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WHAT IS LITURGICAL DANCE?
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“Liturgical dance is dance or gesture used within worship (by skilled or
novice dancers) for the glory of God. It is intended to add depth and dimension
to the spoken or sung text and/or music within the worship service by use of visual
display, as enhancement for the words as they come to life through movement and
drama. Liturgical dance may also be performed in silence without the use of words or
music. Many of the movements choreographed are
literal and easily understood by those witnessing while the
dancers create a tapestry of movement for the viewer much like an externalized
prayer.
Sacred dance has been a continued presence in many faith practices since the
beginning of time and has a long, rich history, especially in the Christian
faith. Within the Holy Bible of
Judeo-Christian scriptures, so much of the history of the Hebrew people is threaded time
after time with accounts of dances of the sacred, both communal and solo, in prayer or in
celebration.”
.
. .
Jane Wellford
Director of Moving
Liturgy
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WHO IS MOVING LITURGY?
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Moving Liturgy Dance Ensemble is a professional
liturgical dance troupe based in Burlington, North Carolina. The dancers in this ensemble have been sharing their ministry
of dance as a visual enhancement for worship for over twenty years in churches and at national
conferences. With a repertory of 192 classical and
contemporary works, Moving Liturgy has performed extensively sharing dances of worship with over
250 congregations. Within Moving Liturgy’s ministry
of movement, one of their goals is to make worship a lasting experience by giving congregations
“visual aids”. It has been proven that what one sees
makes a more lasting impression than what one hears.
Moving Liturgy combines the auditory and the visual for an extra sensory impression as the words
are revealed before the congregation’s eyes by visual tapestry of dance and
drama. Whether it is from sharing readings
from scriptures through movement, or performing to sung or instrumental music, Moving
Liturgy uses the human body to dramatize the life and teachings of Christ. At times, these dances are reflective and thought
provoking, and at other times joyful and celebrative. The dancers in Moving Liturgy were given the gift of
dance, and through this artistic ministry, their gifts of dance and drama bring worship to
a whole new dimension for the glory of God.
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JANE WELLFORD AND MEMBERS OF THE
ENSEMBLE
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Jane Welford
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“Liturgical dance is color,
pageantry, costume, dance, drama, music and scripture incarnate. It is a tasteful means of
proclaiming Jesus Christ in Worship.”
Burlington, NC
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Jane Wellford, Director of Moving Liturgy, brings 30 years of experience as a Liturgical Dance Consultant to
this movement ministry. Wellford is a teacher, performer,
choreographer, writer and lecturer on the subject of liturgical dance. Wellford is currently a faculty member at Elon University where she
teaches dance history, sacred dance, choreography, dance improvisation and fine arts in the schools.
Members of the company include Anita McCraven Davis (BFA in Dance, Stephens
College, MFA, UNC-G), Betsy Reeves (BS in Dance, UNC-G), Ingrid McCraven Shatterly (BA in Dance, UNC-G),
Ginger Strickland (BA in Psychology, East Carolina University and Former Owner/Director of Arts Alive
Studios), Nicole Troxler (BA in Dance, UNC-G), and Jane Wellford (MFA in Dance, UNC-G).
WHAT MOVING LITURGY DANCE ENSEMBLE CAN OFFER YOU . . .
Liturgical Dance Workshops and Lecture Demonstrations
We offer beginning through advanced workshops for varieties of groups such as
children, youth, adults, seniors, and church leaders where the following information is shared: How to begin
dance, movement and gesture within your worship by learning through prayers, psalms, benedictions,
processionals, scripture readings, litanies, hymns, parables, movement vocabulary, history, repertory and
handouts for sacred dance in worship. All of these may be part of
this experience. A lecture-demonstration is also available upon
request on liturgical or sacred dance.
Liturgical Dance
Within Your Worship Service
Moving Liturgy welcomes the opportunity to collaborate with worship leaders,
musicians, and choirs to create a desired worship event of the host church’s choice. Also available, Moving Liturgy offers repertory works within your church’s’
existing order of worship to enhance what your church already has in place. Such dances might include favorite hymns, processionals, call to worship,
the Lord’s Prayer, offertory, scripture readings, children’s message, special anthems or cantatas,
benedictions, and recessionals.
Liturgical Dance
Worship Concert
A concert may include a collection of sacred dances from any of the church
seasons, with some explanation of choreography and interpretation woven into the concert for clarity in
understanding. An
example concert may be a tapestry of classical and contemporary dance from Moving Liturgy’s 192 repertory
works ranging from introspective and thought provoking, to light and often humorous. Moving Liturgy performs to the music of such artists as John Rutter,
G. B.
Pergolesi, J. S. Bach, G. F. Handel, A Cappella, Take 6, Pamela Warrick-Smith, and
Beethoven.
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“The power of sacred dance is that it echoes the opening of John’s
Gospel: ‘And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and
truth.’ Sacred dance serves the worshipping community by embodying the
gospel, teaching that God’s grace is the very life that flows through every
breath and movement of our being.”
Chaplain, Elon
University
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“Moving Liturgy’s ability to transform worship into a visual
experience is truly God-given.
They have a unique gift to interpret the Word spoken, sung, or
played. Their talents bring a
beauty, an energy, and an understanding to our worship of our Creator
God.”
Patrick Murphy
Director of Music
Ministry
First Presbyterian Church,
Greensboro, N. C.
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For more information about Moving
Liturgy Dance Ensemble, please contact:
Jane C. Wellford
513 N. Gurney Street
Burlington, N. C. 27215
wellford@elon.edu
336-584-1628 (home)
336-278-5693 (office
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