Friday Flashbacks: Dancing



Dancing as a Gingerbread child in “The Nutcracker.”

Since I was young, I have always loved dancing. I have flashbacks of listening to tapes in the living room, over and over again while I danced to them. I was later accompanied by the twins who marched in circles around the room--thumbs stuck in their mouths--in time to the music.

A sailor in “American Salute.”

From the time I was 7, I danced in a ballet studio. I loved participating in the big productions at the end of the year with all the dancers. I felt so proud during the years when I did two dances instead of just one.

Dancing in the “Oklahoma” dance as part of the “Salute to Broadway” production.

When we moved, I looked around for a dance studio for awhile. I couldn’t find one that I liked very much, and when I did, it was too far. So I moved on to other things.

Me, as a sea anemone and Ben dressed up to be in “Alice in Wonderland.”

But that desire to dance was still there. My Mom mentioned the possibility of doing worship dance. I thought about it for awhile, but had a bit of a struggle deciding. I really enjoyed the ballets and wanted to be in a professional studio.

Dancing in “Starkindler” after joining worship dance.

But over time, the Lord helped me realize that everything I do needs to bring Him honor and glory. While dancing with a ballet studio wasn’t a bad thing, it may not have been the best thing. As I look back now, I would have eventually had to partner dance, and wear costumes that were not the most modest. The Lord has brought about convictions in my life regarding my purity as a young lady, and dancing in that way would have violated those convictions.

Dancing in “Praise is Awaiting You.”

When we joined our current worship dance troupe, it took awhile to get used to dancing after so many years off. But I was thrilled to find that our teacher’s main style of dancing is ballet, with which I was already familiar.

Dancing in “Manger Throne” at our church’s annual Ladies Christmas tea.

The Lord has brought me such joy over the past year through worship dance. Please understand that I don’t have anything against ballet or non-Christian dance studios. I am simply grateful for the opportunity God has given me to use dancing for His glory and not my own.

Dancing to “Gloria.”

“Let them praise his name with dancing. . .” Psalm 149:3

“Praise him with tambourine and dancing. . .” Psalm 150:4

“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”

1 Corinthians 10:31