Can the Christian Faith Find Value in Dance Based Worship?
By Aileen Laura Hernandez
I have been a dancer for 16 years. My whole life has always revolved around dance, but I still remain true to my Catholic faith. A few years ago I had the opportunity to watch Mather Dance Company compete a dance entitled "Voice of God." Shannon Mather, the studio owner, is a devout Christian who tries to incorporate worship in secular events. I began to wonder if this style of worship could find a place in the Christian church? After conducting my research, I quickly came to realize how complex this answer is. Cultures from around the world have used music and dance in worship for centuries. Dance in the Christian church however became taboo for a couple or reasons. Originally, in an attempt to separate themselves from Pagan religions, the early Christian church banned music and dance in all worship settings. It was also documented that Christians rejected dance due to the fact that African American slaves utilized this art form in their worship. Dance is used in many African religions, so it was naturally transferred onto Christianity when these groups of people were converted. Many white Christians saw this behavior as barbaric and sexual. To this day, many reject the art form due to its sinful and potentially provocative nature. I however found in my research that it could be executed as long as it is done with the right intention. As a matter of fact, when looking at portions of scripture, such as Psalms 149 and 150, Romans 12:1 and 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, God actually welcomes dance as a form of praise. It is important to keep in mind that this worship must never be referred to as a performance due to the word's negative connotations. This worship should always be referred to as a ministry. It is also important that one does not focus on the perfection of the dance, but rather the message and story being conveyed. If one begins to solely focus on the tricks and perfection, then the authenticity is lost. It becomes a mainstream performance rather than a sacred ministry.
I paired my research with a dance choreographed by me, but preached through dance by my younger sister, Annalise. After conducting my research, I decided to challenge myself with creating a dance for worship. The song I used for my choreography was "The Face" By RyanDan, a secular song. Although I was unable to find much information on the song's meaning, most people online have come to the consensus that RyanDan sings about a person traveling through life, feeling closer to their destination as time progresses. Through storytelling, Annalise and I related this message to a person's journey through life, walking hand in hand with God. We utilized a mirror as a representation of God. A common theme in this dance was the acknowledgment of the mirror and its reflection. As scripture tells us, we are images of God. God is in each and every one of us. As sung by RyanDan, "there in the mirror, you'll see my face." I interpreted that as whenever we look into the face of a person, including our own, we are looking into the glory, mystery, and plan of God. No matter where life takes us, no matter how much we separate ourselves from the Lord, God is within everything and everyone. God never strays away from us. As seen through Annalise's movement, people go through many rough patches in their life. RyanDan sings, "For every time you fall apart there'll be a soul to guide your journey, but if you choose to turn away, there in the mirror you'll see my face." They also sing, "Think you're on this road alone, looking for a truth untold. Many times you've been close to breaking, giving up and letting go. Something inside says it's not over." I interpreted that as no matter how difficult life gets, when we think God has abandoned and punished us, God is still there. Even in our times of despair, God is that glimpse of hope pushing you forward. He has brought you to this difficult time and he can pull you out. During the climatic portion of the music, Annalise's movements turn sporadic. I did this as a way to symbolize the moments where life turns dark. We are struggling to keep up with life. As soon as she looks into the mirror however, she experiences a moment of stillness. As a matter of fact, throughout the whole dance, every time she acknowledges the mirror, her movements stop. The chaos of her movements come to a halt. It is as though once she turns to God, her worries and anxieties go into the background. Throughout this ministry, Annalise moves away, giving her back to the mirror, similar to how we as humans for periods of time turn our backs away from God. Annalise however at the end of the dance finds her way back to the mirror (God) like our heavenly father hopes of all of us.