Dancing

A few months ago I visited a friends’ farm for the purpose of seeing their new baby goats. I thought that I would see little goats huddled in a cage, but instead it was baby goat exercise time— All four of them had just eaten and as the wind ruffled their fur, they began to leap about in the funniest, most delightful way! Sometimes their legs would swing too high and suddenly they would flip around with their feet awkwardly landing behind them. I was clearly able to picture in my mind all the verses in the Bible which talk about mountains jumping like lambs or rams. Job 21:11 says, “They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance”, and I can see why he would compare dancing children with dancing baby goats; both are a blessing and both are lighthearted.

As a child I attended a classical Christian school which meant that “balls” were a common occurrence and your typical American dancing was unheard of (and forbidden). Instead, we private-schoolers learned the “Virginia Reel” and the “Pattycake Polka” from Kindergarten and up! As a child I remember the feeling of freedom of dancing as fast as I could, sweaty hands clutching my equally sweaty partner, both of us dressed to the nines in our school uniform, involving pleated, plaid skirts (for the girls), vests, and ironed button downs. I’ll never forget my racing heart as I was twirled around and around. The boys always tried to see who could spin the girls the fastest; the hope was that the girls would actually gain air and lift off of the ground or let out an ear-piercing shriek of fear.

As a teen I became extremely embarrassed of dancing, but remembering what it was like as child puts previously dull verses of the Bible to life! Psalm 30:11 says, “Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness.” Because my story of salvation feels like it was just yesterday, I can fully relate the act of dancing to my walk with God. True physical dancing requires a sense of fearlessness, being completely unhindered by pain or emotional worries; it is a picture of freedom. This is what Jesus has done for me and replaced sorrow and a heavy-heartedness with spiritual dancing. A mourning heart cannot dance. A heart that has been forgiven much, can turn mourning into happy feet. Sporre says, “It is without doubt that dance is part of human communication at its most fundamental level” (p. 179). Since becoming a Christian, I have spent more time dancing willingly than ever before, although it often ends up being to the tune of “Old MacDonald” with my toddler. Throughout difficult circumstances, my life is a dance. A dance while making dinner with a two-year-old on my hip, a dance while being a receptionist and scheduling a client to see hear all her pregnancy options and see her baby on an ultrasound screen, and last but not least, a dance at midnight when I feel discouraged by homework and exhausted, but the Lord gives me the strength to push forward.

Sporre, D. J. (2013). Reality Through the Arts: Eighth Edition. Hong Kong: Pearson Education, Inc.