major conflict of issues

[Margolit]

HI! everyone,

My Name is Tina Richardson and I've danced off and on since High School. Late 30ish now. Right now I belong to a Semi-Professional Dance Troupe and is having a major conflict of issues. Every one in the group are Christians and were often invited to dance at different events. My problem is the why they approch the Worship Dance. I like to study the song, find the mode of prayer, anoint the receiver of the word in dance and so on and they just go and dance.  I feel it time for me to go back into the church and dance but, here in Hinesville, GA dance is more expected than when I first started a group that I still use the name Divine Praise Lyrical Dance Troupe, a troupe of 1. I would dance freely or rehearsed every week. As far as garments. When I danced in the church in the early 90's dress was a major issue. The pastors wanted us in White from head to toe. Pants under the dress and everthing. I wasn't aware of the Jewish Feast Dress and the Pagentry as a whole like now. I wanted color. Warfare colors, Holy colors, Feast colors it would have been great but White all the time. OK! I'm a rebel I wore a black circle skirt over the white with a Royal Blue sash ( We're not under the LAW was the song) and needless to say the group that I started went out and dance without me knowing and I was so hurt I stopped dancing for 10 plus years.  -_-

Thank You! for being apart of what GOD is doing in my LIFE for HIM. Tina

Hi, Tina, and welcome. My name's Margolit. As I read your post, I saw more than one issue:



- the way the dance/performance is approached within the group

- the question of dress as it relates to the pastors (plural?) expectations

- the group dancing without you





But there are also other things not mentioned that caught my attention. Two of the primary are:



- what is the mission statement (purpose) of the troup? Why do you dance? Is it a ministry and outreach tool? Is it to enhance and strengthen the worship experience? Is it to work closely with the worship team and other performers? Are you there to assist and work with the churches and other organizations? I believe this is crucial to any group or organization, including yours.



Above all, to me, the reason for such a dance troup should first and always be to glorify G-d. It is He who has given each of you the gift, and love, of dance. Everything else should come after. It is not, nor should it ever be, about the dancers, choreographer(s), or any of the individuals involved. I can say from my own experience as a dance-ministry co-leader, that the minute this gets lost, problems arise, and more importantly, it gives the enemy a foothold. But this I'm sure you already know.



Do you have anything in writing that defines who and what you are, and what you, as a group, see as your mission and/or aim for? If not, perhaps you should draft such a document to clarify things for yourselves, as well as to help you when you go out to churches, etc.



- the troup's decision-making process itself: the who, what, where, when, why and how of the performances, that is, the decision-making as regards the troup's performances as a whole. Is there a hierarchy, a person or people with the overall resposibility and authority for what goes on?



How are resposibilities delegated? You are its founder, but no one can, nor should have, total control. Delegation is important. Just as Moshe's father-in-law Jethro pointed out in Exodus (Ex. 18:14-26), and Yeshua with the disciples, and any good leader knows, it's for the well-being and smooth and effective operation as a whole. Sometimes leaders have to bow to the realization that others may also have valid ideas, that compromises can and sometimes need to be made for the sake of the greater good.



I believe prayer should always begin meetings and precede performances. Maybe studying the song, deciding the mode of prayer, etc., can be done by the leaders before the group meets as a whole to perform. Then, the group can pray as led, and find peace, before going out to perform, with God's blessing and annointing.....something we all want.



As regards the question of dress, I believe Helena has written something, some guidelines, in that direction. Perhaps she can help you better than I can in that area.



Any one of these things can, and do, sometimes make or break a group. And I would hate to see yours fall to the enemy. I will keep you in prayer.



I hope I have been helpful, that there is some small thing which speaks to you.



Your Sister Dancin' For and With Yeshua,



Margolit











-