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Up N Praise Him!
If He's been good to you, then you oughta get Up N Praise Him!
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Take the Course Online!
This self-paced course includes easy-to-follow videos and downloadble worksheets.
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Lift Him Up
Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord!
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The Dance Ministry Manual
This self-paced course includes easy-to-follow videos and downloadble worksheets.
Be Creative!
Close Your Eyes - No Peeking!
A great way to assess and build creativity is to play the dancer version of Blind Man, Blind Man, Cannot See . . . except no one has to turn around three times and try to catch anyone like we did when we were kids.
For this exercise, have your dancers find a place on the floor (standing) where they have ample room to move, without colliding with each other. Instruct them to close their eyes (and keep 'em closed!). You will have to promise them that you won't hit them, poke them, eat their snacks or anything else they might get suspicious about when they close their eyes. You may want to have strips of materials to use as a blindfold for your peekers.
Let them know you are going to call out some words, and they have toexpress that word in movement. Ask them to think as creatively as they can. Tell them you won't move on to the next word until everyone has made an expression. You may have to wait on a few people to think about their movement, but don't move on until everyone does something.
Continue your list for as many words as you'd like, and you may want to repeat a few. Don't be afraid to challenge your dancers to move beyond just standing! They can kneel, bow, sit, sink, melt, stand on one foot, arabesque, pirouette, and everything in between! Make this suggestion only if you notice that no one is thinking along these creative lines.
Once you are done, share with the group some of the movements you saw, attempting to share a movement done by each person on your team. You can later incorporate those movements in your choreography as needed. Easy right? I know!
Now if you liked this tip, tell me about it on our Facebook page! And if you want more, strategies and insight to lead your team to excellence, enroll in our next session of The Dance Ministry Manual Online Workshop, where I have soooooo much more to share with you! The next enrollment session is open NOW and you can get started right away.
Also, don't forget to share this with your dance friends and dance communities on Facebook or Twitter. I'd love to meet your friends!
For this exercise, have your dancers find a place on the floor (standing) where they have ample room to move, without colliding with each other. Instruct them to close their eyes (and keep 'em closed!). You will have to promise them that you won't hit them, poke them, eat their snacks or anything else they might get suspicious about when they close their eyes. You may want to have strips of materials to use as a blindfold for your peekers.
Let them know you are going to call out some words, and they have toexpress that word in movement. Ask them to think as creatively as they can. Tell them you won't move on to the next word until everyone has made an expression. You may have to wait on a few people to think about their movement, but don't move on until everyone does something.
Continue your list for as many words as you'd like, and you may want to repeat a few. Don't be afraid to challenge your dancers to move beyond just standing! They can kneel, bow, sit, sink, melt, stand on one foot, arabesque, pirouette, and everything in between! Make this suggestion only if you notice that no one is thinking along these creative lines.Once you are done, share with the group some of the movements you saw, attempting to share a movement done by each person on your team. You can later incorporate those movements in your choreography as needed. Easy right? I know!
Now if you liked this tip, tell me about it on our Facebook page! And if you want more, strategies and insight to lead your team to excellence, enroll in our next session of The Dance Ministry Manual Online Workshop, where I have soooooo much more to share with you! The next enrollment session is open NOW and you can get started right away.
Also, don't forget to share this with your dance friends and dance communities on Facebook or Twitter. I'd love to meet your friends!
Get off the Stage!
My heart is moved this morning. Recently, our community suffered the loss of a beautiful 14-year-old girl, as beautiful and precious as a flower, who took her own life because she was being bullied at school. She happened to be friends with one of the teens on my dance ministry, who was heartbroken to hear of her passing. As a matter of fact, our whole city was devastated.
It's a tragic and sad story, and it got me to thinking more intensely about our purpose and impact. As Dance Ministry leaders we should always look for ways to do what we do, which is minister. And sometimes we have to look beyond the stage of the sanctuary or a program. We can't confine our ministry to the four walls of our church. Our communities need us.
I started thinking about what I could have possibly done to save this beautiful sweetheart's life although I didn't personally know her. Is there anything I could have done to reach her?
While it's too late for that young lady, it's not too late for us to reach others. My team is generally welcomed to have a friend tag-along for practice, but I was inspired to do more and to reach further so I've officially launched a monthlyBring-A-Friend day with our teen group.
Our teens were asked to bring a friend who may need new friends in her circle, who may need to be in a wholesome and loving environment; who may need to escape, even if for few hours, the not-so-pleasant happenings of her life; who made need that warm welcome, that opening and closing prayer, and a set of arms around her shoulder.
I've been that girl before. I needed that extension of love. I needed those friends. While, as a child, I didn't find those things in dance ministry, I'm now in a position to offer those thing, and I am committed to ministering in dance, not just on "stage" but in my sweats and tee-shirt . . . .during our practices.
The world NEEDS your ministry. I challenge you this week to look for new ways to reach someone outside of your church through your ministry. It could be as simple buying a cake and drinks, as hosting a Bring-A-Friend Day, but the impact it makes could literally change and save a life. And that's what we do it for right?
Is your ministry is structured from practice to performance to impact those who need you most? I invite you to take your ministry to excellence by enrolling in The Dance Ministry Manual Online Workshop. We have opened registration early; you don't have to wait until next week; you can register right now and get started right away. Make the investment in your ministry to be more excellent, then take that ministry to the world. On and off stage.
If you're already a participant, share with us in the Facebook Group how your ministry is reaching the world off stage.
With a heart of gratitude and agape love,
Kimberly
Do The Hokey Pokey!
Remember when we were all kids, and how much we loved to play Hokey Pokey? It had it's basic guidelines . . . putting your right foot in, and taking it out; you know the rest. (Admit it! You're singing it right now!)
Even with the guidelines, it let you be yourself in dance when you got to the Hokey Pokey part. Well this week's tip is all about the Hokey Pokey, or in grown up dance terms - Improvisation!
What is Improv?
Even with the guidelines, it let you be yourself in dance when you got to the Hokey Pokey part. Well this week's tip is all about the Hokey Pokey, or in grown up dance terms - Improvisation!
What is Improv?
Dance improvisation is free and impulsive dance movement, that can inspire creativity. Because there is no right or wrong and no set choreography, your dancers are free to move about however they'd like to, (within your guidelines) of course. But even with that said, an improv class can be quite challenging!
How Do You Use It?
First set your guidelines, with the most important one being, your dancer may not stop dancing until you instruct her to. This means she will have to dance off the top of her head, with very little thought. Another guideline might be, the dancer must incorporate floor work, meaning she can't just stand on her feet. You can incorporate other guidelines as you'd like.
Secondly, have your group stand in a circle, or in a way that gives each person the room to move freely about. You don't want any dancer to stand in one spot, so be sure to encourage movement.
Finally, start the music and let them dance! You may want to call on one team member at a time, gradually adding in (and releasing) other dancers, or let everyone dance at once, but you MUST insist that no one stands still not knowing what to do when called upon! After all, that is NOT how you do the Hokey Pokey!
Do this exercise for thirty minutes to an hour to your favorite playlist (it's okay to repeat songs). This is an excellent rehearsal exercise, especially if you haven't quite figured out the choreography for your next routine. It is SURE to enhance your team's choreography and execution and it will definitely make 'em sweat!
Until next week - put your whole self in! I'd love to hear how this exercise worked for your and your group, so once you try it, drop by our Facebook Page and leave a comment, pic or video clip or leave a comment below.
With a heart of gratitude and agape love,
Kimberly!
PS: There are other GREAT rehearsal enhancement activities wrapped up in The Dance Ministry Manual. If you're ready to take your Dance Ministry to the next level, sign up for The Dance Ministry Manual online workshop! You can even try it out for FREE!
Secondly, have your group stand in a circle, or in a way that gives each person the room to move freely about. You don't want any dancer to stand in one spot, so be sure to encourage movement.
Finally, start the music and let them dance! You may want to call on one team member at a time, gradually adding in (and releasing) other dancers, or let everyone dance at once, but you MUST insist that no one stands still not knowing what to do when called upon! After all, that is NOT how you do the Hokey Pokey!
Do this exercise for thirty minutes to an hour to your favorite playlist (it's okay to repeat songs). This is an excellent rehearsal exercise, especially if you haven't quite figured out the choreography for your next routine. It is SURE to enhance your team's choreography and execution and it will definitely make 'em sweat!
Until next week - put your whole self in! I'd love to hear how this exercise worked for your and your group, so once you try it, drop by our Facebook Page and leave a comment, pic or video clip or leave a comment below.
With a heart of gratitude and agape love,
Kimberly!
PS: There are other GREAT rehearsal enhancement activities wrapped up in The Dance Ministry Manual. If you're ready to take your Dance Ministry to the next level, sign up for The Dance Ministry Manual online workshop! You can even try it out for FREE!
Every Other Third Saturday?
"Alright everybody! Let's not forget that we have practice next month on the third Saturday! Try to remember everything we learned last month, 'cause we gotta minister on fifth Sunday and we wanna get it right this time!"
Ummm . . . what???
Every Other Third Saturday??
It always stuns me when I talk to a dance ministry leader, asking how often does the ministry practice, and the answer is something like "every other third Saturday" (or less)! An answer like that makes my eyebrows scrunch together.
Let's Be Honest Here...
We all know deep down inside, we can't become excellent at anything working on it just once every other month, or even once a month. It's sad to say, but it's only at church that people seem to have that kind of expectation. Plainly stated, infrequent practices only result in mediocre performances and uncommitted members, at best.
Be Like Nike and Just Do It!
One of the most efficient ways to get to excellence is simply to practice often. What I recommend is no less than once a week, but preferably two or three times per week. Yes, that can be a commitment stretch, but when your team sees your dedication to making the team excellent, you will see a greater level of commitment from your team, which begins to pave the way to where you want to be... excellent! Simple enough right? So let's see it! Ready, set, go!
Here's Your To-Do For The Week:
Check your schedule and see where you can squeeze in more practice time, even if it's just an hour. You will be AMAZED at the difference it makes! And if you want to know just how to make your practice sessions more dynamically productive, join us in The Dance Ministry Manual Training Program. We'll show you just how to do it!
"Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed...."
— 2 Tim 2:15
The Dance Ministry Manual Training Program!
Welcome to the blog of the ONLY online dance ministry training program that lets YOU be the leader. This program is a bible-based, comprehensive, workbook-styled manual combined with online training modules that allow YOU to take ownership of your ministry team's development, leading them to excellence.
You be the leader. We'll show you how.
