Moving For God
Basic Worship Movement Workshop
Presented by: Cristine Giannetto
Saturday, March 7, 2015 – 12:45pm – 2:00pm
Outline of workshop:
1. Introductions, your name, church you attend, why are you taking this
workshop, and a word that best describes you.
2. Definition of Worship Dance
3. Biblical scriptures for Worship dance
4. Types of worship dance
5. Creating choreography for worship dance
6. The meaning of colors and scripture references in worship dance
7. Use of props in worship dance
8. Garments for worship dance
9. Learn a simple worship dance – Create In Me (Psalm51:10)
10. Q&A/Reference materials
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2. Definition of worship dance:

Worship dance (also known as liturgical dance or praise dance) is a form of worship that
seeks to articulate the word and spirit of God through the body. Worship dance can be
diverse, including traditional or modern ballet, lyrical, jazz, tap, hula and hip-hop
dancing. It is performed to Christian themed music. Dances can be spontaneous or
choreographed, involving an individual or a group of dancers. Sometimes a worship
dance can be part of a bigger production in which an entire story is told.
3. Biblical references to worship dance:
Exodus 15:20-21

Then Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a tambourine in her hand, and all
the women went out after her with tambourines and dancing. And Miriam sang to them:
“Sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider he has thrown
into the sea
2 Samuel 6:14
 And David danced before the Lord with all his might. And David was wearing a linen
ephod.
Psalm 150:1-6

Praise the Lord! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens! Praise
him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his excellent greatness! Praise him
with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp! Praise him with tambourine and
dance; praise him with strings and pipe! Praise him with sounding cymbals; praise him
with loud clashing cymbals! ...
Psalm 149:3

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"Let Them Praise God's Name With Dancing!"
4. Types of worship dance:

Prelude – First song of the service, before the worship service starts.

Processionals – Dancers go down the aisle at the beginning of the services. For example,
on Palm Sunday, the dancers would carry in the palms.

Recessionals – Dancers go down the aisle at the close of the service and exit the church

Any variety of times during the service. Before the sermon, during the offering, before
communion. Make sure that the dance blends in with the theme of the service.

Worship dances can be done with live music, church choirs, pre-recorded CD’s, while
scriptures are being read, in silence, with the sound of percussion instruments, i.e.
rainsticks, drums, clapping.
 Worship dances can be done for church services, senior living homes, church retreats,
weddings, memorial services, concerts, festivals, church conventions and recitals.
5. Creating Choreography for worship dance:
When you start to choreograph a new worship dance, there are some different methods to help
facilitate the creative process and get the creative juices flowing
 Mirroring:
o Two people face each other. One person is the leader and the other person
follows. The leader will start a movement and the follower must do the exact
movement. Each person will take turns being the leader and follower. Good
exercise for being able to have the ability to lead and then follow. In addition, it
challenges the people to not only have ideas for movement, but also to copy the
movement on the spot.
 Positive/negative:
o Within a group of dancers, each person will count out numbers. For example,
1,2,3,4, etc. The first person will move to a different spot in the room and strike
a pose. The next person will move to the spot, and fill in the empty space that is
created by the first person. Continue this until there are no more dancers left.
You will see some very unique shapes that come out of this exercise.
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 Circle improvisation:
o Form a circle and each person takes a turn moving to the music. After they are
done, they pass along to the next person, but it does not have to be the person next
to them, it could be someone across from them in the circle.

Interpretation
o Visually interpret the music, words, Scriptures, message. For example, a prayer
that uses movement rather than being spoken, like The Lord’s Prayer. The use of
sign language in a worship dance can be very powerful
o Look up the definition of key words in the song using the bible dictionary to help
with ideas of how you want to interpret the words.
6. The meaning of colors and scripture references in worship
dance:
Black: Righteous Judgment; Death; Death of old self; Famine; Mourning; Evil; Humiliation;
Affliction; Calamity Lam. 4:8, Rev. 6:5
Blue: Hope; Healing; Grace; Freedom; Holy Spirit & Anointing; Heavenlies; Holy; Revelation;
Power & Might; Truth; Holy Spirit; R Reward Exodus 24:10, Num. 15:38
Bronze: Judgment upon sin; Fires of testing Num. 21:7
Brown: Man as we are; Earth Gen. 1:10
Burgundy: The Red Earth; Selfish; Covetous Sin
Copper & Gold: (Washing by the Word) turns Pink; Righteousness; Right standing
Cream: Healing
Crimson: Blood Atonement; Sacrifice; Consuming fire
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Isaiah 1:18, Lev. 14:52, Joshua 2:18-
Crystal: Overcoming Bride of Christ; Sanctification; Salt of the Earth
Emerald: Mercy
Green: Praise; Growth; New beginnings; Eternal life; Prosperity; Vigor; Freshness; Resting in
God, Knowledge, Fresh oil; Psalm 52:8, Isaiah 43:18-21, Psalm 52:8
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Gold: Power; His Deity; Glory; Presence of God, Wisdom, Emblem of eternal diety
(kingliness); refined by fire, Acts 17:29, Rev. 21:18-23
Hyacinth: Holy Spirit; Reward; Divine Revelation
Iridescent: Cleansing Work of the Holy Spirit; Blessings of God; Angel Wings
Orange: Praise; Spiritual Warfare/Intercession; Relationship/Companionship with God
Counsel Psalm 150, Eph. 6:10-20
Pink: Right relationship; Power; Healing
Purple: Kingship; Royalty; Majesty, Fear of the Lord, Jesus as Mediator. Rev. 19:11-16, John
19:2, Judges 8:26
Red: Salvation; Blood; War; Redemption; Courage; Holy Fire; Life Atonement,
Understanding, Covenant; Sign of Victory or Warning; Sacrifice and Courage Isaiah 27:2, Rev.
6:4, Rev. 12:3, 2 Kings 3:22
Sapphire: The Heavenlies; the Throne, Ezk. 1:26
Scarlet: Sacrifice; Sin; Blood Atonement, Isaiah 1:18, Joshua 2:18-21, Numbers 19:6, Lev.
14:52, Mt. 27:28
Silver: Redemption; Strength; Spirit; Revelation; Grace
White: Purity; Light; Festivity; Triumph; Righteousness; Salt; Holiness;Glory; the Bride; White
Robe of Righteousness
Yellow: Joy; Sunshine/Sonshine, Spiritual Enlightenment
7. Use of Props in worship dance:
1. Streamers/Ribbons (attached to the wrist, fingers, held in the hands, attached to dowels)
2. Bowls of incense (carried down the aisles or danced with in front)
3. Fabric (small enough for 1 person to dance with, or large pieces for a more dramatic
effect, which needs 2 or more dancers to manipulate)
4. Angel Wings (made of flowing fabric such as chiffon and attached with elastic at the
shoulders and wrists)
5. Tambourines (you can attach different color ribbons if you wish)
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6. Candles (inside a thick, votive type container that won’t get too hot to hold or inside a goblet or
something with a handle to hold onto. LED candles could work too. This is very dramatic when
danced for an evening service such as Christmas Eve, where the lights are out light and just the
candlelight is seen. For example, danced to Silent Night)
7. Banners (they can be carried down the aisles and held in front while others dance, or they
can be placed in a holder such as a flag holder that hold the weight of the pole and
fabric)
8. Glory Hoops (made with embroidery hoops and strips of fabric and ribbons)
8. Garments for worship dance:
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Garments for worship dance con’t
Unlike many other forms of dancing outfits, praise dance wear has to be modest and not draw
attention to the body. The dresses of the women are normally long and flowing as it allows them
to move better. For men, the pants are not close fitting and shirts are normally loose and worn
outside the pants so as to make movement easier while providing a modicum of modesty. We do
not want to be a stumbling block to the people that are watching us!
Choosing the Types of Outfits
While dresses are the most common pieces for women, other garments include skirts suits,
palazzo pants, tights, and scarves and yes, the right type of shoes if they are not dancing
barefoot. Shoes would include ballet slippers, jazz shoes and modern dance paws.
As with any other type of garment selection, it is also important to choose those that suit the
body size of each dancer. Even if modesty is most important, the garments should be neat and
attractive. To put dancers in gaudy or ill-fitting outfits will only serve to detract from the
performance.
Since the garments have to be modest, it is important to follow certain standards, such as:



Sleeves: As a general rule, sleeves should be elbow length or longer so as to keep the
arms covered.
Necklines: Since any showing of cleavage is too sexual, garments for liturgical or
worship dancing should keep the chest area properly covered. Many designers of these
kinds of dancewear pay special attention to keeping this area of the female body
concealed.
Pantaloons, palazzos and culottes: Dancers normally wear these under dresses if they
consider leotards and tights too close fitting or revealing.
For dances that require lots of jumping and leaping, palazzo pants and culottes are best as they
enable the dancer to maintain their modesty while remaining flexible and free in their
movements. They are also safer as long flowing dresses can become trip hazards when a lot of
leaping is necessary during a particular routine.
Ultimately, when choosing your outfit you need to choose pieces that will serve the purpose of
the dance that is being danced. The right style and colors are important when choosing the outfits
for the dance routines for different ceremonies and biblical stories.
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Where to find Praise Dance Wear
Finding pieces for individuals and groups is no longer a difficult task. Many establishments
actually cater only to people needing worship costumes and other types of clothing stores also
carry gear for the church set. It is possible to find the right garments at online sellers or from off
the rack in many stores. Some dancers, depending on their needs will even have their praise
dance wear custom made.
Here are some websites that specifically carry worship/praise dancewear:
http://www.dancewearsolutions.com/dance_styles/worship/default.aspx
http://4everpraise.com/
http://www.christiandance.com/sdance4g.htm
9. Learn a simple worship dance:
Create In Me (Psalm51:10)
Music by John Michael Talbot
10. Q & A/Reference material:
Books on Worship dance:




Dance – God’s Holy Purpose Author: Dr. Ann Stevenson
Restoring the Dance: Seeing God’s Order – Dr. Ann Stevenson
Dance, Dance, Dance – Lynn Hayden
Dancing for Him – Lynn Hayden
Worship dance websites:


http://www.dancingforhim.com/ - Dancing for Him
http://www.cdfusa.org/ - Christian Dance Association
 http://christiandance.com/ - One Accord Ministries, Christian Sacred Dance
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