By Pastor Sharon Giacinto

Luke 14:28-30 tells us to be sure we're ready to do something before we begin it so discouragement doesn't take over (loosely translated I know, but it's true). That's really meant to be an encouragement because we really do need to think things through and establish our foundation in prayer.

I'm going to address 2 types of dance troupes:

birthed in a local church under local church leadership
multi-church, or city wide dance troupe, under group leadership

LOCAL CHURCH BASED DANCE TROUPE:

The biggest challenge is to not let your vision stay inward. It's hard not to in the beginning because there is so much to be done in the foundation stages. However, covenant to have a vision of giving out beyond your borders. One of our greatest loves is "packing it all up" and taking it out, whether it's marching in a parade, performing for another church, or doing a seminar.

Once the Lord has given you the desire and vision for a local dance troupe, your next step is to submit it to your leadership. That was easy here since I got the vision, and my husband and I are the pastors. (It's not usually that easy!)

If your vision is not accepted right away, trust the Lord and His timing. Meanwhile, prepare some worship props and intercede with a right heart. We've had people visit our practices that had no where to express what they desired to do. Some decided they weren't as interested as they thought it would be, others visited until a way was made for expression in their local setting.

Whether your vision for a dance troupe is received immediately, or takes prayer and patience; it's time for some honest questions. "Lord, as I supposed to lead this troupe or just birth it?" "Am I to participate as well as direct?" Don't worry about getting all the answers right away, the important thing is that you've asked, and by doing so, maintained a humble and submissive heart.

After 10 years of administrating and directing the chorography for our dance troupe, God released me to begin performing with them on my 55th birthday…………"go figure!"

Let's move on………..

When we started out, we simply announced, and "they came!" You will always have levels of ability, especially in a church setting and that must be handled with grace and mercy.

At the present our focus is on Jesus as our Bridegroom, and the preparation of His Bride! Our mandate is clear "Prepare the Way of the Lord!"

We have a preparation program that puts new dancers and returning dancers into 4 weeks of being "hidden in the Lord." (click for "hiddenness program")

During this time they are discipled in ministry ethics and integrity. Costuming and stage participation during this time will vary individually. This is more a time of heart preparation for the ministry.

Our Dance Ministry is divided into age levels:

K-3rd grade (called "Eaglets")
4th and 5th (called "Aliyah" which in Hebrew means "The Returning")
6th thru 9th (called "All For One" also called our Junior Troupe)
Junior dancers are do not have to advance after 9th grade if

they do not feel ready for the level of commitment required

for the Senior Troupe. We would then divide the class

and begin a High School Troupe.

4. Senior Troupe (called "Mechowlah Halal" which in Hebrew means

"A Company of Praise Dancers".

Early advancement in any of the above categories is determined through prayer and observing the individual's ability and maturity levels.

Click here for information children and youth troupes.

We have 2 main requirements for all ministries in our church and they are:

be a regular tither
attend 2 services per week

Further requirements for the dance ministry can be found by clicking here.

My dancers are required to own and read "The Heart of the Artist". For further information and other recommended books click here.

Our weekly bible study done at our practices is from the "Preparation of the Bride" syllabus by Bob and Rose Weiner. Each dancer is required to have his or her own syllabus.

We started out as an Israeli dance team and over the years have branched into a variety of movement arts.

I am going to take you through our weekly routine. It may not be right for you, but perhaps you can glean from it.

I will expound on each area; however, feel free to click on "Ask the Director" if you have any questions.

1. Choose a day, time and place where you can meet weekly.

The Senior Troupe practices on Tuesday nights from 7 to 9pm with short breaks where needed.

The 4th and 5th grade Troupe and the Junior Troupe meet after worship during our Sunday afternoon service. Each Troupe has designated areas for practice.

Our K-3rd grade Troupe meets during Wednesday night worship, then go to their regular classes.

2. Our general layout for practices: (length of time for each will vary according to what we are preparing for)

a. Warmups……7pm sharp:

-ours are led by the same person each week and include extensive stretches

done to worship music.

-usually the length of one song (5-6 minutes)

Bible study:
-done by a different volunteer each week

-10-15 minutes in length, followed by short discussion

-end with prayer, include intercession for another ministry

Announcements:
-covers any information that needs to be shared

Tambourine/flag practiced: (20 min.)
-Psalm 150:4 "Prasie Him with the timbrel and dance……" Our tambourine

leader uses "patterns" learned from Magrage Yap's books and video's (click here for resourses) and patterns that we have created.

Mime practice: (15 min.)
-Our mime instructor uses resource material that can be found by clicking

here.

Technique exercises: (20 min., more when time allows)
-This covers the "how-to's" of prophetic and interpretive dance. Since you will always have levels of dancers, this is a good time to divide up so someone can work with those having difficulty with basic moves.

-Our dance team has the freedom to dance prophetically on stage during all of our services. Technique exercises equips us to step out and express ourselves.

The following are some prophetic exercise we use:

Mirroring (done to music)
-partners face each other

-one leads, the other mirrors movements

-switch leaders midway through song

Holy Spirit Shadowing (done to music)
-done with partners and is confined to a small area

-one partner stands behind the other

a. can be done with both standing, moving in different directions

b. also works well if front partner is on knees

-Either way, the person in back represents the presence of the Holy Spirit

and moves close to front partner, overshadowing from sides, back and over

head in a flowing manner, while the one in front does movements to the

music.

Releasing of the Eagles (done to music)
-can be done with any number of people

-designate 4 point people (N,S,E,W) and have everyone else fill in, making a

diamond shaped cluster. All need to be able to see point people.

-leading of movements is passed from point person to point person by point

person turning to new direction.

4. Scripture dram: (done to scripture reading)

-break into small groups

-either designate the scripture verses, such as Genesis 1:1-4, or let each

group choose their own.

-a great time to use props of all kinds, especially yards of material.

-allow 10-15 minutes of "creativity"

-have someone read as each group acts out the scripture

5. Choreographed rehearsal time: (for rest of practice time)

-This will take the majority of your time. Since we celebrate the Feasts

of the Lord in our church, we are continually working on choreographed

numbers.

MULTI CHURCH, OR CITY WIDE DANCE TROUPES:

This calls for a focus more towards choreographed pieces rather than the free flow of prophetic/worship dancing. You need to avoid strife that can come from doctrinal differences. Even the most "like minded" people are going to have their differences. Keeping a right heart and right attitude must be more important than our own desires and agenda.

It's nice to have one central location for your rehearsal nights; however, with group leadership you may want to rotate locations. Regardless of where you meet, a basic routine needs to be established.

The basic format I have laid out can be revised to fit the needs of the Multi Church or City Wide Dance Troupe.

Shared leadership can be a challenge at first, but if each leads in their particular area of gifting, unity can be maintained.

If we look at leadership as increased responsibility rather than position, we will welcome the assistance.

Mechowlah Halal Dance Troupe

Entry Requirements and Regulations

Entry Requirements:

1. Be 16 years of age and up

2. Attend Grace Community Church

· We welcome dancers outside of our church to join us for our Tuesday night practices if there is no outlet for their ministry within their church. Since we would not encourage them to miss their own church services, they would be encouraged to come at times that would not interfere in order to gain worship dance experience (ex. our 2:15 service or 7pm on Wednesday night providing they do not have service).

3. Must be a regular tither

4. Attend 2 services per week

Regulations:

1. Attend all scheduled practices

a. You need to contact Pastor Sharon if you cannot make a practice for any reason

(home….672-1252 office….672-7700)

b. It is your responsibility to meet with a dancer to catch up with what you

missed.

2. Enter "Hiddenness Program" for 4 weeks (see attached sheet).

3. Bring the following to practices with you:

a. dance shoes

b. "Preparation of the Bride" syllabus and "Heart of the Artist" book (when applicable)

c. tambourine and tambourine and mime notebooks

4. Prepare weekly assignments in syllabus

5. Be willing to take your turn giving a short teaching relating to the assignment.

6. Assist in the following:

a. preparing and cleaning up dance practice areas

b. straightening and maintaining prop areas in Sanctuary

c. cleaning dancers dressing room

d. maintaining all dance related closets

Regarding the floor "Doorkeeper Ministry" (1 Chronicles. 15:23&24):

This ministry is open to those who are gifted in intercessory dance who do not desire to participate in choreographed dance and/or other structured areas, but have a heart to be part of the dance ministry. This ministry is done on the floor as a guard at the entry to the altar area. Requirements for this ministry are:

meet entry and "Hiddenness Program" requirements
attend at least 1 practice a month that is not geared for performance preparation
keep up on syllabus and other material given
follow costume and maintenance guidelines
maintain positive relationship with the Dance Troupe
be willing to be used on stage if needed during worship

Regarding Costumes:

1. keep all personal items in your "cubby" area

2. return "community" items to proper place

3. keep fabric softener sheets in your shoe bin

4. maintain proper hygiene

5. no jewelry except one "small" set of "post" earrings and wedding or engagement rings (no ankle bracelets or ear cuffs, etc.)

6. neutral nail polish only

7. proper under garments

Regarding Service Preparation:

1. Sunday 10:15 service

a. dressed and in prayer circle by 9:45

2. Sunday 2:15 and Wednesday 7pm

a. pray over worship set and Sanctuary as time permits

Regarding Performances:

1. prepare your costume

2. be on time for pre-performance practice

3. take time for warm up stretches

4. if it is a service time performance and you do not have stage time DO NOT leave to change your clothes, be respectful to the rest of the service ministry.

*exception: You may leave to change if you will be teaching a class after

worship.

Regarding the "Mentoring Program":

You will be asked to oversee a Junior dancer. Your responsibilities are:

meet with her/him regularly to establish a relationship
prepare their costumes
get them ready for performances
see that they return things properly
speak to them about proper hygiene and care of costumes
be a proper roll model for them
be a listening ear when needed

Entering a visual ministry calls for a life of humility and a heart for service. Performing is the least of what we do, our highest calling is to be a lover of God in all that we do!

Mechowlah Halal Hiddenness Program

Ethics: The standards we set

Integrity: The intent by which we live them

I have always believed that "the higher the standards, the higher the pride".

When we enter into any area of ministry we need to ask ourselves what our true intent is. We need to determine whether it is truly to be a servant and to glorify God or whether it is to fill a need in our own lives.

If it is to minister to self in any way, then we will not be able to live by the standards set by that ministry.

Hebrews 4:12 "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart".

The Halal Dance Troupe is a very visual ministry. You will be seen and known for your participation. This exposure is not limited to your dancing, you need to understand that you will also be seen and known for your life outside of the church walls.

If you are not living your life with biblical ethics and integrity at home, on the street and in the work place, then you are not prepared to enter into ministry.

In preparation for such a visual ministry, you will be asked to enter into 4 weeks of being "hidden in the Lord". During that time you will attend weekly practices, follow all ministry guidelines, intercede for the dance team as they minister and be discipled in ministry ethics. Costuming and stage participation will vary individually during this preparation time. If you choose to intercede in street clothing, it should reflect your ministry in modesty.

The above is not meant to be used for critical judgment, it is the standard set for excellency for His Majesty!

HIDDENNESS

(Re: dance ministry)

Graham Cooke teaching at Kansas City Prophetic Conf.

"You can have a short-bright day of the Spirit instead of a long-dark night of the soul!"

Purpose of hiddenness is to connect us with God's wisdom!

James 3:14-18 tells us that there are 2 kinds of wisdom:

(1) Human wisdom…….vs. 14-16

Vs. 14:

a. bitter envy

b. strife (selfish ambition)

(don't brag about or deny it)

Vs. 15:

This isn't Godly wisdom but is:

a. earthly

b. un-spiritual

Vs. 16:

Where you have bitter envy and strife (selfish ambition), you have:

a. confusion (disorder)

b. every evil work (practice)

(2) Godly wisdom……….vs. 17&18

Vs. 17:

a. pure

b. peaceable (peace-loving)

c. gentle (considerate)

d. easy to be entreated (submissive)

e. full of mercy

f. full of good fruits

g. impartial

h. without hypocrisy (sincere)

Vs. 18: Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness!

Rest is a weapon against the enemy!

Psalm 46 starts out with an earth quake and ends with "be still"! That means that we can be still in a "quake".

How to have renewal in hiddenness:

Ask the Lord the following questions…..

1. Lord what is it within me that You want to change NOW?

2. What is it about You that You want to reveal to me NOW?

Then talk to God about His call on your life and above all pray for other people's salvation.

In hiddenness you get to hear deep truths, but in the process you are going to have your unbelief exposed!

Jesus likes to hide in plain sight!

Luke 24:13

He sneaks up on you, then when you recognize Him, He disappears.

You really can't separate the "Hiddenness" message and the "Preparing for His Glory" message, because they're both about maturing the end-times church……..preparing her for what's to come.

The people weren't ready for God's glory when Jesus came 2,000 years ago, so God sent John the Baptist to prepare the way.

Mark 9:12 says that He also has promised to send Elijah once again in order to prepare the end-time generation for the final great outpouring of Glory.

How does God prepare us?

Isaiah 40:3-5

-In Old Test. times, this had a literal meaning. The King was not expected to climb up or down, or weave. Nor was he expected to stumble or trip. It took great preparation when he traveled.

For us spiritually, we see that God desires to build a highway in our hearts. He is:

-filling in the valleys,

-bringing down the high places,

-making the crooked places straight

-and the rough places smooth.

These are all operations of God upon the human heart, preparing us for His visitation.

(From Bob Sorge "Glory, When Heaven Invades Earth")

"The Voice of One Crying In the Wilderness:

You have to go to the wilderness to get a voice. You don't get it in Seminary! Seminaries produce echoes!

You need YOUR voice! John the Baptist had to go to the wilderness to get his voice. The wilderness is a place of one-on-one with God.

God designs your wilderness in such a way that nobody has the answers for your dryness but Him!

There is a time for study and reading and gleaning from those around you, but then there comes a time when the books are put away and you need to meet alone with God so He can begin to shape you by His Spirit.

There's a reason it says "The Voice of One CRYING". There is a cry being birthed deep in your heart that you can't snuff out!

-All your busy-ness won't make it go away,

-loud music won't drown it out,

-toys or food won't satisfy it………!

And what's the cry within you that you're longing to release?

"Prepare the Way of The Lord!!!!!!"

"GET READY"….."The Lord of Glory Is Coming!" It's the spirit of evangelism coming back to you that you had when you first got saved! But yet it's more than that because you're going to want to cry out to the "church" to "Prepare".

What do we do to get ready? One of the first things on God's heart is that we come to know "the way of the Lord."

God works through man, but He demands things be done His way.

Isaiah 55:9 "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts."

That's a big space between heaven and earth!

Thus the wilderness, which is God's method of awakening us to the beauty and wonder of His ways.

"Make Straight in the Desert A Highway For Our God"

(God likes to travel in the desert. I don't blame Him, have you seen how He travels in Song of Solomon 3:6-10. We get in the desert and we want to know "where's mine!")

Anyway, the desert is where we find the devices that seemed to work before are suddenly powerless in the dry seasons. That causes our human resources to shrivel up and die and all we have left is the Lord's ways.

The Hebrew word for "make straight" here is "yashar" and means (according to Heb. Trans.)

-To be straight

-right

-upright

-pleasing

-good

In English it translates out "direct", and is the same word that is used in Proverbs 3:5&6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct (make straight) your paths."

In other words, God will "straighten out" His servants (if we let Him).

Elymas, the sorcerer, tried to hinder the kingdom's advancement by twisting the truth in Acts 13:10. That's why Paul said to Elymas "You son of the devil…..you enemy of all righteousness, full of all deceit, will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord?"

It's very important that we represent God's ways accurately to others. It is possible to say the right words in the wrong way and when that happens, God's ways are misrepresented.

If God has brought you into the desert, His heart intention for your desert is that a highway of holiness might be built in your heart. A highway that He can ride upon as brings His deliverance.

"Every Valley Shall Be Exalted"

To prepare us for Glory, God first fills in the valley of our lives. These are the low places in our hearts that need to be filled with confidence in God.

"I can't" suddenly becomes "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,"

The canyon of unbelief gets filled up with faith.

"Every valley" might include man-made religious beliefs, worldly views of modesty, chastity, submission and self-sufficiency.

"And Every Mountain and Hill Brought Low"

Nothing is more painful than when God levels the mountains! "Every" mountain refers to the high things in our lives such as ambition, self-reliance, pride, etc..

Mountains can also refer to demonic strongholds, they MUST come down.

"The Crooked Places Shall Be Made Straight"

These are areas in our understanding and ways of operating that we think are straight, but they're not in God's view.

When John addressed the Pharisees and religious leaders of his day as a "brood of vipers",he called them an off spring of venomous snakes.

Snakes think they're heading straight toward their target, but in fact they are going crookedly the entire time. It's impossible for a viper to go straight; its pathway is inherently crooked.

By calling the people "vipers," John was trying to straighten the crooked places. The people had been trained by vipers to walk a crooked path.

Luke 3:7

Vipers flee from fire. That's why Paul got bit by the viper when he tried to put the wood in the fire (Acts 28:3). John came with a message of fire, and the vipers scurried.

The crooked places can also refer to sinful secrets we are harboring that no one else but God sees. If we don't deal with them privately, God will deal with them publicly.

"And The Rough Places Smooth"

This is a reference to personality and character attributes abrasive and counterproductive to the kingdom. We all have rough areas in our lives we are helpless to change in our own strength. We won't repent of them until God shows them to us, and it is absolutely essential how we respond to His dealings if we are to see His Glory.

This is one reason God adamantly insists we relate closely and vitally to the body of Christ.

When we come into contact with others in the church, and their lives are thrown against ours, it's like "iron sharpening iron".

God uses other people to rub our rough places smooth!

This process is absolutely vital because only smooth stones will find their mark in the giant's forehead.

Mentoring Your Ministry

There is nothing more gratifying than giving out of what has been given to you. Mentoring is different than placing your mantle upon another. Mentoring prepares another a mantle of their own.

Elijah cast his mantle upon Elisha in 1 Kings 19:19, and even though Elisha had already been "plowing" in faithfulness, his plowing had not prepared him for what was to come.

Verse 21 tells us that Elisha followed after his mentor and ministered to him before he was ready to minister to others.

What we try to do in our mentoring program is to instill an attitude of humility, servitude and faithfulness into those who "follow" us.

Each Senior dancer is a big sister (or brother) to a Junior dancer; who is in turn is a big sister (or brother) to someone on the 4th and 5th grade team; who in turn is a big sister (or brother) to someone one the K-3rd grade team.

The program is supervised by the Senior team and has been very fruitful.

The basic responsibilities are as follows:

be a good example
be a good listener
befriend your little sister/brother
assist him/her with costuming
teach him/her to use proper hygiene before costuming
be sure he/she returns things properly
work with him/her if he/she needs extra help on a dance project
edify
bring persistent discipline matters to Director

We keep a rolling plastic tub full of "props" of all kinds for our young worshippers to express themselves with. They love large bright colored scarves, tinsel tabrets, and small flags. Most of all they like to "mirror" what we do, which is the reason we need to be sure we are being the right example for them to follow.

DANCE FOUNDATIONS FOR YOUTH TROUPS

As you work with your troupe, remember that you are preparing them for advancement in the dance ministry and in the Kingdom of God. You are equipping the next generation to dance before the King……what a privilege! Know that you are greatly loved and appreciated for all that you do!

Check out our Resource page and our Dance page for further information regarding the following.

Preparation for advancement:

1st thru 3rd

Because of their tender ages and backgrounds, this is not the level to begin placing requirements. Instead we focus on instilling a "heart of worship". This is done through:

creativity
focus on fruit of the Holy Spirit
fun
object lessons
expressive as well as choreographed dance
rewards

It is important to offer a children's tambourine foundation, using 4" tambourines and Magrate Yap's techniques that are safe for their wrists.

The child/children who do not wish to participate in dance or tambourine should be made to feel welcome and given another activity.

This is the level where we make sure they feel accepted and are allowed to be part of whatever is offered.

Some basic dance movements to instill in those who wish to advance to the 4th and 5th grade dance team are:

myam (primary and basic)
line formations
right and left turns (put something on wrists to help)
celebration pattern
basic flag positions
teach basic foot positions during warm up
4th &5th

Foundations in:

study/discussion group setting
tambourine (using beginner tambourine book and 6" tambourines)
flags
props
intro to mime
intro to drama dancing (acting out scripture)
Israeli dance patterns
myam
hora
rejoice (2 scissor steps, 4 running steps)
churcazia
yeminites
celebration (2 side leaps, rt. turn, right clap, left clap, 4 claps from bottom to top)
festival (8 side hops; turning in and out…..rt & left arm waves)
hygiene
respect and attitude
being a good example
faithfulness (you can still be more flexible than the Junior level regarding mandatory requirements; however, begin to build their faithfulness patterns to the House of the Lord and ministry.

Juniors

Continue to build on the 4th and 5th grade foundations
Add foundation in:
ministry requirements
tithing if they have an income of any kind
Christian character
mentoring
submission
self esteem
sense of responsibility
Deepen the foundation on hygiene and care of personal dance items
Give "Heart of the Artist" mini lessons along with regular studies

ALL LEADERS: It is very important to keep frequent and positive communication with the parents or guardians. Monthly newsletters would be great, besides the reminder notes needed for special announcements.