Finally..I found a video of the Catholic Dance on YouTube! I did a search for my friend Jesse Manibusan and found 2 videos. Once was him in Las Vegas during a “Dance Off” and the other one was some people who were in attendance of the show who filmed Jesse dancing to the Catholic Dance! It is me up on stage and my crazy voice over the main speakers. Crazy!! The thing is that this video shows a large group of people doing the Catholic Dance. Check it out…
I am still going to do a video of the Catholic Dance at some point but until then this is a small taste of what the Catholic Dance is. It is silly, it is fun, it is something that a group of people can do to celebrate their joy and love for Christ! It is all about Full, Active, Conscious Participation in your Catholic Faith!
Thursday April 12th 2007, 3:00 am
Filed under: DJ Bill's Faith
It is very true. I am more than a DJ. In fact, in certain ways I am not a DJ at all. I do not use LP’s or Records. I do not “Scratch” or “Mix”. What I do is entertain! I create an environment for groups of youth that is fun, inviting, free and very much God focused. I do use music and yes…most of the things I end up doing resemble “exercise” but above all I connect with youth and adults by allowing them to be themselves. I perform and speak and have fun. Through it all I allow kids to be kids but challenge them to look differently. Look differently at the music they listen too. Also challenge them to look at the skills that God has given them and how they can use them to better themselves, their family, their parish and their world.
I have branded myself as “DJ Bill” so people can remember who I am and that I can provide music, entertainment and dancing…but I am much more than just a DJ.
Don’t take my word for it…if you look at my “rave review” section of this website you can read what some of the people who have seen me have said. The title of this blog entry is from my friend Kevin who I worked for in Nov. 2006. He is a great Diocesan Youth Leader and said some very nice words about me. (Thanks Kevin!) I also have a few more to add over the next few days so check back often.
GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME! Now believe it and LIVE IT!
Yes…it is true. Go to Google, Yahoo or MSN and do a search for Catholic Dance and we are the number 1 and number 2 results!Â
I am glad to see that for those keywords my site comes up first. Not sure how many people in the world are searching right now for the words Catholic Dance but it is nice to know that if they are…they will find my little site.
Hopefully after National Catholic Youth Conference 2007 in Ohio we will make this site very popular for all the youth across the USA! It is good to have a goal!!
Has DJ Bill fallen off the face of the earth? Well….NO! I have been working on way too much lately. Between DJing, family, websites and working hard on new promotional material I have had no time at all. I cannot believe Lent and Easter are all ready behind us…
During Easter I kept hearing a Steven Curtis Chapman song in my head. “All Things New”! Great tune and definitely my prayer for this time of my life. I am trying hard to minimize all the things that I seem to focus on that keep me from spending time with my Family or my passion of DJing and entertaining.
During this time, my beautiful wife helped me make a new promotional item. I would LOVE to share it with you all and see what you think. It is located here! http://www.catholicdance.com/promo1.pdf. I would love to hear your feedback and your thoughts. I am still working on growing my regional ministry to be a National ministry and I have yet to really start promoting myself. This will be the first thing I use…
I am praying for all of you and will keep you in my Easter prayers. Please also pray for me. Pray that God continues to show His plan for the Catholic Dance and to give me the drive to do what needs to be done.
DJ Bill is a Mobile Disc Jockey and also a Master of Ceremonies. However, in a few weeks, DJ Bill Lage will be a…..ROCKSTAR!!
Yes it is true. I am giving my first ever CONCERT! A hybrid of my all ready interactive dance. To suit the needs of a Junior High event I am doing in the Diocese of Fargo, I will be not having a dance but I will be performing a concert. How does that differ from what you usually do?
Honestly it does not…most of my dances I am on a stage and the crowd is facing me and following me in my interactive dances. This is a GREAT way to have a dance without worrying about the normal dance issues. Giving the kids step by step things to do will allow them to all participate and be involved.
So…I am excited to have my first OFFICIAL concert. I hope I am a rockstar when all is done!Â
I have to admit, sometimes the daily tasks of life can seem overwhelming. Between working with people, getting things organized, creating new things and making sure to not get behind there is always something to do.
Here is just a short list of the things I am working on…
1. VIDEOS – a video of the Catholic Dance. it will happen. I have recruited my friend Rob from Spirit Juice Studios to help me with this project. Check his link on the left side. This will be one of the many videos that i will be making sure are a part of my site!
2. PROMOTION – I have a need to advertise who I am. I am new to the National scene but have been doing regional youth events for almost 10 years now (dang I am getting OLD!) So with my Las Vegas launch of the Catholic Dance I have the Diocese of Rochester in New York (thanks Sue!) set for April and a bunch of other dioceses looking into my show for their youth event in the fall and into 2008! Keep an eye open for something in the mail before February!!
3. SHOWS – among all of that stuff and balancing family responsibilities I am still keeping very busy with shows. I had a great time helping out with the St. Hubert’s lock in last Friday. The youth seemed to really get into the dance and they all enjoyed the Catholic Dance! I tell you…it is spreading! The goal is to be bigger than the macarena!Â
So…please keep checking back, bookmark my site, comment on my blog, sign up for my newsletter that will have its very first issue within the next 2 weeks! 2007 is indeed the year for the Catholic Dance to get moving through out the Nation!
The one thing is people are a little confused as to what it is exactly what I do. So I am going to try to the best of my ability explain what I do.
1. DJ Bill Entertains – I am not your local mobile DJ. I am a complete high energy, interactive show. I use a stage, get kids involved, teach them dances, play games, give away prizes, spray them with toilet paper, etc,. It is more of a concert feel then your run of the mill dance. Normally I provide a 2 hour show that will hold everyones attention and we will make sure everyone leaves thinking that they had the best time ever.
2. DJ Bill Tells Stories – I love to share my faith and my heart with youth. I have a passion for Jesus and the Catholic church and I love telling people how I embrace being different then the norm and how it is important to not be like everyone else. When I am able to keynote, I focus a lot on how important my faith and pray life is to me. I also love sharing how the Holy Spirit can be the “spiritual lighter fluid” to set our hearts on fire!
3. DJ Bill Is Present The Whole Day – At most youth rallies I attend, I always make sure to be there and participate during the whole day. I think it is important for the youth to see this example but also to be available in case someone needs a prayer or assistance. I believe it is important to live in the moment and be a part of the whole community. Also, if you need an emergency filler up on stage…I am just a few steps away. My goal is that your event goes smoothly and that everyone not only is entertained but has an amazing time!
4. DJ Bill Warms Up The Crowd – If your event starts at 10:00am…then get me on stage at 9:30am! I think it is very important to set the right tone and have people arriving into something happening instead of an empty room with nothing going on. Energy breeds energy. Having kids up and doing something will attract people arriving and will make them want to join in.
5. DJ Bill Knows Youth Rallies – I have been involved in all different stages of planning and organizing youth rallies for over 20 years now. I am always available for advice, thoughts or any questions that people have. In fact, some of that knowledge
So….that is me in a nut shell. I hope you agree that what I offer is something that is fun, exciting, different and unique.
I have to admit…I don’t think of myself as a salesman. In fact, I find it fun talking to people and sharing with them what I do.
I am not a big fan of calling people and having to sell what I do. I like to see what they are currently doing and how my participation can help or assist. For example, today I called someone from Virginia and it was fun just talking to them and finding out about what they are doing for the youth of their diocese.
So in order to keep connected with everyone I am trying to start a Newsletter. My goal is to make friendships with youth leaders on all levels, parish and diocesan, and keep in touch with them. My hope is to have a monthly newsletter with some information on things to do to ensure your events (especially dances) will be a success.
If you would like to sign up for the newsletter, their is a place to do so just left of this post…yeah…right over there!
< ----- At the top where it says Catholic Dance Newsletter!
All I need is your name and email. That is it. Again, if you receive the newsletter and do not want to get it anymore, there will always be a link at the bottom to unsubscribe. I do not like SPAM just like you so I will not do that to you. I PROMISE!
Thank you for signing up and be on the look out for news about a new promotional video being made and all the places I will be in 2007!
Happy 2007 everyone! I pray that the Lord blesses you abundantly over the next 365 days. I have a feeling that 2007 is going to be an amazing year with a lot of Hope and Promise for a renewed fire! The Spirit will be moving in 2007!!
I am looking forward to seeing everyone and traveling all across the nation over the next year and continue to teach the Catholic Dance to the world.
