People always ask if dance is a Scriptural form of worship. In Exodus 15:20, Miriam and the other women respond to G-d's triumph over the Egyptians in an expression of dance. We can note harvest dances in the book of Judges (21:21), as well as the demonstration of the joy of Jephthah's daughter at his return (11:34). 2 Samuel 6:14 describes how David led the ark of the covenant into Jerusalem when he "danced before the L-RD with all his might." 1 Samuel depicts the children of Israel praising David their king by dancing and singing songs of his exploits (21:11). Jeremiah 31:13 shows us that G-d's redemption causes His people to dance before Him. In verse four of this chapter, dance is seen as a response to G-d's love for His people. As I said earlier, historians have found that dance was an integral part of worship and celebration during the Second Temple period, in the time of Yeshua. All these illustrations of dance throughout Israel's history as recorded in Scripture, give us a very potent basis for dance as praise and worship in the faith-life of G-d's people.

As Jews, we are continually searching for spiritual meaning within our lives. We have rediscovered, as Messianic Jews, that our Jewish roots are not lifeless traditonal rituals, observances, and life cycles, such as weddings and Bar Mitzvahs, but is to be a true expression of worship and praise. Messianic dance is one way to integrate worship within the Jewishness of our faith. In a sense, each time we come together as a commuity, our corporate worship exhibits an expression of joy and faith so that our community can be a testimony to the living G-d of Israel. You may not have come from a Jewish synagogue that affirmed a worship expression in dance, but this is a part of your heritage -- so reclaim it!

After the early Messianic Jewish believers became so few in number compared to the non-Jewish believers of that community, much of the celebrations, ceremonies, praise, and worship of the Church began to develop on a course that was far removed from its original Jewish roots. Dance, in various forms, continued to be a part of the believers' expression of faith. There was the development of dance forms around the eucharist, baptism, ordination of priests, processional for entering and leaving the sanctuary, holiday dances, etc. For more information about the history and theology of dance, you can send away for the book, Dancing For Joy. Later in history, around the seventeenth century, the Church began to move away from dance as an expression of faith, preferring the more sedate expressions of worship. But, today, G-d is restoring the joy and celebration of faith to the Church! G-d desires that we get together in corporate worship, rejoicing as a redeemed people, manifesting our faith to the world.

Even if you do not believe in the G-d of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and you do not believe that Yeshua is the Messiah, who paid the redemption price for our sins, we invite you to enjoy the spirit of praise and worship deep within your soul. Our prayer is that you will sense along with us that G-d is vey real, and that He wants to take the burdens from your heart to fill you with His peace and love. If you feel that G-d has made this opportunity for you to search for Him, please talk with us about what you are feeling in your heart.