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Worship dance workshops offered at Stafford church Date published: 3/24/2007
BY AMY FLOWERS UMBLE
Tiffany Ham, 14, loved being a Junior Redskins cheerleader. But the Heritage Christian School student quit cheerleading recently. "I felt a calling from the Lord to dance," Tiffany said. "I thought, what was more important: doing something for the Lord or doing something for myself?" Tiffany, who lives in Stafford County, started liturgical dance lessons with Tracy Gibson, founder of Revealed Dance Ministry and Academy. Gibson's ministry is part of a growing number of Fredericksburg-area groups that are making sacred dance a part of worship services across denominational boundaries. Gibson teaches church leaders how to set up dance ministries and she shows students how to combine dance and worship. Lessons are usually one-on-one and offered at Studio 17 in Stafford. "We teach them how to move as one with God," Gibson said. This year, she decided to offer a seminar for anyone who wants to know more. Liturgical dance is usually done during a church service, a wedding or any other time when people are worshipping, Gibson said. She called the dance "Scripture in motion." "Sometimes when we read the word, we really don't understand it," she said. "A lot of people are more visual when it comes to learning." She visits churches about three times a month to help them set up a dance ministry. "In the ministry of dance, there is no age limit and there's no size limit," Gibson said. "You always see those teeny, teeny ballerinas. In dance ministry, there is no shape or size." And no prior dance experience is required, though Tiffany said her previous ballet lessons have helped her be graceful and "stand on my tippy toes and stuff." But the moves and the grace aren't the most important parts of her performance, she said. "I want people not to see just me," Tiffany said. "I want them to see Jesus in me." Amy Flowers Umble: 540/735-1973Email: aumble@freelancestar.com
Date published: 3/24/2007
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