ABOUT US
What does Basileia mean?
“Your Kingdom (Gk. βασιλεία [Basileia]) come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:10
Basileia is a Greek word that means “reign” or “Kingdom of God” stressing the revolutionary call of Jesus the King, and of his Kingdom.
Reflecting our name…
We have been born out of a true passion for dance and a calling to minister to our community by bringing the healing, redeeming presence of our King and His Kingdom.
Our mission is to expand
the Kingdom of God by
bringing healing and freedom
to others as they encounter Him
and the power of His presence
in our worship through dance.
Basileia Christian Dance Company is a worship dance ministry consisting of dancers between the ages of 7 and 60+. We are united as one family, yet rehearse in seven “peer” groups. Though we emphasize and teach technique and performance principles our focus is on worship as a means to glorify God and as inspiration in our choreography. Our choreography is our own and set mostly by our directors, with an occasional stage piece constructed by advanced dancers or guests. Our style tends to be unique – lyrical, subtly contemporary, with an occasional taste of character and hip-hop flare, as well as American Sign Language for worship. We instruct at the barre and floor center, using warm-up and stretching routines as well as across the floor phrases, but spend most of rehearsal time teaching specific choreography for our annual production at Higley Center for the Performing Arts in April.
We do not teach open classes to outside members of our company. Our membership is set prior to our season kick-off each year. Any interested parties may contact us and request to be added to our wait list for the following season.
Our studio home is Aspire Kids Sports Center in Chandler, Arizona. We are blessed to be “Resident Company” for a supportive and encouraging organization. Visitors are welcome to observe through the dance room windows.
Meet The Team
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Donna Grady
Donna began dancing at the tender age of four. She studied intensely for more than a decade under Julie Renn. Donna's training includes ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, tumbling and pointe. As a high school student, Donna was an invaluable member of the performing dance company and received many awards and accolades. She was chosen to represent our state in Australia with "Dance Down Under." Donna also received a dance scholarship to Scottsdale Community College where she continued to hone her skills and technique. Donna will be teaching and directing Tria/Tessera, Pente, Eksi, Epta and Crew this season. Donna and her husband, Marco, are parents to three precious girls who are following in their dancing mama's footsteps.
Patty Gregersen
Patty is co-founder, co-executive director, and co-artistic director for Basileia CDC. Her dance experience includes training in ballet, lyrical, modern, jazz, and tap at the college level, professional performance with the NBA, and instruction and choreography for children, youth, and adults of all ages in ballet, modern, jazz, and lyrical dance. Patty was also a competitive gymnast.
She is the founder and former artistic director of the Mountain Pointe High School Dance Company where she produced and directed over half-a-dozen full length productions, and has also served as musical choreographer for theater productions of The Sound of Music, Grease, Westside Story, and The Wizard of Oz
With her husband and best friend, Paul, they have four-plus-one (through marriage) children, and recently became grandparents with the arrival of their grandson, Ezra. Patty also loves her job as a creative and writing team member and puppetry director for MVP Kids, a children’s media and entertainment company. In addition, she serves as the Guidance Counselor at Redeemer Christian School.
Patty’s heart for Basileia is stated beautifully in Psalm 149:3, “Let them praise His name with dancing”
Katie
Phelps
Katie started dancing at age two and solely studied ballet until age 10 where she began training in lyrical, jazz, contemporary, tap, clogging and tumbling. She was selected to be a part of Ballet Etudes and Ballet Arizona's Nutcracker. She began teaching at age fifteen and has been teaching ever since. Katie loves to see her student's technique and passion in dance grow with each class. This is Katie's second season with BCDC and she feels so blessed to have the opportunity to teach. She will be teaching Ena and Dyo this season. Katie lives in San Tan Valley with her husband, Joe, and their three-year-old son, Liam.