Ashley Thompson Blog 15

Dance and Music
Dance and music together is an extremely interesting pair. Dance can be accompanied by music or in another sense dance can be used to create music; examples would be stepping, river and tap dances. In religious experience often times music of worship evokes both emotion and dance. An example given by Van Der Leeuw was in reference to the Negro spirituals. Being both a spectator and member of a Baptist African American church and having roots in Southern Baptist church, I have seen and experienced what Van Der Leeuw describes. Music and dance are a part of the worship experience and actually aid in enhancing the overall experience. In my church they go hand in hand with the service. Each service is actually preceded by a devotional period, which consists of song and dance before the sermon is preached. We also have a "praise dance team" in which the dancers dance to gospel songs (traditional or contemporary). Often times seeing the dancers act out with their bodies and faces -- the emotion behind the music, causes the songs to have an even stronger overall affect on the audience. I've found myself brought to tears by songs that i never would have thought could move me -- until i saw them performed to me by the dance team