Stop and Stair

Safety is an important factor in movement ministry. Not all locations are ideal for dancers, but we seem to manage nonetheless. We must know the protocol for each place that we are invited to minister. Some locations offer plenty of floor space, while others may have seating located very close to the pulpit. Dances choreographed to include motion in the aisles may get complicated in a facility that does not have a sufficient number of them. In other cases, there may be one or several steps leading up to the platform to navigate.

Because of these many possibilities, we must be prepared to dance on whatever terrain may be presented. Elevated platforms with stairs call for modesty and would be best addressed with garments that offer sufficent leg coverage (loose fitting pants underneath opaque skirts), as well as garments that have hems of the appropriate length. Skirts and pants that are too long may cause a dancer to trip and fall, while skirts and pants that are too large may fall off during dancing and cause sheer embarassment.

Carpeted floors are common in many sanctuaries and may cause injury to bare feet depending on the choreography used and thickness of the carpeting. In these cases, it may be a good idea to always carry dance shoes with us. It is better to have options to address any unexpected challenges by being prepared. Best case scenario would allow us to set pieces in the location beforehand. This may only require a few moments before an event (without the audience present) to get an idea of what to expect. Even if we are unable to place ourselves in advance, experience and practical application will allow us to go forth undaunted.

Exodus 20:26 (NKJV)
Nor shall you go up by steps to My altar, that your nakedness may not be exposed on it.

1 Kings 6:8 (NKJV)
The doorway for the middle story was on the right side of the temple. They went up by stairs to the middle story, and from the middle to the third.

1 Kings 10:12 (NKJV)
And the king made steps of the almug wood for the house of the LORD and for the king’s house, also harps and stringed instruments for singers. There never again came such almug wood, nor has the like been seen to this day.

Nehemiah 9:4-5 (NKJV)
Then Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Chenani stood on the stairs of the Levites and cried out with a loud voice to the LORD their God. And the Levites, Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabniah, Sherebiah, Hodijah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah, said: “Stand up and bless the LORD your God forever and ever! “Blessed be Your glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise!

Nehemiah 12:37 (NKJV)
By the Fountain Gate, in front of them, they went up the stairs of the City of David, on the stairway of the wall, beyond the house of David, as far as the Water Gate eastward.