and is an unusual combination of classical ballet, modern dance, mime, and pantomime. Choreographic contributions by the dancers are encouraged resulting in a fresh and honesty of approach. One dance,"The Crossing of the Red Sea" was entirely group choreographed.

Mrs. Holtzman combines her choreography talent with a professional theatrical approach to costuming and lighting to obtain vivid staging effects. She received her Masters degree at the University of California at Los Angeles in Recreational Drama and Theater.  

She is currently enrolled at UCLA for additional dance techniques and theory. Mrs. Holtzman is assisted in rehearsals by Mickey Myzel will who is currently teaching dance at the Torrance YWCA.  Mickey has had 21 years teaching experience, including her own schools in Eagle rock and Glendale.

Among the dancers are "In the Beginning," an interpretation of the first chapter of Genesis, danced by four dancers. A mine dance, "Women," is a selective collection of Proverbs differentiating between types of women. It is dance by four while the Proverbs are read.

An unusual number dance with lights, both carried by the dancers and flickering upon them is based on the concept that man is God's child and has within him the light of the divine. The verses are taken from Exodus

Another dance based on Exodus is timbrel dance depicting the dance of joy of Miriam and the women in crossing the Red Sea's and thus been delivered from bondage.

The concept for "Loving Kindness" is found throughout the Old Testament revealing again and again the love Jehovah has for his children.

The group is available for any organizational program work, and may be contacted through Mrs. when Holtzman Manhattan Beach FR 90511.  The dances are choreographed for limited and unusual stages. The group has no set performing the, the length of the desired program and the size of the sponsoring organization being determining factors. The dance group has performed for many groups who have contributed by taking up collections, so this can be considered when determining if your group would be interested in a presentation.  The program includes a vocal solo and chant by Helen Nooney. Mrs. Nooney sings at the South Bay Unity Church

Extract from an article in the Daily Breeze, Wednesday November 10, 1965
Joslyn Opening Features Dancers

The Manhattan Beach Recreation Department's opening performance of the new Joslyn Community Center, 1601 Valley Dr., Manhattan Beach will be a theatrical production by the Dancers of Truth.  There will be no admission charge for donations will be accepted at the performance at 8 p.m. Friday. 

Combining the performing arts with community social service, Mrs. Win Holtzman organized the group last November.  Mrs. Holtzman received her Masters degree in recreational drama and theater on the University of California, Los Angeles. Her field work was as assistant director at the Los Angeles City Recreation Department Shatto Drama Center. She has has taught creative dance for the Gardena Recreation Department and exercise and dance at the Torrance YWCA. 

Specific purpose of the Dancers of Truth is to present and enlarged upon positive truths from life and history through the approach of dance.

There's something for everyone in the Manhattan Beach recreation program, said John Shaw, recreation superintendent.  Most recent on the list of available activities is an experimental class to choreograph Bible passages, poetry and literature, under the direction of Mrs. Win Holtzman.  

Working towards her doctorate in spiritual dance at USC, Mrs. Holtzman has conducted classes during the past year under sponsorship of the Manhattan Beach recreation department. She is design choreography used by the group.

" Now I want to give each member a chance to express passages SEC's fit. The new classes will be an attempt to develop choreography as a joint project" Mrs. Holtzman said.

Only one prerequisite has been established. Each woman must be a mother. "It's not mother discrimination against single women, but part of the all-family picture in planning the city's recreation program.  Mrs. Holtzman believes mothers have more need for the activity and responds better to the situation," Shaw said.

DANCING DAUGHTERS - Chorus chants vespers as, from left, Elena Ferrer, postulant; Sister Mary Pauline, Michele Lucas, postulant, practice for Daughters of Mary and Joseph festival.  Times photo Judd Gunderson

Southland residents will have a chance to meet sister Paula Marie,  mistress of novices (those in their second or third year of study to become sisters) and the other Daughters of Mary and Joseph at their first art festival and music program Saturday and Sunday from 2-5 p.m. on their Palos Verdes grounds.

Visitors will see and hear a chorus of sisters chant an elaborate version of vespers, the official office of the Catholic Church, while sister Mary Pauline performs an interpretive dance with Elena Ferrar and Michele Lucas, both postulants (in their first year study at the novitiate).

Guest also will see - and have a chance to buy - artwork comprised chiefly of natural materials gathered by the Daughters of Mary and Joseph in the Palos birdies area, such as eucalyptus tree bark, stone, shells, glass and even an old wooden panel left over from construction.

These are used for variety of items, including Mosaic, candleholders and wall hangings.  " Art in the past has been so neglected," said sister Paula Marie. " We hope to inspire people to use good art in their homes by showing that many of the things they can make themselves.

"We also want to teach the student sisters," she added.  " They don't need elaborate equipment or studios to do the work. That is why we choose the festival theme- great are the works of the Lord, exquisite in all their delights"( from Psalm 110) . . .  Trying to show the beauty of God's creations."

The Daughters of Mary and Joseph, who maintain a retreat house in addition to the novitiate once were concerned mainly teaching. Sr. Paula Marini says" we are trying to reach out and help wherever we can."

Editor Mimi:  This is a very treasured thank you from the Daughters of Mary and Joseph.



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