A little over five years ago a wonderful friend of mine challenged me about the lack of resources for dancers. She pointed out that there are so many "hearts" of worship in the church that desire to dance but are either limited by ability, a lack of ideas or simply a fear of looking silly. She said, "Leia it's time" for worship dance to step up in level and respect. That semester I entered my first teaching experience at Christ for the Nations with the hope that the girls I would work with would take the tools and pass them on allowing others to dance. They did and it grew. From those next students, I discovered that many talented dancers would not dance because the programs that were out there looked repetitive or sloppy. I also found that there were many people that wanted to dance but had no experience. They were excited but had no idea how to start. These two things broke my heart.
Thus began my ministry... to challenge well trained "secular" dancers that love God to quit sitting on the sidelines. Get out there and change the way worship dance is viewed. Don't let the enemy take the very best of our art and use it for his purposes. The very best of dancers should be found in the church worshiping the one that made them able to dance.
Likewise, those that want to dance for God should have a way to learn more. Now, some say you don't need training or skill... just dance. Well yes that is true you don't need formal training, but it limits the dancer to whatever skills they have at that moment. Just as a musician practices scales, melodies, harmonies, and technique to improve skills that will allow them to use their instrument to its full capacity, so must we as dancers. We must train our bodies, challenge our minds with new steps and combinations, stretch and build strength in order to use our instrument. There is always freedom and as you train you will actually find that you have more freedom the more you know about your art.
I never intended to write a blog... but so many dancers and worshipers ask me all the time to put something out there for them. To inspire, to push them ahead and to give them ideas for events, technique, and so forth that I thought this would be a quick way to begin that ministry.
No - (Rayanna and John) I have not given up on the book- it is coming... There are just so many ideas and so much I want people to already be able to hear that I'm starting here. Keep praying for the book!
So stay tuned... There are going to be events listed, technique explained, choreography ideas, costume information and so much more!
May all the Glory be to God and may every word typed here somehow enhance our worship of Him with the art that we all love!