WS Chronicle

Darryl Gordon is tired of seeing all of the violence in the city of Winston-Salem. Using what he knows best, God and dance, Gordon is putting together a Dance and Peace Festival to be held on Aug. 14 from 1 to 5 p.m, in the field next to Hoopers Funeral Home, to help stop some of the violence in the city.

“The Dance and Peace Festival is about bringing peace and trying to usher in the Holy Spirit in the city of Winston-Salem, because we have had way too many homicides this year alone and it’s only July,” said Gordon.  

“You start adding up numbers of people just getting killed and things. So, you know, it’s just to bring peace through dance, through gospel hip-hop and we will have vendors, things for the kids, and giveaways. It’s just going to be a day where people can sit in Winston – of all colors, backgrounds, and ethnic groups – can come together and enjoy one another.”

Gordon says this idea was “put on his spirit” two years ago while teaching summer school at Mineral Springs Elementary School. “I was reading about all of these homicides and the spirit was talking to me saying, ‘You need to do something and not just your normal gospel showcase, but something where people can just come and enjoy and usher in the spirit,’” he said.

Gordon wanted to hold this event last year, however, the pandemic put a halt on most activities, so he had to wait until things began to open back up. He says God put it back in his spirit to get things going, so he did.

“After a failed attempt at a venue, I called a good friend of mine, Jasmine Stover, and I asked her a question about could I possibly use the field that she uses for Blackonomics and she hit me up instantly and said sure and has been helping me ever since,” he continued.  

There will be several vendors attending the event, along with several gospel rappers and dancers. “We have a lot of great talent coming from far and wide,” he said. “They will be rapping and dancing. It’s going to be good.”

Altogether, it took Gordon nearly seven months to put everything together. He says he began reaching out to people last winter to make sure he collected the best talent he could. No matter the hurdles, Gordon was going to do everything in his power to make the event a success.

“I think we have tried a lot of things, but we need to call upon the Father, in my opinion,” he said about why this event was important to him. “There is only one Father and he said when you call his name, you will hear his people. Therefore, we need to call the Father and we need to speak peace.”

For Gordon, he wants this event to be a building block for peace, not only in Winston-Salem, but throughout the state and beyond. He would love to continue this event yearly and coordinate with organizations in other cities to possibly make it a national event.

“I am a firm believer that the Holy Ghost is a comforter and people can see the love from everyone and it will just spread and reach people from far and wide,” he said. “I think just by showing one ounce of love and peace, we can make a difference in the city.”

Gordon gives all credit to Jesus Christ for allowing him to put everything together. He says making a positive change in the city is thanks enough for him.

“I am just a vessel and I understand my purpose and I want to continue to do work,” Gordon continued. “Everything is not about money, everything is not about publicity, everything is not about image. There is a method behind the madness; it’s about saving souls, it’s about saving lives and bettering our communities.”

Gordon says he has learned a lot from community leaders like Stover, Brittany Ward, Frankie Gist, Corey McCann and others. He says those individuals have influenced him without them even knowing it.

For more information about the Dance and Peace Festival, contact Gordon at dgordon558@gmail.com, or call 336-473-0209, or reach him at Darryl Gordon on Facebook. He says they are looking for more vendors as well as some play equipment for the children.