The Early Days
Xclaim Centre for the Arts served the greater Columbus community in movement and music instruction for over 30 years. From 1985-2019 the school (formally Charisma Centre for the Arts) was generously stewarded by Christian Assembly Church. In the early days it began as "Charis Company", a community group that used movement and theater as an expression of worship.
Through the years the vision for the school was nurtured by the vibrant worship arts ministry of the church, and placed under the leadership of Daryse Osborne, who had a desire to see worshipers equipped with technical excellence. With the vision and charismatic leadership of Pastor Sam Farina, Christian Assembly Church hosted Exaltation Worship Conference, Exaltation Dance Company, and many worship and outreach events throughout the year. The pioneering efforts of leaders like Yvonne Peters, Daryse Osborne, and many others made for a thriving community and worship arts ministry, the impact of which was international and multi-generational.
Through the years the vision for the school was nurtured by the vibrant worship arts ministry of the church, and placed under the leadership of Daryse Osborne, who had a desire to see worshipers equipped with technical excellence. With the vision and charismatic leadership of Pastor Sam Farina, Christian Assembly Church hosted Exaltation Worship Conference, Exaltation Dance Company, and many worship and outreach events throughout the year. The pioneering efforts of leaders like Yvonne Peters, Daryse Osborne, and many others made for a thriving community and worship arts ministry, the impact of which was international and multi-generational.
The birth of Xclaim
In 2003 Mariah Layne French moved to Columbus. She learned about Charisma Centre for the Arts and the dance ministry at Christian Assembly Church through her college friend (and Daryse Osborne's daughter), Chloe. Mariah soon became involved with Exaltation and as an instructor at CCA. After several years of teaching, Mariah began to have vision for a professional outreach-based dance company. In 2007, with the support and encouragement of Christian Assembly's leadership, Mariah gathered a group of friends from college, her dance students and professional connections within the local dance community, to launch the first Xclaim Production. The trust and generosity of Christian Assembly fueled Xclaim's growth, through the donation of rehearsal space and collaborative outreach performances like Northland Jubilee. As time went on a symbiotic relationship developed between the company and the school. Many students would go on to dance with the company, and many Xclaim dancers would become teachers for CCA. In 2014 Xclaim Dance Company officially joined Charisma Centre for the Arts as Artists in Residence.
A new chapter
With the retirement of beloved director Daryse Osborne, Christian Assembly Church felt it was time to begin a new chapter. In the spring of 2019 Daryse passed the baton of leadership on to Mariah Layne French, who had spent many years as instructor, administrator and recital director. With this transition, Ms. French, along with the Xclaim Board of Trustees, moved for the not-for-profit to officially adopt the school. 2019-2020 was spent paving a path for continued growth! In 2020, the company and school together begin a beautiful new collaboration with The Indianola Church, as Xclaim Centre for the Arts.