pasadena praise dance – Worship Dance Ministries

Praise Dance Camp Day 1 Reflections

Today was the first day of praise dance camp. I forgot to bring a camera besides my phone (which I needed for music), so no pictures. It was actually lovely to just be present and not be trying to take pics (although I will take them tomorrow, because I love to have them later to document the time and learn from). For today, here are my reflections:

1) I love getting to lead this time. I’m sure I enjoy it as much or more than the students. It is such a gift to have time set aside to dance and worship. It gives me a chance to move/praise away any stress I am carrying, to be free, to smile, and to focus on the kids and Jesus.

2) Free worship is one of the favorite parts of camp most valuable for everyone. It was beautiful to watch the girls just pour themselves into dance.

3) Kids love dancing with props. A strategy I’ve learned over time is to start small. We began with streamers today and they loved them. Once they discover the larger streamers, flags, the billow cloths, they love them even more and only want to use them. But there is something different to learn and to say with the different props. I have to remember to be the teacher, be prayerful and firm about what we will use each day.

4) God’s Spirit is in me. He is in each of us who call Jesus our Lord. I prepare, but I can also rest knowing that His creative Spirit is in me and will lead me in our time. I don’t have to know every detail of what I’m going to do when I walk in the room. As a friend once said, “Leave room for God.”

I’ll be sharing updates each day, so watch for them.

When Worship Class turns to Chaos

Sometimes we think that because we have experience with something, it will always go smoothly for us. This is dangerous thinking.

Have you ever had your worship dance class turn to chaos?

Have you ever tried to teach a group of children who weren’t interested in what you had to share?

Have you ever wondered how experienced teachers seem to effortlessly engage children and hold their interest when it seems like a mystery to you?

Have you ever failed at something you thought you were good at?

I have all done each of those things recently. In this post, I’m going to share my experience and what I learned that is helping me move forward.

First, the background:

Because I’ve put my worship dance class lessons on paper and make them available to others, people think I’m an expert on working with children. Sometimes I start thinking this myself, which is, of course, dangerous. As it says in Proverbs 16:18, Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.

Let me tell you about my fall. Continue reading “When Worship Class turns to Chaos”

Summer Praise Dance Camp – Pasadena

Do you have a child who loves to dance?
Are you looking for meaningful summer activities for your child?
Would you like to see your child connect their love for dance with a love for the Lord?

Then this camp is for you.

Psalm 141 instructs us to “Make His Praise Glorious.” In this week-long summer dance camp, you child will learn to do just that. We will focus on using flags, streamers, and billow cloths to offer our praise to Jesus.

Here’s what your child has to look forward to:

Monday: Words are Not Enough. Children will build a worship vocabulary using expressive sign and worship flags.
Tuesday: Not Empty but Full – Divine Choreography Begins in our Hearts. Children will learn the difference between empty and full worship dance and how to use simple choreography techniques to create beautiful movements.
Wednesday: Colors Speak – Pay attention to Meaning. Children will learn to use props with a purpose, as tools, not toys.
Thursday: Beautiful Warriors – Our Weapon is Praise. Children will learn the biblical significance of waving banners and will learn to use billow cloths to create glorious expressions of praise.
Friday: Ministering through Dance – Putting it All Together. Children will put the techniques and lessons we’ve learned together and will share a worshipful dance to minister to their parents.

Each child registered before June 20 will receive a set of beautiful worship flags to keep.

Who: Children ages 7 and up
Where: Magnolia Dance Space 4 Esther Street
When: June 27 – July 1, 10 AM-12 PM
Cost: $75 until June 13, $80 regular rate, $85 at the door

I want to dance like her!

pasadena prophetic movement class I love watching dance. I am enamored by its beauty and captivated when God speaks through a dancer who belongs to Him. There are so many dancers whom I admire, whose ministry has blessed me, and whose talent I appreciate. There have been three dancers, though, who, when I saw them dance, I whispered the prayer, “Lord, I want to dance like her.”

There was something about the way they danced that spoke deep in my heart and called to me. Mixed with a talent they had honed was an expressiveness to their movement, an ability to tell a story with their movements that drew me in and made me want to understand and remember the story or the heart of their message. Continue reading “I want to dance like her!”

Doors Open when we say “Yes”

Many of us have to learn to say, “No,” to turn down something good in order to focus on what we are truly called to. We need to learn that just because we can do something doesn’t mean we should. We need to make sure we don’t just say “Yes” to please people or to avoid guilt. We need to make sure we don’t commit to something we aren’t able to follow through on. There is a time to say, “No.”

But there is also a time to say, “Yes,”to give our wholehearted assent and to venture into something new and risky, be it a large risk or a small one. Saying “Yes” is what I want to talk about today, because saying “Yes,” can lead to open doors and can expand us in ways we can’t even anticipate when we let that word slide out of our mouths. Continue reading “Doors Open when we say “Yes””

Pasadena Workshop Recap

Thanks to all of you who prayed for the Devotions in Motion Workshop this past Sunday. We had a wonderful time. God brought a beautiful group of women who had a heart for worship. It was a small group – perhaps because it was a Sunday, perhaps for other reasons. But it enabled an intimacy that was beautiful and also allowed us to learn an entire group dance.

Here are some testimonials:

Thank you so much for a beautiful, spirit-filled afternoon. The video was lovely. Pretty amazing for a 3 hour workshop. Thanks again. God bless you for your inspiration and teaching. – Nancy

I really loved the dance. I like the way you gave choreography but helped us choreograph too. I liked the help on choreography on terms. This will help me!!! – Christie

(I appreciated) experiencing the ministry of the spirit through the dance and dancing it together, seeing how God brings a dance together in its beauty. – Tracy

Enjoy the recap video and join us next time.

Summer Praise Dance Camp

Join us for a week of Praise Dance in Pasadena – June 29 – July 3

Who: Children ages 7 and up

What: A week of Praise Dance for children

Where: Magnolia Studio, 4 Esther Street, Pasadena, CA

When: M-F, June 29-July 4, 10 AM – 12 PM

Why: To develop a heart of worship and to use movement and dance to praise Jesus

Your children will love this praise dance class. They will:

• build a vocabulary of movement for worship

• learn the biblical basis for using dance and movement to worship

• learn to interpret the words and heart of worship songs in dance

• lead other students in worship movement

•learn 3-5 of simple dances to use in their private worship

• experiment with props such as streamers, scarves and flags in worship.

• get exercise, strengthen their muscles, practice following directions, build Christ-centered friendships and have FUN!

• Receive a beautiful worship dance tunic to wear to class and to keep

“I was touched by your devotion and by modeling to the kids how to pray and include God in their dancing. It is hard to find how to use the gift of dancing in a way that pleases God and that makes it an act of worship as opposed to a performance. You are Giving the kids tools to do that. I also loved the modesty in your choice of outfits. Your focus is on God in everything and that is inspiring!” – Parent of student in Praise Dance Class.

Continue reading “Summer Praise Dance Camp”