Dance as a form of worship Essay Example

needed information and information and the tools that are being used to analyse the same.

Dance is a originative manner of conveying people together and it does non necessitate any peculiar linguistic communication to understand what is being shared through dance. In the olden yearss dance was one of most of import agencies to maintain the faith alive as many were illiterate. As it is justly said byFr.ThomasD’Sa ( 2009 ) .  in his article on the function of music and dance “Art uses the cosmopolitan linguistic communication of human emotion”(D’Sa,2009 ) .So art being the cosmopolitan communicator, helps in pass oning the message in a simpler mode and yet in a more clear manner to everyone. Though liturgical dance which does non hold a signifier of its ain, has got softer motions compared to all the other classical dances. Though there is a certain degree of credence of dance in the Holy Eucharist, still it is frequently non given all that importance as a signifier of worship. Dance is seen as an amusement many a times than a manner to idolize [ K5 ] . Dance can be used as a powerful agencies to convey people together as a community [ K6 ] . It gives joy to all those who participate every bit good as audience [ K7 ] .

Aims

The chief aims of my research survey are that it opens the Gatess to accepting dance as an effectual agencies

of worship for Christians and other faith traditions. For Christians, it helps in prophesying the instructions of Bible and helps them to praise and idolize the Lord through dance play and through choreographing the fables of the Gospels [ K9 ] . The liturgical dance which is really rich in itself enables more active engagement of the people in the Holy Eucharist and helps in conveying out the endowments and creativeness of the people within the church. It besides helps in broadening the mentality of the church towards art as a manner of worship. This survey will besides assist in acquiring greater engagement of the people with the clergy in the church activities.

Problemstatement

Dance as a signifier of worship has non been accepted by different spiritual tradition because dance has ever been seen as an amusement factor and non as a agency of worship. Through this research the research worker is seeking to demo that dance can be a portion of liturgical worship in all faiths. It is besides believed that the Indian classical dances portray merely Hinduism, so is neglected many a times in other faiths. The Indian classical dances have specific mudras or manus gestures to portray a message [ K11 ] which often was used in the olden yearss largely by the Hindus. As clip passed the classical terpsichoreans have evolved the mudras suited to Christian traditions [ K12 ] and through which the Word of God could be expressed. Some find it hard to accept the entry of classical dance in Christianity, particularly during the Holy Eucharist. Dance in general is seen as a distracting factor, so is non good appreciated in

the church during the liturgical jubilations.

Significance of thesurvey [ K13 ]

There are legion surveies done on Indian classical dance, music, Holy Eucharist and worship. The research worker through this survey is seeking to set these together as worship through Indian classical dance during Holy Eucharist. The research worker hopes that this survey opens up the mentality of the clergy and people to utilize dance as a agency for acquiring greater engagement of everyone, particularly the kids and young person of the present clip in the church.

Pastoral deduction

Liturgical dance can go a portion of Holy Eucharist which increases the people’s engagement. It can open the Gatess to accepting the liturgical dances in the liturgical jubilations which will do the liturgical jubilations a meaningful and a richer 1. Liturgical dance facilitates in assisting people in retrieving and understanding the Bible in simple and limpid mode. It can besides be one of the powerful agencies to convey the people together as one community in worship. Priests and spiritual can utilize dance as a originative agency of showing our supplication and worship to the Creator Lord [ K14 ] .

Chapter 2

IntroductionLITERATURE REVIEW

Chapter two is the literature reappraisal of this research paper. The research worker has found many articles on this subject and has been reading them to acquire the ample aid from them. Through this literature reexamine the research worker can turn out the dependability of her research from the literature point of position. These articles have helped the research worker to compose the reappraisal critically. The subjects discussed in this chapter are worship through dance, Indian classical dance, gestures and organic structure motions and liturgical dance.

Worship throughdance [

K15 ]

Worship is a profound look of one’s deep sentiments to the Creator God. In the Indian context worship through dance is non a new construct as it has existed even from the Vedic age. “Dance was portion of day-to-day worship…the ladies who were therefore dedicated to the temple as terpsichoreans were called devadasis, retainer of the Lord.” ( D’Sa, 2009 ) .

It is through worship that we give congratulations and give thanks for the fantastic organic structure, psyche and head. So when giving congratulations it is expected of us to utilize these gifts of organic structure, psyche and head wholly. Many might believe dance is merely a medium of entertaining people but when a terpsichorean dances he/she does non merely travel for the interest of traveling and entertaining people, but a terpsichorean while dancing dressed ores on many more things like facial looks, hands motions, mudras, footwork, organic structure motions, music and gestures of the organic structure. In this manner the terpsichorean offers his/her full ego, organic structure and psyche to God, which is a perfect illustration of resignation. This is what we call supplication. ( D’Sa, 2009 ) . [ K16 ]

And so dance is non simply some motions. Harmonizing to St. Ann Sr. Kateri Mitchell [ K17 ] “When you 're dancing, your whole being is being energized and expressed” (as cited inaPerez-Lozano, 2013 ) . As the Christian terpsichorean dances, his art transforms an audience, fostering in bosom and head God’s Kingdom values animating beauty, aristocracy, pureness, excellence, goodness, and bearing informant to God’s truth. ( Wagnon, 2010 ) . The Indian classical dances have specific motions to accommodate worship and

congratulations to God, which will be discussed in the coming lines.

Indian classicaldance [ K18 ]

Dance itself is a powerful tool that can do any message really attractive and effectual. In the olden yearss Indian classical dances were used to maintain the Hindu faith alive with the aid of many fabulous narratives which were shown to the people in the signifier of dances and play. Katya Viswanadhan a Bharatnatyam ( one of the Indian classical dances ) dancer says that she found herself experiencing closer to her Hindu religion through dance. She saw it as a manner of showing it. ( Perez-Lozano, 2013 ) .

Ravenna Truker [ K19 ] says something similar to what Katya Viswanadhan [ K20 ] feels about dancing. I feel God’s pleasance when I dance and I feel near to God when I dance. ( Wagnon, 2010 ) .GeorgeProksch in his article says that the usual subject of the classical dance of India, in whatever signifier, is a spiritual event or sentiment…actually the Hindu God Shiva is considered the Godhead of the dance and its greatest amusing performing artist. He goes on to state that because of this close relation between the dance and faith Hindu, one might inquire that dance may non be a vehicle of conveying Christian spiritual idea. To turn out these minds wrong George Proksch himself has performed in Indian music on the facet of Our Lady’s portion in the Redemptive work of Christ. ( Proksch, 1964 [ K21 ] ) . So the Indian classical dances can easy and efficaciously be adapted and used in the Catholic churches.

Gestures and organic structuremotion [ K22 ]

Body is a gift

that we have received from the Creator and this organic structure can make astonishing gestures through careful and selective motions.CarlaDesola(, 1997)in his unfastened note to the terpsichoreans says “dancers stretch your weaponries broad, encompassing those around you, as you dance” ( Desola, 1997 [ K23 ])the motions and gestures of the organic structure can convey a batch of messages to those that are watching the dance. Movement and looks are really of import piece dancing as it has to convey the message that the terpsichorean wants to expose to the audience.RobertHewould state through motion that is basically symbolic, the organic structure gives signifier and form to interior feeling or emotion. ( Desola, 1997 ) . [ K24 ]

As there is no verbal communicating during a dance public presentation it is in the custodies of the terpsichorean to arouse the emotions of the people through their gestures, organic structure motions and looks on their faces. Dance in itself can besides add to the explicit verbal message, which is frequently connected to the song/ music played with it. ( Schuff,(2012 ) . Therefore the liturgical terpsichoreans have to be really good trained to utilize their organic structure motions harmonizing to the context. Truker in his article Footsteps of Jesus says that the Christian terpsichoreans are motivated to give, subject, and commit themselves to prosecute excellence in their art.(as citedinWagnon, 2010 ) .

Liturgicaldance [ K25 ]

Dance during liturgy brings life into it and helps the people to understand what is traveling on in the Holy Eucharist. Alternatively of usual preachments during Holy Eucharist if a parable or the life of Jesus is shown in the signifier of dance,

that would promote people to be more attentive and will stay in their Black Marias for a longer clip. Dance non merely helps the looker-ons to come in into what is being shown but the terpsichoreans themselves feel that they can experience the presence of God while they dance.LindaTelesco who is a terpsichorean herself says that she feels closest to God when she dances.(as cited inLefevere, 2004 ) .

One of the dance teachers commented “when I dance, I feel genuinely alive and I feel that my congratulations to God is reliable.” ( Schuff, 2012 ) . Church in many topographic points had remained closed for utilizing dance during Holy Eucharist. Rome has maintained a prohibition against liturgical dance in the Catholic Church. ( Lefevere, 2004 ) . The usage of liturgical dance can assist to acquire more grasp of the human organic structure to modern-day civilization on the whole and at the same clip supply an disposed manner of worship. ( Kister, 1971 [ K26 ] ) .

Conclusion [ K27 ]

Dance is one of humanistic disciplines that can capture the audience and can go forth its imprints on their Black Marias for a longer clip. If it is used good during the Holy Eucharist it can do the liturgy really active and alive and at the same clip maintain the sacredness of the Holy Eucharist. Harmonizing to Kister dance peculiarly recommends itself to Christian worship today. ( Kister, 1971 ) .

In today’s universe young person and kids are attracted to dance and music. If the church can present liturgical dance this will assist them to take active portion in the church activities and at the

same clip they will larn the life of Jesus through dance. The debut and credence of dance in worship can assist the Christians discover that bodily motion is non so much an instrument of temptation as an assistance to profound human consciousness and self look and a point of contact between adult male and the Spirit of God. ( Kister, 1971 [ K28 ] ) .

Mentions [ K29 ]

1. Desola, C. ( 1997 ) . Litugical dance: State of the art.Liturgical ministry, ( 6 ) ,49-57.
2. Fr. D’Sa, T. ( 2001 ) . The function of music and dance in faith jubilation.Vidyajyoti diary, 65 ( 10 ) , 750 – 759.
3. Kister, D. A. ( 1971 ) . Dance and theatre in Christian worship.Worship,45( 10 ) , 588-598.
4. Lefevere, P. ( 2004 ) . Liturgical topographic point of dance topic to differing directives.NationalCatholic newsman,40( 40 ) , 10a.
5. Perez-Lozano, E. ( 2013 ) .Dancers connect to faith in motion.National Catholic newsman,49( 18 ) , 5a.
6. Proksch, G.S.V.D. ( 1964 ) . The sacred dance: Agreat classical art is adapted to the Holy Eucharist.Sacred dance diary, 7 ( 1 )
7. Schuff, H.M.T. ( 2012 ) . Dancing towards personal and religious growing.Nordic diary ofdance, ( 3 ) ,31-40.
8. Wagnon, R.T. ( 2010 ) . Footfalls of Jesus: Dancing in the Christian universe.World positiongeographic expedition.