Put it in Writing!

The Lord gave me this answer: “Write down clearly on tablets what I reveal to you, so that it can be read at a glance. ~Habakkuk 2:2 (GNT)

     Wow! It's been like forever since I've blogged, but I kept my promise to only post when I had something to say. I was appointed as dance ministry leader at church, so we have been working on getting our ministry revamped, up and running since the beginning of this year and are off to a great start.
     There is a lot of good information online and in books about how to get a dance ministry started in your church, so I won't restate everything, but I will share about the process that we went through. First, we approached our pastor and asked permission to have a dance ministry; he in turn referred us to the Minister of Music. After much prayer and several planning meetings to discuss the vision, mission, purpose and scope of the ministry, including our name, I was formally introduced to the church as the leader of the new dance ministry and we started sign-ups at our information table that included brochures, information flyers, streaming video and treats for anyone who came by with questions.
     Next, we e-mailed everyone who signed up to notify them of our start-up date with all pertinent information as to what to expect, what to wear, and what we would be doing at our first meeting. At our first rehearsal, we introduced the vision again, had prayer, scripture reading, and did a short warm-up and combination to get an idea of what people would do with movement they were given. We chose not to  have auditions for our ministry.
    This leads to the one of the most important parts of getting a dance ministry started, which is having a ministry handbook that clearly states all expectations, rehearsal times, dress code, code of conduct, and any other important information that you want dancers to know. They can refer to the handbook at any time if issues arise. Your handbook should always be reviewed by the leaders you work with, in our case, Minister of Music and Senior Pastor for approval, and any revisions are always to be checked in with them. The reason for this is, in case of a conflict, everyone has the same information and all resolutions will be fair and "by the book".
     It probably will take many weeks to develop your handbook, so take your time, make sure everything in it is biblical, practical, reasonable, and agrees with the vision and core values of the church you attend.  Make sure you are completely familiar with the doctrines and practices of your church so that you don't incorporate elements that are not part of their regime, although you can refer to other ministry handbooks to see how they are arranged, and the types of information they contain. Be comprehensive without being too lengthy.  Make certain that your handbook is written to accommodate basic reading and comprehension levels. If you need help in editing, ask someone to look over your draft before submitting it for approval and revisions.  You can also add clip art or pictures to give your handbook more eye appeal. In the back of your handbook, have two copies of your ministry agreement page, one signed copy for your files, and that remains in the book. If there are minors in your ministry, make sure that a parent or guardian also signs the agreement. Please note that a signature is neither a contract or binding legal document. It simply indicates that they have read the handbook, and agree to abide by the rules of the ministry.
    You will find that putting all expectations for your dance ministry in writing helps to maintain a safe environment and keeps a level playing field for everyone, including the leaders. In this way, all are held accountable to the same rules. So...put it in writing!
    Please enjoy the first ministry presentation from Resurrection Sunday by A.C.T.S. of Grace Liturgical Dance Ministry:

   

Happy New Year!

Happy 2017! I took a break from blogging, but I'm back! I promise to be more present this year. Here is a repost from last January. Keep worshiping Christ!

   If you won’t plow in the cold, you won’t eat at the harvest.

Proverbs 20:4 (TLB)

 I recently attended a program where someone I knew was going to minister in praise dance. We both knew that she had a love for dance, and was called to dance for the Lord, but had challenges with taking advantage of available resources that would help her learn more about what she was called to do. Her work and life schedule was extremely busy, so she bought a DVD to work on at home and never got around to it. Every time she was invited to a workshop or class, she was always doing something else...still she had a love and a calling to dance.
     At the program, she was beautifully attired and had prepared her heart with prayer. The music started, and then something went wrong. She froze. Not knowing what to do, she began moving randomly and nervously until the music finished. That had to have been one of the longest 5 minutes of her life!
     Afterwards, she realized what had gone wrong. She hadn't prepared herself  with knowledge beforehand. All of the opportunities she had to learn about her ministry weren't taken seriously. Although she meant well, the message didn't get to the people due to lack of preparation. That day, she learned that it takes more than emotion to bring a message in public ministry. We can all learn a lesson from that experience.
     In the first week of the New Year, let's prepare ourselves for what we plan to do. If a class is needed, please go. If there are no local classes or transportation available, many ministries offer DVD's for sale at reasonable prices. If funds are tight, There are short instructional videos on YouTube that can be watched for free. There's never an excuse for lack of preparation! Even on short notice, if you have been practicing already, you can minister a dance with God's guidance based on what you already know, that will bless people. If you are really serious about ministry, you'll find a way to prepare yourself to be effective, or wait until you can make the time commitment. You don't have to be a professional dancer to minister in dance, but it's necessary to know something about what you are doing, so that your message is clear. Very few people are able to do this without some type of basic knowledge of movement. But, if you want to learn, there is lots of information that is easy to find. (You can type in "dance ministry instruction" in your web browser or on You Tube, and many pages will come up). If you are looking for dance ministry resources, please look at some of the links on the blog page that may be of interest. Be prepared in 2016!

     Here is a wonderful example of what being prepared for ministry looks like: Please enjoy the 13:46 Dance Ensemble from Maryland!

   

Be Prepared!

Happy 2017! I took a break from blogging, but I'm back! I promise to be more present this year. Here is a repost from last January. Keep worshiping Christ!

   If you won’t plow in the cold, you won’t eat at the harvest.

Proverbs 20:4 (TLB)

 I recently attended a program where someone I knew was going to minister in praise dance. We both knew that she had a love for dance, and was called to dance for the Lord, but had challenges with taking advantage of available resources that would help her learn more about what she was called to do. Her work and life schedule was extremely busy, so she bought a DVD to work on at home and never got around to it. Every time she was invited to a workshop or class, she was always doing something else...still she had a love and a calling to dance.
     At the program, she was beautifully attired and had prepared her heart with prayer. The music started, and then something went wrong. She froze. Not knowing what to do, she began moving randomly and nervously until the music finished. That had to have been one of the longest 5 minutes of her life!
     Afterwards, she realized what had gone wrong. She hadn't prepared herself  with knowledge beforehand. All of the opportunities she had to learn about her ministry weren't taken seriously. Although she meant well, the message didn't get to the people due to lack of preparation. That day, she learned that it takes more than emotion to bring a message in public ministry. We can all learn a lesson from that experience.
     In the first week of the New Year, let's prepare ourselves for what we plan to do. If a class is needed, please go. If there are no local classes or transportation available, many ministries offer DVD's for sale at reasonable prices. If funds are tight, There are short instructional videos on YouTube that can be watched for free. There's never an excuse for lack of preparation! Even on short notice, if you have been practicing already, you can minister a dance with God's guidance based on what you already know, that will bless people. If you are really serious about ministry, you'll find a way to prepare yourself to be effective, or wait until you can make the time commitment. You don't have to be a professional dancer to minister in dance, but it's necessary to know something about what you are doing, so that your message is clear. Very few people are able to do this without some type of basic knowledge of movement. But, if you want to learn, there is lots of information that is easy to find. (You can type in "dance ministry instruction" in your web browser or on You Tube, and many pages will come up).
     If you are looking for dance ministry resources, please look at some of the links on the blog page that may be of interest. Be prepared in 2016!

Do You Really Wanna...

So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.

~1 Corinthians 15:58 (NLT)

     When I have time, I enjoy watching dance ministry videos just to see what others are doing, or to be blessed by someone else's gifts. There are so many You Tube channels with hundreds (if not thousands) of  recorded footage that makes it impossible to view every one. No matter where the group is based, what music they choose to dance to, how much or how little choreography they use, or their skill level or age, the one thing that effective ministries have in common is that they all look happy to be dancing for the Lord. They dance with their entire being, they are not hindered or holding back. Their facial expressions are full of peace, joy, and reverence. If the song is intense, they project that in the same way. Even through the computer or tablet/phone screen, the intention of the message can be clearly seen and felt.

     I remember hearing a long time ago, that if you want to know if your ministry project is effective, turn off the music and watch the piece in silence. If it just looks like random movement with no direction or expression, you probably need to go back and rework it, because what you are seeing is the same thing that the people you are going to be in front of will see. I have watched far too many videos where the dancers have blank facial expressions, or have their lips folded in. The latter is especially true with teenagers who are at that self-conscious age, and although it is extremely challenging to get them to "come out of their shell", part of your rehearsal time should definitely include time in the mirror to work on the face, connecting with the message of the song, learning how to relate scripture to the song, and being comfortable in front of others, starting with self. Also, when working with teens, they as well as their parents/guardians need to be reminded that dance ministry is just that. It's not cheer, drill, competition or any of the things they see on reality TV, it's God's work. So, while they should always be welcomed to come into the group, they do need to understand the difference between each one, and if they are not ready, should not be forced to participate.

      One of the worse things you could ever do is offer any kind of ministry that is not effective, meaning that it only provides a platform for your group, but does nothing to help other people. In fact, that's not ministry at all, it's not even good performance.  In the professional arena, a good performance always leaves something with the audience. Have you ever heard the saying "Always leave your audience wanting more?" That means that what you gave was so fulfilling, they wanted to see or hear more of what you had to offer. In ministry, what you have to offer is the Good News of Christ, not your skill or your talents; although God will use that, it's secondary. What God is interested in is your heart, and once He has it, He can lead you in whatever ways that will benefit the people you are sharing with.

     Another trend that has become more frequent is a lot of dancers who dance to songs that they like, but lack the ability to effectively minister because they cannot carry the weight of the music. Remember, in dance, you are to become the music, not simply dance to it. There are some songs that lend themselves easily to soloists, other songs are more appropriate for two or more dancers, or large groups. Listen to the musical arrangement and orchestration. Do you hear a choir singing or multiple layers of music? It's one thing to turn the music on and dance to your heart's content at home, and quite another do to the same thing in a public worship setting. People may say "Amen" and praise you to your face, but once you dance out the back door...need I say more? Just because you respond emotionally to a song, does not necessarily mean that it is a song for you to minister at this time, or ever. Before going out to do something that will be remembered in cyberspace as a hot mess for years, please consider attending local dance ministry workshops where classes are offered on choreography, Biblical foundations of dance, musical selections, garments, and dance ministry etiquette. You can click on any of the ministry links or do a search on dance ministry conferences and workshops on your favorite search engine or social media website. Do you really wanna?

Please be blessed by the ministry of Zion's Daughters...dancing from the heart!

 

#That Garment Conversation...Again

. . . Do not therefore let what seems good to you be considered an evil thing [by someone else]. [In other words, do not give occasion for others to criticize that which is justifiable for you.]

~ Romans 14:16 (AMP)

     There can never be too many blogs, books, online classes or conference workshops about appropriate attire for dance ministries. While there are many dancers who have invested time, effort and money to dress themselves in garments that are both beautiful and modest, there are still too many who wear clothing that is either too tight, revealing or doesn't fit well because it is too large or does not cover enough of the body. A few of the common reasons for this are:

     "It doesn't matter what you wear, God is looking at your heart"   It's true that God does look at our heart, but taking 1 Samuel 6:7 out of context to justify not wearing the proper attire when we dance isn't going to change what people see. We never want to be a stumbling block for anyone.

     "Dance garments are expensive" Wrong...some dance garments are expensive, but some are very inexpensive and well-made. In addition, there are ways to make beautiful coverings with 2 yards of fabric that don't even require sewing skills. The other problem with this argument is that some of us who complain that dance garments are expensive will spend the same amount of money or more on worldly concert tickets, hair weaves, shoes, and handbags. What is our real priority?

     "I don't need to wear pants under my skirt or dress if I have on tights"  For modesty purposes, ladies should always wear the wide legged palazzo pants under a skirt or dress. That way, we can be free to move without anyone seeing something of ours that should only be seen by our mates at home. Men (and some women) in a church service should not have to struggle to focus on God because they are seeing crotches on the platform! 

     "I can't help it if I have a lot up top, that's the way God made me" You can't control your genetics, but you can control how it is seen. Ladies, please wear proper undergarments that don't allow your bust to bounce up and down when you move. Make sure you wear pasties if you need them, or put folded tissue in the front of your bra. Some type of overdress or overlay should be worn over a leotard. The worship dresses that are made by the dancewear companies look may beautiful on children, but not so nice on women because they call attention to our bust. The body is not shameful, but once again, we don't want to call attention to our form, because the focus in worship is always on God. Anything that takes away from that is a distraction.

     "Those praise dance garments look plain and old-fashioned"  A long time ago, when dancewear manufacturers discovered there was a market for worship dance attire, they created garments based on their perception of dance, and of the church. The result was often drab, non-interesting, cheesy looking, almost comical items. Their stock consisted of ruffles, bib-tops, and dresses that looked like choir robes or togas, instead of the beautiful selection of garments now available. As people who were gifted to sew began to create dancewear that was colorful and modest, the amount of garments available increased tremendously. Today we can look anywhere online and find very nice attire for all budgets. It's not necessary to buy the most expensive garments, but it is important to purchase the nicest ones that you can afford. Even if you don't have a lot of money, you can create a worship dance top using 2 yards of 45" or 60" fabric, secured with safety pins on the inside and tied at the shoulder over a leotard. The same length of fabric can also be wrapped without any pins at all. 

(We can show you how to do this in detail in a future blog).

      A great reference is Garments of Glory, a downloadable e-book by Jocelyn Richard of Visual Praise Ministries in Augusta, GA (www.thepraisedancelife). Jocelyn has a wealth of information about garments and other aspects of the dance ministry from her many years of experience as a worship dance leader. Her e-book includes full-color pictures, historical references and a list of reputable and affordable dance garment makers. You can purchase and download it here: http://store.payloadz.com/details/843062-ebooks-religion-and-spirituality-garments-of-glory.html

     It can never be stressed enough that one of the main reasons that praise and worship dance is still not accepted in some churches is because of the way dancers are dressed. I was in a fabric store one day and an older woman began to lecture me on why she didn't like praise dance, and how disgraceful women looked in what they wore. She was so offended by their immodesty that she didn't even believe that anyone could do anything different than what she had seen. What a shame! Someone did not receive the message of the dance (if there was one) because of a preventable situation.

     As a member of the National Liturgical Dance Network, I want to share this best practice information with as many in the dance ministry community as possible, because once we learn something, we need to pass it on to others. Please feel free to share the this blog and slideshow I created with anyone you feel could benefit from seeing it. You can go to the video and share it directly from You Tube. The garments pictured are but a few of many examples of attire that is beautiful and appropriate in any church setting. The purpose of the slideshow is not to endorse any garment maker. You can go online and type in "Worship Dance Garments" or "Praise Dance Garments", and several options will show in your browser. If you would like any additional information about garments, you can e-mail me at: urbanartz212@gmail.com, and I will be happy to direct you to more resources. You can also contact the National Liturgical Dance Network, Foot of the Cross Ministries, Dancing for Him Ministries or any of the ministries and garment makers in the info section of the blog. We would love to help you dress for glory and beauty!

     I hope that I've posted something that can help the dance ministry to grow, and to be perceived in the way that God intends. 

Be blessed, and as always, Keep Dancing for Christ!

Keep Your Word!

 

Broken promises
are worse than rain clouds
    that don’t bring rain. ~ Proverbs 25:14 (CEV)

     The saying: " Word is bond" goes back a long way, but it will always be true. God always keeps his word, and as followers of Christ, we are expected to keep ours. Have you ever attended an event, expecting to receive something that was promoted to be a "Power-packed, life-changing experience" and found it to be totally disorganized? Or, have you ever paid for goods or services that were not received as promised? Worse yet, have you even been responsible for any of these things? Well, I'm not here to judge or condemn anyone, but this needs to change.

You must not cheat each other, but you must respect your God. I am the Lord your God.

Leviticus 25:17 (NCV)

     We always need to count the cost of anything we undertake before we commit to start. Careful planning and having a backup strategy can help avoid misunderstandings. There may be circumstances that are beyond our control, but a little communication goes a long way. With the advent of text messaging  and social media, there is little excuse for keeping people who have invested time and resources into your ministry in the dark about changes or cancellations. Most people will understand if they are informed about changes in venue or availability, but no one likes to be ignored with unreturned phone calls or e-mails; they were important when you received their money, and are still important afterwards!

It is better not to make a promise than to make one and not keep it.
Ecc. 5:5 (GWT)

     If you find that you are unable to follow through with a commitment you have made,contacting people directly to acknowledge the situation and offering an acceptable solution is the best way to keep  a positive relationship with them for future endeavors.  If  funds were exchanged, make sure there is a clearly written policy in place for handling refunds in a timely manner. In addition, people should be given the option of a full or partial refund if there is a cancellation on your end. Don't automatically assume that everyone will give you a second chance! If people stop trusting and supporting you, it won't be long before you are forgotten.  Always strive to be that ministry that is known for excellence behind the scenes, as well as in public. If people express their opinions, listen to what they have to say and consider if the impression they have of you is one that you want to keep, and remember that there are many who will never say anything directly to you, but will tell others of their bad experiences.

   

We are living in a time when everything we do as Christians is under careful scrutiny. A good reputation is worth the time and effort that it takes to build and maintain. Keep your word!

New Year, New Start!

Trust the Lord with all your heart,
    and don’t depend on your own understanding.
 Remember the Lord in all you do,    and he will give you success.
~ Prov. 3:5-6 (NCV)



      2014 has officially arrived, along with all of the New Year's Resolutions, goals, aspirations and good intentions that we promise to fulfill in the coming months. Some of them are realistic, and sometimes as humans we make promises because others are making them and we don't want to feel left out, knowing that we don't have the drive or real intention on following through with what we said that we would do. But...I have a suggestion: Why not think about the things you were working on, struggling with, or moving towards, and instead of making new resolutions, continue your work on whatever you were doing in 2013? If you were planning to start a workshop that God inspired you to do, and it didn't happen last year, prayerfully look at your plans and rethink them, seek out guidance from a trusted source, and keep focusing on your goal. Have a budget and a target audience, do your research, find your facilitators and plan your deadlines. Think about how much everything will cost and count the cost of the entire project. Good events require a lot of planning to be effective, and need many hands and much prayer to be successful. In fact, a very wise Prophetess, Pastor Sarah Morgan of Women of Vision L.A. states: "Whatever is not birthed in prayer, is illegal"*. That is a very profound statement, but it means that if you haven't spent time praying and getting guidance from God in what you do, it should not be done!

     While we are on the subject of goals, what are you doing to improve your dance ministry presentations for the coming months? There are always new ministries being formed, some have knowledge of how to start and maintain a dance ministry, some have the heart for ministering but no idea of how to prepare themselves. Maybe God has called you to be a solo worshipper, and you need to know about choreography or exactly what to do with your singular ministry. Find out where your place is, and assume the position! There are several sources available to help you in your endeavors that are of good quality, easily accessible, and an affordable investment. Many ministries are faltering because of lack of preparation, or they fail to invest the time in learning about their art. The ministry is whatever God wants to accomplish through your art form, whether it is dance, poetry, theatre, mime, step or flagging. Just because we call something a ministry does not automatically make it one, which is why we can look around and see so many things going on in church that do not glorify God and actually bring confusion and disgust to the church. So many are turned off when they see us calling ourselves ministries (servants) but what we are serving is not fit for consumption. Selah...

     My mind goes back to a video I watched in which there were two dancers presenting a song to the church. The song was about who God is to us. Instead of one dancer representing God speaking to the other dancer, they appeared to take turns being God, and neither one was receiving what the other was giving. At one point in the song, it looked like a war between good and evil. It was a very beautiful song, but extremely challenging to choreograph if you don't study the scriptural basis of the song and plot out your movement theme based on (1) Who is speaking? (2) Who is being spoken to? (3) What is the through-line or pervasive message of the song? (4) What is the resolution? (The end point of the song). If you don't take time to study that, your audience will walk away confused, empty, turned-off, or even think that what you are doing is comical. Although they may never tell you this, they may tell it to other people. Don't be the ministry that people start texting on or decide to go to the bathroom on because you are not effective!

     Again...make this the year that you make plans to attend a workshop in your area, take classes, or avail yourself of some of the many media resources for dance ministry that are available online, on DVD, or in e-books. All of these are relatively inexpensive and are brought to you by people who have many years of experience and want to share their knowledge with you. There are also many ministries who have taken time to study and are eager to have you join in their learning journey along with them: A few are:

• The Praise Dance Life with Jocelyn Richard - Minister Jocelyn Richard of Visual Praise Ministries has a wealth of information on dance ministry, choreography, garments, technique, nutrition, music, and many other resources on DVD and in e-book form. She also has podcasts that are archived that you can listen to, teleconferences, and does local workshops as well as some traveling to dance conferences where she teaches classes. You can find out more about her ministry at: www.thepraisedancelife.com.
• Dancing for Him Ministries with Pastor Lynn Hayden - Pastor Lynn has a profound ministry that focuses on the prophetic in movement and dance, and holds regular worship dance workshops around the country. She also has many resources in book form, and on DVD for dancers on all levels that you can use in the privacy of your own home. For more information, you can find her at: www.dancingforhim.com.

     All of these ministries have video on YouTube for you to see, and find out which one would be best suited for your needs. There are many wonderful worship dance resources to choose from, but these are the three that are being highlighted this month. More will be shared as space and time allows.

     Whatever you do, acknowledge God in all your ways, and allow Him to direct your ministries this year. Be original, and be your best!

*Quote from Pastor Sarah Morgan, Women of Vision/Trees of Righteousness Mentoring Class
 - www.womenofvisionla.org

Shekinah Glory Ministry - Just for Me



On Repeat...

  

The beginning of wisdom:
Get wisdom! Get understanding before anything else. ~ Proverbs 4:7 (CEB)

The holiday season is upon us, along with a new year that brings new ideas, new goals and new energy...but somehow the same issues keep coming up over and over again. There are more praise ministries in the church than ever before, yet some of us seem to be quick with presentation without the preparation that goes on beforehand. All of these things I'm about to write have been read before, heard before, and said many times already, but for those who have never heard, it bears repeating:

IF you are going to dance to a song in church...especially if it is a popular one...please make sure you understand the song, the Biblical/spiritual meaning/who is speaking/to whom are they speaking/ and that your moves demonstrate the words of the song. it's not always about looking like a polished dancer, but you cannot beat your chest like Tarzan and jump around up in the front like a monkey and call it praise dance, dance ministry, mime, pantomime (they are not the same) drama, worship arts, human video, or any combination of the above.

   I recently saw a video in which the dancers were literally hopping around in a frenzy, doing the same movements alternately in the chorus of the song. It seemed as if they were sometimes attacking the audience instead of ministering to them, and at one point, it looked like a duel between the two  of the dancers when the lyrics were actually not about them, but about who God is. I'm sure that wasn't their intent, but that was the look. Now... it's one thing to do that in the privacy of your own space, but to present that in a worship service is something quite different. People may say "Amen...Go head...Werk!"...but in reality they are probably responding to the music, and not to whatever is going on in front of them . . . and while they may not know any better they deserve better. It's equivalent to a minster going into the pulpit and doing a lot of shouting, but never bringing a real message that anyone can actually use. Because he or she knows how to get the crowd's attention, people will respond emotionally, but spiritually, they received nothing because nothing was given to them.

   This is in no way meant to put anyone down, to be mean, or critical. When I have the time to watch dance ministry videos, I'm blessed by what I see, all ages and cultures of people who love to worship the Lord in movement, some are highly skilled, some have very simple movements, but it doesn't matter as long as they are offering their best worship to Him and have taken the time to think about what they are dancing about and to whom they are sharing the Good News of Christ with. Good dance/movement ministry always contains these elements:

(1)A song or music that is Biblically based; (2) Clear movements that express the message or essence of the song; (3) Connection to the music by all who are ministering - including facial expressions, and wholehearted participation (in other words, look like you really want to do it, and not like you did someone a favor to show up);and (4) Appropriate attire - does not mean expensive but should be modest and fit well (no body parts out of place on anyone, no cleavage on women); which brings us to the net point: A lot of us are eager to put on dance conferences and give workshops when we need to go and learn what to do before we try to teach someone else. If we don't, all we are doing is perpetuating slackness and mediocrity. All of us will not look like professional dancers, but all of us who God has called to minister publicly in any way, should do everything that we possibly can to be at our best.

   If you have a desire to start a dance/mime/step/flag/drama ministry, please be prayerful about it. The worship arts ministry has been exploited and misunderstood, and still does not receive the respect that it should have, mainly because people are unwilling to take the time and learn how to minister properly. Take time to seek out knowledge from seasoned ministers in your area. Avail yourself of DVD's and books that are worth the investment of time and money. It's not necessary to attend every conference and workshop that is given, but let God lead you to the one He would have you to attend. Otherwise, we will have to keep playing this same message on repeat...repeat...repeat...

*If you would like information on worship arts ministries, please click on the links under "Dance, Drama, & Literary Resources".

Please enjoy these ministry presentations by different groups. All have different stylistic elements and abilities but the one thing they have in common is that the Good News of Christ is very clean and clear, and done excellently!

"Presence..."

     I recently attended a stage production for a Christian theatre company. All of the presentations were unique and fun to watch, but there were a couple of dancers in the company who had every one's attention, not because of their skill alone, but because of their ability to engage the audience in what they were doing onstage, better known as stage presence. Somehow in the sacred arts community, stage presence is something that is frequently overlooked, or even seen as being prideful. But...the truth is, without it, no one will pay attention to what you have to offer, no matter how anointed or it may be, how much time you put into your presentation, or how beautiful your garments are.

     Stage presence is the ability to command an audience with an impressive style or manner. It has very little to do with skill or knowledge, and everything to do with how you feel about yourself and what you are doing. It's not about trying to impress or entertain, but is about presenting the message that you have with confidence, believing that what God has given you to say through your ministry is good enough to offer.

     How many times have your heard someone say any of these things before they sing, speak, dance or read in front of an audience:

• "Please pray for me as I attempt to sing this song"
• "I'm really not prepared...so pray my strength"
• "I'm really nervous"
• "I didn't know I was going to be called on so I don't know how this will go"

...And the list goes on. Sometimes people make these statements because they don't want to appear prideful, but in reality there is either a false humility that is behind what they are saying, or they may actually be unprepared. BUT---in either case it's never appropriate to say anything that will cause people to not want to hear or see what you are doing before you even get started. If your song or dance is so bad, why are you doing it? When you say these things, you are giving people permission to walk out on your performance/ministry because it's not worth their time.  And what about dancers who have absolutely no facial expression at all when they dance? There is an erroneous teaching going around the dance ministry community stating that you should never smile when you dance unless you are in the spirit, but we could take that a step further and say, that since ministry starts long before you step in front of a group. If you are prepared to minister, you will have a full emotional range that will show on your face. Jocelyn Richard, Director and Owner of Visual Praise Dance Studio in Augusta, GA, says this about facial expressions in dance ministry:

"When you dance, your face must say the same thing as your movement and music. Your face should express the glory of God. It is important that the face reflect what the choreography is saying. God’s presence should be shown on your face. Facial expressions can show reverence for God and adoration inviting others to join in worshiping and praising the King of Kings." *

     Sometimes dancers lack expression because of self-consciousness, shyness, insecurity or stage fright. There are many ways to solve this, such as relaxing, practicing facial expressions in the mirror, feeling comfortable enough with the dance or drama to enjoy doing it as if no one is watching, and just be a worshiper! In theatre, it's always taught that the way to overcome nervousness on stage is to focus on the task at hand and not the action of doing the task, becoming so at-one with the character that all people see is the character. We can turn this around and say: Become so Christ-focused that you are so completely absorbed in Him that His glory radiates from your face! When you focus on Christ, there is no room for nervousness, insecurity, or excuses. You have a message to deliver to someone who needs it, and it needs to be clear.

     Other tips for powerful stage presence include:

• Commanding your space in the room, entering and exiting with confidence
• Project your performance beyond the room that you are in. Make your presentation mentally extend past the four walls of the building. Don't just "sell it to the front row".
• Practice "over the top", in other words, practice your dance/drama to the fullest, even to the extreme. When you get in front of a group, it will be exactly where it needs to be because performances always lose a small amount of drive when they get onstage.
• Keep your eyes up, focus on a spot just above the heads of the people. It will look like you are looking straight ahead. People will look where you are looking and if you look down, they will, too.
• Be aware of habits like lip-folding or fidgeting while you are waiting for the music to start. Relax...inhale through your nose and out through your mouth. Don't withdraw! You have something to offer.

     Find time to invest in dance or acting classes to work on these areas. If God has called you to present His Word through dance or drama, then it's worth investing in your ministry to present the best that you can offer at your highest level of excellence. He gave His Best for us, shouldn't we do the same for Him?

     Enjoy this video by Jocelyn Richard:



* The Praise Dance Life by Jocelyn Richard - http://www.thepraisedancelife.com/2009/07/exodus-3429-30---------29and-it-came-to-pass-when-moses-came-down-from--mount-sinai-with-the-two-tables-of-t.html

May I Have This Dance?

        People love to dance! Just a look at the most popular network shows gives us an idea of how many people love dance, so much that they are either doing it themselves, or watching others. Many people who join dance ministries are great dancers who danced it up in the clubs or in the streets, and they bring that same zeal for dance with them to church. Now, there is absolutely nothing wrong with that in and of itself, but what is wrong is that a lot of them are putting on worship garments and dancing with the same spirits that they danced with "up in da' club" and although they may be doing different steps, they have not yet changed partners. It takes time to learn how to be a worshipper, we learn as we go along walking with God on a daily basis. Are we willing to take the time to learn, or are we just in a hurry to get our praise on? I once heard a very wise Pastor say that there is really no such thing as "getting our praise on", because since the praise really belongs to God,  it's not something that we own; we are just giving His praise back to Him...Selah. 

     We have all seen dance ministries who seem to only be interested in attending conferences to present their dances without attending any of the workshops, or show up at concerts and musicals to perform and leave early, and of course the never ending line-up of dancers on You-Tube who don't wear the proper attire for ministry, etc. With so much good information circulating, it is hard to understand why there are still so many who don't know the basics about dance ministry. But, guess what? If we have seen any of these things, and did nothing more that talk about them among ourselves when we have knowledge to share,  God is not pleased with us! Some of us have notebooks and hard drives full of information that we have yet to pass along to others. What are we doing with it?

    

     We can continue to talk and complain about what others are doing until we are tired, and nothing will change. Even if we were to tie the dancers to their seats and lock all of the the doors so they can't exit the building, if their hearts are not ready to learn, or if they feel that they are being scrutinized and judged, they won't listen to anything that we have to say:

An offended brother is more resistant than a strong city,

and disputes are like the locked gate of a castle tower.

 Proverbs 18:19 (GWT)

     What are some things that we as seasoned worshippers can do to help those who are not as knowledgeable we are?  How about sharing books and resource materials with them and inviting them to workshops? If you are on a social networking page, send them a friend request so they can see what you are doing.  If you beong to a Liturgical dance organization, how about telling them how excited you are about what is going on in your area,  making sure to have some flyers or brochures ready to give them?  Even if they aren't ready to listen at first, they will remember the way you approached them. Was it with a kind spirit, or were you judging them? It's not about enlarging the membership roster of your group,  it's about promoting excellence in the Kingdom of God. When your group has an event, do all that you can to sincerely make them feel welcome if they decide to attend. Those who really want to dance for God will see the difference and want to know more about what you have to offer. Your kind words can accomplish a lot more than your criticism ever will. And remember, God is saying to them as He once said to you: "May I have this dance?"

     Of course, the most important thing we can do is pray for ourselves and others. We do our part by sharing knowledge, and God does the rest:  Lord Jesus look on us, Your worshippers. You know the hearts and motivations of all people. let those who have an ear to hear,  be open to learn and receive Your Word, so that they can learn to be true worshippers at all times. let them learn that worship is not an activity, it is a lifestyle of prayer, praise, the Word, fasting, and giving. Help us to be good examples, and not their judges.  this is our prayer Lord, in Your Name, AMEN.

Enjoy this praise by