Choosing music for praise and worship dance choreography
Below is an excerpt from my ebook Phenomenal Choreography for Worship
go here > http://store.payloadz.com/go/?id=843993
I encourage openness and use of many music styles for worship and praise dance choreography. From a personal perspective, I have long held a preference of Sandy Patty hymns for dancing. Once at a church, a young person approached me with a request. “Sister Jocelyn,” he said, “listen to this music.” The music was that of an artist widely known as a performer with a kind of contemporary gospel music idiom. Viewing the image of the singer on the cover, through a pre-judgment I replied, “Thank you very much. Yet, within my heart, I had immediately determined not to listen to or dance to that style of music.
Months later, I found myself at a loss as to music for an upcoming dance ministry assignment. I visited Christian music stores. Nonetheless, I could not find music that spoke to me. Suddenly, I caught sight of a tape of the music that the young person had presented to me. I put aside pre-judgment and heeded the sudden desire to hear the music I had rejected listening to. I discovered the music lifted up Jesus. Instantly I realized that had I not opened myself to the music I would have passed up a blessing from the Lord who I’m sure had directed the young person and thereby enabled our paths to cross. The point is, as far as music is concerned, be open. Of itself, music is not good or bad. God created music before the world changed it in directions contrary to His intentions. Therefore, in listening to music, be attentive to be sure the lyrics point to Jesus. The music can be, Christian contemporary, worship and praise, traditional hymns or jazz. Be open and listen to the music without prejudging. Consider music suggested or offered to you by others. Always take care that the music is clearly talking about Jesus. Otherwise your search for music will be fruitless.
Check out my worship dance music store in the link below.
http://astore.amazon.com/choreographymusic-20?node=1&page=4
In the link below is that dance to Yolanda Adam's music. "Let us worship Christ the Lord." Please forgive the quality of the video. This was recorded about
20 years ago at a Christmas celebration in NYC hosted by Rev. Jackie McCullough.
Dance is a universal language. We have an opportunity to use the language of dance to show God's glory and love for the world. However, to do so we may have to leave the four walls of the Church. Let's take our Worship Dance outside the Church to the market place, nursing homes, schools, performing arts venues, the street, beaches, etc. The world is waiting to see our dance of God's love and hope. The same hope that Jesus the Christ, the Son of the living God brings to the world.
Take your dance to the community, mission field, performance venues, schools, parks higher education, and even another country. Give your dance away because it is time to dance.
Recently a sister invited me to teach her the Couples Ministry of her Church Ballroom Dancing. I am not familiar with the logistics of Ballroom Dance. I’ve always loved to watch it, but I had no experience with ballroom dancing. I tried to get out of it, but God wouldn’t let me get out of it and neither would she. I finally said yes. It was Christian, for the Lord, and it was to enhance the Couples Ministry for an event they were having. I went to the library and did research on the Waltz. I taught five couples the Waltz and it was the most rewarding experience of my life.
I had the opportunity later at the Couples Ministries formal event to teach about 200 couples the Waltz. My husband was my partner. We all had a gloriously fun evening. One thing the experience showed me is that we can’t put Dance Ministry or God in a box. We have to let God use it the way He would have it used. We have to give it away. If this is my Ministry and my gift, why would l hold it to myself and say, “No, I’m not teaching Ballroom Dancing. I only teach ballet." Well, if at the moment the need is Ballroom Dancing and God has opened the door, then I should go in to make a powerful impact. Give your dance away.
Dance is worthy of continued study.
Dance is a non verbal language. We want to be affective in ministering God's glory and leading others in worship. Thus, we must constantly increase our knowledge base of dance vocabulary through continued training and study of the art of dance.
When was the last time you took a dance class?
Become a lifelong student of the art of dance. In Christian Dance, we might come into the Dance Ministry with no formal dance training wondering if training is necessary for Ministry. Know that God can use us right where we are. If we want to dance in excellence, try to avoid injuries. Longevity training is a must as it helps teach technique, which will aide in the prevention of injuries. I encourage all Worship Dancers to get more training and study dance. If you haven’t had ballet, modern dance, jazz, or some form of structured class, enroll in a class. Go to live professional dance concerts to experience movement on a stage with theatrical lighting, costumes, music, and skilled choreography. The experience of a live dance concert is a priceless asset to your ministry. Looking at dance will make you a better student of dance. It is never too late to study the art of dance. It can only help you to be more powerful with excellence for our Lord.
We are dancing unto the Lord and while the focus is not on us, we should still look like dancers. We don’t have a problem with singers sounding like a singer. We don’t have a problem with the preacher being a charismatic orator. The Dance Minister, the Worship Leader who leads the people into worship with movement, should look like a dancer. That means we have to eat well and keep our bodies in tip top shape. We have to have endurance, strength, and grace for powerful worship through dance. “How beautiful are the feet of them that bring good news”, says Isaiah 52:7. Remember dance is a visual ministry. How we look does impact the overall Ministry presentation and the message we want to convey. So look like a dancer, a Worship Praise Dancer.
Focus on the Ministry of dance. If God has called you to do it, pour yourself into the Ministry. Sometimes I meet Dance Ministers who are involved in so many things other than dance. These other Ministries are good to be a part of, but dance requires much of us emotionally, physically, and mentally. If you’re torn in different directions, it might become burdensome to minister with joy, excellence, and power.
I’m not saying don’t be involved in other things, but really pray and make sure it’s what God would have you to do. Dance Ministry is very time-consuming. It requires many hours of training and rehearsing. With all that we have going on in our lives, (family, business, school, work, etc), be very wise of where you put your time and energy. You are called to dance for the Lord. Remember to stay focused.
Your dance has the power to elevate God's people into the heavenly realm of pure worship. We must make sure that our dances are not performances to promote ourselves, but ministry that lifts up Jesus. We must see ourselves and behave as worship leaders who dance to inspire others to worship Jesus.
You are more than a dancer. You are a worship leader and dance is the medium that you use to lead the people of God into worship. It is very important that we have the mindset of a Worship Leader. We might have to begin to change our vocabulary. We shouldn’t say “Oh! I’m going to perform” or “I’m just going to dance”, but “I’m going to minister”, or “I’m going to lead worship”. It’s very important that we change our mindset and our vocabulary to think that way. As we do, we will make a powerful impact as worship leaders.