History

Expressions of Joy developed out of theintersecting searches of founders, Josi Geyer and Tom Walker for a dance ministry which offered both cutting-edge artistic quality and a spiritually dynamic environment. They couldn’t find such a ministry in 2005, but they found each other and Expressions of Joy was born!

Classes were originally taught in studios rented by the hour from existing dance and drama schools. But the guest soon outgrew it’s hosts and EOJ took over the facilities once occupied by Deerfield Academy of Dance in Palm Plaza. With a home of its own, Expressions of Joy became a magnet for all kinds of Christian artists and continued to grow in both artistry and ministry.

Victor Navarro found Tom and Josi on the internet in 2007 and brought them his vision for a theological video series incorporating his unique rhythms and Josi’s original choreography. The Unity Project was born and Victor became a founding board member of Expressions of Joy Performing Arts Institute which attained 501 (c) 3 status in 2008.

In the meantime, Maurice Adderley, was keeping alive the vision God had given him for a Christian Arts Center which would nurture the artistic gifts of its students in an intensively supportive environment, preparing them for “planting” in the appropriate missions field. When the three finally had the opportunity to fully share their visions for ministry, the parallel development was wonderfully clear as was our need to work together to bring the vision to fruition. They decided to merge their ministries into a single entity called The Greenhouse Institute. Expressions of Joy would continue as the flagship ministry of the Institute but new resources would be sought to expand beyond performing arts to “Reclaim the Arts for Christ.”

In the summer of 2008, First Baptist Church of Deerfield Beach offered to provide studio space for expressions of Joy on the second floor of their sanctuary building. EOJ built out the space creating two studios which remain our primary teaching facilities.