In our secular society it's often hard to talk about God. All
too often, words used to describe or defend a supreme power are more
divisive than unifying; more destructive than comforting. Perhaps this
is partly why many use dance to bring believers closer to the divine.
The following stories shine a spotlight on those who move within this
region where dance and spirituality meet. [] For many in the Western
world, dance and religion might seem an odd mix or even downright contradictory. At some point in history, Judeo-Christianity became
suspicious of the body, some associating it more with unholy urges than
religious expression. But even in the most fearful times and unwelcoming
environments, sacred dance has never been blotted out. And in these more
liberal days, the field seems to be almost booming. [] The dancers we
talk about here are only a few examples of those who work in the
sacred-dance world. Across the country, hundreds of praise
dancers--teams of movers, often associated with evangelical
churches--dance for their congregations. The Sacred Dance Guild, an
association that supports and spreads the word about various sacred
dance classes and performances, boasts 600 members (more and more of
them from other countries) and lists links to a number of sacred dance
companies on its Web site. [] The first two articles in this special
section zero in on a small sampling of professional sacred dance
groups--touring companies made up of trained dancers who use their
skills in religious settings or endeavors. In the first story, artistic
directors discuss how they weave dance into Catholic, Jewish, and
Protestants services--a challenge that at times requires as much
spiritual sensitivity, theological knowledge, and diplomacy as dance
expertise. Then, in four short autobiographical profiles,
sacred-dancemakers talk about their particular approaches to merging
movement and spirituality. [] Thought the use of dance in worship might
be unfamiliar to some of us, there are many traditions that never
severed the link between spirit and body. In our final sacred dance
piece, scholar and dancer Kimerer LaMothe takes us through dance rituals
from other cultures. Her four examples illustrate some of sacred
dance's diverse forms and functions. [] In times like these, when
the world is troubled, it's easy to let doubts about dance's
relevance creep in. Perhaps these dancers, who focus so specifically on
the art form's spiritual powers, can remind us of how important
dance is. It doesn't have to be liturgical to be spiritually
uplifting and healing. Who hasn't been deeply moved by Alvin
Ailey's Revelations or even Jiri Kylian's Wings of Wax?
Dancers are completely visceral and yet unearthly. We have the power to
make people feel deeply and transcend daily existence. In that sense we
truly are, to borrow a phrase, "athletes of God" It's a
good thing to remember as we leap into a new year.
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