A warm welcome to a Salem “Hero” to many Salem residents and our local community, Founder and Executive Director of To The Pointe Dance Productions in Chino, Lindsay Dixon! Affectionately known as TTP, this faith-based professional dance studio has been a special place for 100s of Salem residents over the past 21 years. Lindsay’s passion for the Lord is evident in how she wants all dancers to strive in excellence while performing to each one’s abilities and talents for the glory of the Lord. Her heart of service has cultivated many young dancers to serve and give their time, talents, and treasures to the ministry of Salem Christian Homes. Make sure you give Lindsay a big “thank you” at our Wonderfully Made: Salem’s Spring Showcase on April 25^th where her TTP Dance Company team will perform the Days of Creation and her Salem Shining Stars will steal the show with their wonderful and fun dance moves.

Cindy Behnke: How did you first hear about Salem?
‍Lindsay Dixon: I was first introduced to Salem at church. We worshipped with Salem residents every Sunday. My family loved to visit Jeff (former Salem resident) at Movies 8, and Debbie at Taco Bell. I was always aware of Salem. The first time I became a teacher to Salem residents was when I was about 14 or 15 years old. It was at CrossPoint, Calvary at the time, and I always loved watching the Palm Place guys sign during the worship services. Brenda Thompson (current TTP board member) invited me to work with them to learn the songs. This was before our TTP even started! Over the years we had more friends join in our Sunday morning sign language worship opportunities. These friends ended up being their dance teachers for the next two decades! So yes, it started with sign language to worship songs with them while simultaneously I was starting our new dance ministry and teaching dance to young kids on Saturday morning at the church. In 2004, To The Pointe Dance Productions was born and shortly after, I started an official (complimentary) class for Salem residents to come dance once a week. Even after we moved to our current building here in 2010, Salem residents continued to come to their weekly class.

CB: Do you offer other classes for kids or adults with developmental disabilities other than Salem’s Shining Stars class? LD: I had gotten connected with a special needs groups for kids and wanted to give them an opportunity to dance, too. I started with a Buddy Up class where each dancer with special needs had a buddy with an intermediate or advanced dancer at TTP.  This became our Enabled Special Needs Ministry, where we currently have 3 classes – Mini EnAbled (ages 4-9), Buddy Up with our traditional 1 to 1 buddy format, and a Young Adult class for those who are more independent. We also have dancers of all ages and abilities with special needs who have integrated into our full TTP studio program.  
‍CB: You have to run a business, even as a non-profit. Why do Salem residents still get to experience the weekly complimentary classes at your studio?
‍LD: The thought to charge them has never even crossed my mind. I've never entertained the notion because we were just having so much fun. It was such a blessing for me to get to work with them. It wasn’t work! I looked forward to it every week. We get to dance just for the sake of dancing. No agenda. JUST ENJOYING DANCING! As my studio grew, other teachers had the opportunity to work with them. We love our Salem Shining Stars! In fact, I have had three of our Salem Shining Stars/EnAbled dance teachers who have all gone to pursue jobs and careers with special needs as focus. Salem’s Shining Stars and our other EnAbled Teams have developed passions in our teachers to want to continue to work with people with disabilities in other fields, other than dance!

CB: Why did you start To The Pointe Dance Productions? LD: Having danced my whole life, I always understood the need for a faith based serious dance training program, where everything we do is God-honoring. From the music, to the costumes, to the moves, choreography, our teaching philosophy… we want God as the center. We are called to give our best to God. We are called to artistic excellence!  Whether kids want to simply enjoy the benefits of dance while growing in their relationship with Jesus, or if they wish to pursue dance as a career and to shine a light in the professional dance world, TTP offers something for everyone!   
‍CB: Such a blessing to so many families! Your dream of TTP is so similar to the founders of Salem. A pioneer in the area of Christian dance, as we were with Christian schooling for children with special needs when no one else was offering it. And now, Salem has 21 homes to help people with disabilities thrive. And you, where is TTP at in their 21st year of ministry?
‍LD: We currently offer 80 classes to over 300 dancers. Our TTP Dance Company (invitation/audition based) requires not only strenuous commitment levels weekly, but also artistic growth. We strive to develop the whole person and their character in Christ, including service in their community as well as at the studio. Our Teen & Elite Company are required to assist in one of our Enabled Classes weekly.

CB: We have worked together on benefits for Salem before. Beautiful performances where you give back proceeds to Salem. Can you share with our readers other ways you have used your resources to benefit Salem?
LD: Yes, the Reign and From Above Benefit Concerts, donations of tickets, ornament fundraisers, baked goods sales, donation drive, free tickets to The Christmas Gift, our annual Christmas faith-based production. We’ve hosted dance parties here at our studio (see pics). We sent our company team to the Run, Walk & Roll to participate and serve.  During Covid, we did a “Tour de Salem”, and all 45 dancers on our company team performed on the driveways of Salem’s Chino homes. The residents sat in their garages or driveways, and enjoyed the show. We have loved performing at your benefit auctions and galas over the years, serving whenever you’ve needed set-up. We absolutely loved the Dancing with the Stars event last year, teaching the Shining Stars, performing and the dance party after!  
CB: TTP and Salem have a very special relationship because of you, Lindsay. You have continued to pursue Salem, giving Salem so, so, so many joys through dance! We truly are blessed by you and your passion to serve. Any closing comments for our readers?
LD:  Salem is part of the fabric of TTP. Salem has performed at every recital, have come to