Meet . . .

Renay Bloom Montreuil - Ignite!

Renay Bloom Montreuil was born in Brooklyn, NY, but recalls the majority of her growing years after her family moved to Queens, NY.  In 1984 Renay married Frederic Montreuil and together they moved to Youngstown, Ohio and started their family.  Their oldest child, Nhadia, was born in 1985 in Warren, Ohio and their oldest son Khai was born in 1992, in Youngstown, Ohio.  In 1994 they moved again to Atlanta, Georgia where their youngest child Treh was born.  By 1996, Renay and her family had migrated further south to Macon, GA which they now consider to be their home.  The family attends church at Harvest Cathedral in Macon where Renay serves as a greeter and where she and her husband serve together on the Alter Ministry.  Renay is the founder of ignite: a contemporary dance passion for Christ! and a prayer and support partner for the Vessels of Honor Dance Team at Harvest Cathedral.

Growing up in New York Renay had a great deal of exposure to artistic culture and was surrounded by theater and dance.  By the time she reached High School, Renay’s mother and father, Jon and Roberta Bloom, had exposed all of the children to live theater and dance on Broadway and dance classes in New York City.  Renay was enrolled in dance classes at the Joan Millin Dance Theater in Jamaica, Queens, New York, when she was in the third grade.  Once a very shy girl, by the time Renay was almost ready to enroll in high school, she had already participated in several performances within her community including reproductions of the Nutcracker and The Wiz.  Off stage Renay was shy, once on stage, she just loved her art and danced.  By the time Renay was ready to attend high school, Joan Millin encouraged Renay to audition for the High School of Performing Arts, (now known as the Fiorello H. LaGuardia School of Music & Art and Performing Arts).  At fourteen, Renay entered the High School of Performing Arts (“PA”) where she would receive four years of the best dance education that New York had to offer young dancers.  The dance major at PA offered a half-day schedule of dance intensive curriculum which included ballet, modern, and other dance related topics.  During her summers, Renay attended dance camp at Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater; took occasional classes at Finus Jung Ballet School; or taught local children in a community center in Queens.

Renay did not know Christ as a young woman, but came to receive Him in 1985, shortly after her daughter was born.  It became apparent to Renay as a young woman, that God had always watched over her life and had sent several special people in her life who told her that He loved her.  One day in the beauty shop, she finally understood and gave her life to Christ. 

Several years and children later, dance ministry was birthed in Renay when she realized that although she had stopped dancing in professional classes shortly after having children; she never stopped dancing around the house and all through the kitchen while listening to praise music.  Dance just kept coming out more and more.  Renay was often moved during praise and worship in her home church, Harvest Cathedral. 

Renay soon discovered a love for teaching dance and choreography when she was asked to teach at the dance conference given through Harvest Cathedral.  Discovering the healing power of dance while dancing and praying in her home and then during her first dance conference, Renay accepted an offer to teach a modern dance class and went on to choreograph a spiritual dance called The Battle with modern dance moves inspired by Alvin Ailey’s dance piece called Revelation.  Recently, she was inspired to use her dance training and love for Christ to start and develop a dance company that will pray, train, and work together as they provide inspirational dance in the community and eventually all over the world bringing forth the healing message of God’s love as shown through Christ’s passion for us in music and in dance.

"But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."