Symbolic Dancing Unto God At Certain Times May Be Appropriate
The below type of dancing discussed is not the kind of dancing done in Heaven, but it can be used sparingly in congregational praise times to God where appropriate. When you have your arms and hands raised in praise to the Most High, you may find yourself at times pointing to heaven with your index finger. This is an example of a common symbolic praise movement in expressive congregations.
What is dancing called that conveys ideas in dance movements such as opening and closing the arms to convey a crocodile, or lifting the arms together to convey an elephant 's trunk, or putting the fist in the air to convey the thought of power etc.? Why do I ask this? Because during the Charismatic Renewal, there came out a song that used a lot of movements created by the hands and arms or legs, and acted out in some way while the song was sung. < Click on red lettering to hear this song, and imagine how it was acted out while it was sung.
This type of dancing using the human body is called expressive movement or symbolic dance. In this style, dancers use specific gestures, movements, and body positions to convey praise, or emotions, or ideas, or representations of objects or animals. It often involves pantomime or interpretive dance, where movements are used to symbolize certain concepts, like mimicking animals, expressing emotions, or illustrating abstract ideas. All can be done in praise to God just as the above song illustrates.
In particular, some well-known forms of dance that use expressive movements include:
Pantomime: This focuses on conveying actions, emotions, and stories without words, relying solely on physical gestures and expressions.
Interpretive Dance: This can include movements that interpret specific themes, emotions, or concepts, often in a more abstract way, using gestures like the ones I previously mentioned (e.g., a fist for power, arm movements for animals).
Contact Improvisation: While not always symbolic, this can include movements that evolve based on partner interactions and can convey emotional or thematic ideas through body language.
This style of dance often requires the dancer to use their body expressively to tell a story, convey feelings, or represent objects without the use of words.
But in certain songs sung to the Lord, as the above song I Thank You Father For Making Me Me or sometimes named: If I Were A Butterfly, I'd Thank You illustrates, the movements accompany words sung, so that praise is both sung and creatively acted out, but all done unto the Lord and for HIS glory.
What is dancing called that conveys ideas in dance movements such as opening and closing the arms to convey a crocodile, or lifting the arms together to convey an elephant 's trunk, or putting the fist in the air to convey the thought of power etc.? Why do I ask this? Because during the Charismatic Renewal, there came out a song that used a lot of movements created by the hands and arms or legs, and acted out in some way while the song was sung. < Click on red lettering to hear this song, and imagine how it was acted out while it was sung.
This type of dancing using the human body is called expressive movement or symbolic dance. In this style, dancers use specific gestures, movements, and body positions to convey praise, or emotions, or ideas, or representations of objects or animals. It often involves pantomime or interpretive dance, where movements are used to symbolize certain concepts, like mimicking animals, expressing emotions, or illustrating abstract ideas. All can be done in praise to God just as the above song illustrates.
In particular, some well-known forms of dance that use expressive movements include:
Pantomime: This focuses on conveying actions, emotions, and stories without words, relying solely on physical gestures and expressions.
Interpretive Dance: This can include movements that interpret specific themes, emotions, or concepts, often in a more abstract way, using gestures like the ones I previously mentioned (e.g., a fist for power, arm movements for animals).
Contact Improvisation: While not always symbolic, this can include movements that evolve based on partner interactions and can convey emotional or thematic ideas through body language.
This style of dance often requires the dancer to use their body expressively to tell a story, convey feelings, or represent objects without the use of words.
But in certain songs sung to the Lord, as the above song I Thank You Father For Making Me Me or sometimes named: If I Were A Butterfly, I'd Thank You illustrates, the movements accompany words sung, so that praise is both sung and creatively acted out, but all done unto the Lord and for HIS glory.