Dancing for the King and for the Kingdom
Happy Valentine’s Day! Valentine’s Day can be full of fun and joy, or it can feel lonely, if you don’t have a “Valentine.” I hope you know that you are loved beyond measure by the Father who treasures you.
Continue reading “Valentine’s Day Sale 60% off”
One thing I did feel led to take time for, while stepping away from my blog, was life coaching. Over the past year, I’ve felt frustrated that I don’t work with more clarity and direction, that when I don’t have external commitments driving my schedule, I feel aimless.
The Lord opened a door for me to have several sessions with a life coach this fall, and so I took the opportunity. My goal was simple: to develop a doable rhythm for my days and weeks that would enable me to be adequately planned for the classes I teach and have time for my family. In other words, a way of ordering my days so I do the the basics well.
Two weeks ago, I met with my coach and evaluated the changes I had made and we both agreed that I actually had accomplished just that. I had developed a doable rhythm for my days and weeks that is enabling me to be adequately planned for teaching and have time for my family.
Here’s what that involved:
Continue reading “Paths to peace and productivity”
Have you heard the term “ghosted?” It’s when a friend just disappears, no explanation, no obvious reason. You just don’t hear from them. It can leave you wondering if you did something, if the friendship meant more to them than it did to you, and it can just be confusing.
I owe you an apology because I ghosted beginning in August of 2018. While I’m not making excuses, I’d like to share the story.
Continue reading “I’m sorry. I ghosted. And why…”I love dancing at Christmas. It’s a tangible way to give a gift to the Lord and to cause me to really focus on the heart of Christmas, that God came near to us, that He gave His Son to save us.
I’ve been on a dancing hiatus over the past five months, except alone at home (I’ll explain that in a post soon), but during Advent, I had the privilege of dancing at my home church, Missio Community Church to a song written by my dear friend, Nicole Wells. She is one of my favorite singer-songwriters because her lyrics are rich with scripture and vivid images. I actually led a group dance to this same song years ago with a group of teens and children. You can see it here.
Here is the solo dance I shared:
I turned fifty this month and one of the highlights of my birthday was beginning praise dance camp. I can’t think of a more joyful way to celebrate through dance.
Our theme this year was Celebrate God. While this was the smallest praise dance camp I’ve ever had, it was, perhaps the richest. I was so moved by the beauty of the children’s worship and creativity and watched the Lord touch their lives deeply.
Here is what one student shared about dance camp: Continue reading “Praise Dance Camp 2018 Recap”
I’m so excited to share with you the dance my class of modern dance students shared at our homeschool graduation celebration (there is a fun surprise in the middle, too).
With every dance, there is a story, a story of our weakness, our labor, our faith, and of God’s provision, faithfulness, and revelation. I want to share the story of this dance because the Lord taught me something that is changing me.
If you have followed me for long, you know that I often question myself, my calling, often wrestle with doubts about my fitness.
I feel like the Lord taught me something that is shifting that for me. Let me tell you the story from the beginning: Continue reading “Anointed Teen Modern Praise Dance”
Have you ever agreed to dance and wished you hadn’t?
Have you ever contemplated backing out of a ministry assignment the night before?
Do you ever question your call to dance in the middle of an assignment?
I do these things more often than I would like to admit. : Last Saturday evening, the night before I was to dance at my own church for Pentecost, I seriously contemplated backing out. In this post, I share what kept me from doing that and what I learned about the choreography process that may help you as well. I also (spoiler alert) include a video of the dance I did end up sharing. Continue reading “When you wish you hadn’t said “Yes””
I’m would love to meet you at a live training. My next workshop in Pasadena is scheduled for Sunday, June 3 from 1-4. I have more details coming soon.
I will make sure to include you when emailing about upcoming live training times. (If you have come across this page without having subscribed to my email list, you’ll want to subscribe, so you don’t miss these emails.)
I’m excited to share with you some of the many resources I have gathered for praise dance garments and accessories.
I will make sure to include you when emailing ideas, videos, and resources about praise dance garments and accessories. (If you have come across this page without having subscribed to my email list, you’ll want to subscribe, so you don’t miss these tips.)
I also want to share with you thirteen of my top blog posts and resources that are already available on this topic:
3 Versatile and Beautiful Patterns for Worship Garments
Beautiful, Anointed Prophetic Worship Veils
Using Veils to Add Emotion and Beauty in Your Dance
What Should I Wear to Minister in Dance?
Begin Where You Are and Resist Criticizing
How to Use Processionals, Props, and Pageantry
Why Use Flags or Banners in Worship
DIY Worship Flags for Children
What’s the Big Deal About the Flag
What Not to Do with Worship Props
Using Billow Cloths to add Power and Beauty to your dances
Books and DVDs: Check out these books and DVDs by Lynn M. Hayden: Processionals, Props and Pageantry, Billow Cloth Beauty, Perfume of Fire, Veils and Dance, Artistic Worship, Tambr
What do you do when you are asked to choreograph but feel your plate is already full?
Is it okay to reuse choreography from a dance?
How do you take a solo dance and turn it into a group dance?
This year, while I have been far more silent on my blog than I would like, I’ve had the joy of being very active in choreographing and dancing, in teaching live classes, leading an online study group, and choreographing for another church.
If I someone had presented me with all the assignments at once and asked me if I could take them on this year, I likely would have declined a couple of them.
However, with each opportunity that came my way, I felt the inner “yes” and went ahead, and for each assignment, I have been given what I need to complete it. More than that, I have experienced a synergy between the assignments that has been a joy and a delight.
So, I want to share my stories with you so and give you some tips that will enable you to, under the Lord’s leading, complete more than you think is possible. I also hope it will help you see how the Lord is constantly at work, weaving together the details of our lives into His larger tapestry. Continue reading “When You are Juggling Choreography Assignments”