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Praise Dance: What is it?

Praise Dance is movement that is an expression of joy and worship.  Dance is as old as time.  Adam must have done a dance of joy when he saw Eve.  In the Bible, dance is used to express joyful praise and thanks to God.  King David danced down the streets of Jerusalem. Throughout history, every culture and race has developed their own styles of dance and movement.  Dance is one of the truest forms of expression that we can give.  Psalm 149:3 tells us to “praise God in the dance.” 

 As time has progressed, the Christian church has lost the true meaning and importance of dance as a form of worship.  Most churches may still have music and singing but few have a dance ministry. There is power and strength in movement and when you engage your whole body in praise to God, you are truly allowing the Spirit of God to work through you to change you and the lives of those around you. 

 It is important at this time in history, that dance return to the church.  Dance was not intended just for MTV and Music Videos.  Dance was created to praise God.  The nation of Israel has used dance as a form of worship throughout their history. Several  places within the Bible make reference to the use of dance as a form of worship.

Praise Dance in the Old Testament

The earliest mention of dance as a form of worship in scripture is in the book of Exodus, when the nation of Israel had just crossed the Red Sea. It says:

“And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances.”   Exodus 15:20

One of the things that King David is known for in the Bible is his praise and worship. Much of the book of Psalms (songs of praises) was written by him, and the Davidic style of worship has been practiced in Israel for many years, even unto today. Today, the resurgence of dance, and other forms of the arts being used in worship in Christian churches is referred to as the reinstatement of Davidic worship. King David himself danced before the Lord, when he brought the Ark of the Covenant into Jerusalem.

“And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod.”   2 Samuel 6:14

David also refers to dance as a form of worship in some of the Psalms he wrote. For example:

“Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp.”  Psalm 149:3

“Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs.”  Psalm 150:4

 Praise Dance in the New Testament 

The New Testament church gained most of it's style of worship from the Jews. Since the Jewish believers were used to dance as a form of worship, they naturally taught it to the gentiles. The early Christians understood dance as a normal part of worship. In fact, one of the original deacons, elected in the sixth chapter of Acts was Prochorus. If you dig into his name, it means “the leader of the circle dance.” This implies rather strongly that the early church accepted dance as a part of worship.

Dance has existed to some degree all through church history. Just to show one example, let’s look at what could be considered one of the most structured, legalistic Christian denominations ever. Who is this? The Shakers. They were a offshoot of the Quakers in the early years of our country. The Shakers (or Shaking Quakers) lived in their own communities, remained celibate, denied themselves of physical pleasures, and danced before the Lord with all their might!

There is something about dance that will take any worship service into a higher level than it can otherwise reach. One person truly dancing before the Lord (not before man) can take the entire congregation farther into His throne room than they would otherwise have gone.