Guide to choosing a song to worship and dance of praise
Choosing a song is one of the most important aspects of ensuring that you will minister effectively. A wrong choice of song can cause your performance to be poorly effective and detrimental to the reputation of your dance ministry. There are four main things to think about when choosing a song. As a dance director and choreographer, many songs have been recommended to me which unfortunately I had to decline due to missing some important components in choosing the right piece of music.
First of all, you need to ask yourself, “What kind of event am I dancing for?” The theme of the music should match the purpose of the event. For example, if you are dancing for Easter Sunday, you will want to choose a song in which you and your team can represent the importance of blood, the cross, or the power of death by losing its sting. Although you can make the theme of a song fit the message, you want to find the “best fit.” Don’t settle for just anything, live to be a ministry of excellence. You should review a variety of songs.
Second, the song of the selection must have a climax. The word ‘climax’ refers to a part of the song in which there is a peak or rise of the voice, the instruments, and sometimes the tempo. This climax of the music is important because the composer is telling a story and there is a “turning point” of the song that can be captured through dramatic movement. The song should be a progression and at the top, there is intensity. Just as a movie or story has a plot, a climax, and an ending, so does the chosen song. On rare occasions, there are songs without peaks that may be appropriate for specific events.
Third, does the song minister to you personally? A song should minister first to the dancer and then to the people. When this happens, the song becomes more valuable to you as a dance / mime minister and you will be more dedicated to making sure the song’s message is communicated clearly and more effectively.
Fourth, is the song appropriate? The song should be clear about ‘Who’ you mean. Songs where people have to figure out who you’re talking about, it’s best not to use them. Psalm 149: 3 says, “Praise his name in dance.” If the song does not address Jesus Christ as Lord, God, or any other name that belongs to our Heavenly Father, then that song should be revised. Without the recognition of God in the dance ministry, it is no longer a ministry, just dance.
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