A Message with Meaning

Inspiration for choreographing a piece can come from anywhere. God has created everyone differently, with different experiences and life mottos. Typically, the way I view life is through the motto, “If you don’t have anything nice to say then don’t say anything at all.” Personally, I don’t see the value in creating a piece unless it has a message to it. As a choreographer, you only have the audience’s attention for several minutes. Why not use those minutes to show them dance with a message attached to it?

When I decide to choreograph, I have several options for the direction I want to take the piece. I could choose one emotion and portray that in the entire dance. I could tell a story with characters and a clear beginning, middle, and end to the story. Or I could pick a word such as “breakthrough” or “warfare” and base my choreography on that. Often, I feel inspired by whatever emotions and experiences I’m dealing with in my personal life, and I use dance as an outlet to express the lessons I’ve learned.

I greatly enjoy picking two songs and cutting them together to create a “before and after” storyline. For example, a girl who was anxious and then encounters Jesus or the Holy Spirit and her anxiety leaves. In the first song, you set the stage by showing the audience her anxiety and what that looks like through movement. In the second song, you introduce the redeeming character, such as The Trinity and you reveal how the main character’s life is now different.

The bottom line is God has given everyone a unique story.  I am so blessed to be able to be a choreographer with the opportunity to tell God’s stories through dance with my students. It is a joy to do what God has given me to do!

Learn more about expressing the love of God through Worship Dance at Cavod