 |
|
|
Dancing For Him Ministries
Tom & Lynn Hayden
Santa Rosa Beach, FL
DFH
Home Page
DFH
Books & Videos
Dancer
Resources
Choreography
Tips & Techniques
Worship
Prayer
Costuming
Warfare
with Flags
Testimonies
Modern
Dance
Dance Team Concepts
Interpretive
Movement
Prophetic
Dance
Schedule
A Workshop
Upcoming
Events
Who
We Are!
Choreography Tips & Tecniques
Il Samuel 6:14 - "Then David danced before the Lord with all his might; and David was wearing a linen ephod."
Danced - Karar - This comes from the root (Kar) which means battering ram, and Karar means to whirl. Therefore, this type of dance means literally a battering ram that whirls against the enemy.
Might - Oz - This means loud forceful praise that brings strength and security.
What a visual demonstration of total abandonment before the Lord! David certainIy was a model of one who had no fear of man, and awesome fear of God. 1 don't think he was concerned if his toe was pointed or if his ephod was on straight. His offering of dance was pure and straightf rom the heart. We, as dance ministers, need to carry this same heart into our presentation pieces.
Over the last several years, after participating in and viewing many dance presentations, I have done and observed countless actions that could be avoided or improved. Certainly, the Lord looks at the heart, and any offering done unto Him is a blessing when He is praised.
However, we are humans, often with natural perspective. As we view something that is presented to the Lord for His glory, if it is anointed, and done with excellence (not necessarily more talent), we too will receive ministry, be blessed, and our natural perspective can be transformed into spiritual.
I wanted to include, in this handbook some do's and don't's, simply stated for your convenience. These are things that I have either done myself, or have seen others do.
PRESENTATION DON'T'S & DO'S
DON'T - Just walk on stage
haphazardly (cutting up and not standing in ready
position).
DO - Enter in an orderly,
reverent manner . Be well rehearsed.
DON'T - Make people wait a
long time while you get to the platfor
DO - Be ready to go so service
runs smoothly.
DON'T - Show impatience with
the sound man (rolling of the eyes, using hand motions to
move him along more quickly, etc.).
DO - Have patience with the
sound person. While waiting for music to begin, hold your
position.
DON'T - Have a sloppy
appearance.
DO - Have a nice neat
appearance with uniformity in dress.
Everyone in the dance should have either ballet shoes or
bare feet.
Bare feet are best with pants or a moden type dress, however, they are not recommended with a worship dress or skirt.
DON'T - adjust costumes, fix
hair, or rub eyes, especially while you are waiting in place
for the music to begin, as the congregation's eyes head
straight for your movement (however small and insignificant
it may seem).
DO - Make sure your costume is
situated before you go on. If a part of the costume should
fall off, make the best of it as if it never happened, and
the congregation will soon forget there was a problem.
DON'T - Chew gum!! It's
distracting and hazardous to your health (should you jump
and choke on it).
DO - Smile from your heart.
DON'T - Sing when doing a
presentation dance. The congregation will look directly at
the person who is singing and may miss the message of the
dance.
DO - Know the song and sing it
in your heart.
DON'T - Be immodest (no
leotard under overlay, no culottes etc.)
DO - pay careful attention to
complete modesty as we want to bring glory to God and bring
the congregation's focused attention to Him.
DON'T - Look at the feet of
the person in front of you or at your fellow dancers for
spacing, advice, direction, or cueing (unless you are doing
improvisation).
DO - keep your eyes focused on
the Lord. Know the dance.
DON'T - Goof and let your
face show it, or fix your mistakes in the middle of them.
Generally, the congregation will never know you made a
mistake unless you tell them with your expression of dismay
or by obvious corrections.
DO - Keep moving and smiling as
if nothing had happened.
SOME BASIC CHOREOGRAPHY DON'T'S AND DO'S
DON'T - Do a solo with more
then one person. In other words, having two or more people
doing all the same movements all at the same time, all the
same way, in the same direction. (Boring)
DO - Vary your movements. Have
some similar movements throughout the dance, but perhaps
change the level (kneel, lunge or stand) on which you do
them. As the chorus repeats, repeat the movement but perhaps
add a variation on the same theme (movements get larger as
the music gets stronger)
DON'T - Give them the whole
picture in the beginning.
DO - Start with simplicity and
build complexity as the dance progresses.
DON'T - Have a sloppy
ending.
DO - Practice the ending of the
dance. It is very important because it is the last thing the
congregation remembers! Be sure to work on it extensively as
the viewers may forgive and forget mistakes in the beginning
and middle if the ending is good.
DON'T - Bow to audience and
take all the credit. Never take the glory to yourself.
DO - Direct all the Glory to
the Lord when and if people clap.
DON'T - Exit by: just
walking off and talking to each other; finding your seat; or
maybe waving to sgmeone in the congregation, etc. It's a
good idea to exit while they are stillclapping, as it is
rather anticlimactic to exit while the church is ready to
move on to other things and they're just waiting for you to
get out of the way.
DO - Plan your exit. Have
uniformity and order. Maintain an attitude of worship until
you are out of sight.
Personal Reflections
1. Have you or your team done some of the don't's? If so which ones?
2. Have you or your team done some of the do's? If so which ones?
3. Of what other do's and don't's can you think?
From the book Dancing For Him, ©1997 Lynn M. Hayden
For teaching videos, cassettes, books, or workshop information, please contact the address at the botttom of this page.
