The Spiritual Value of Dance

I have spent most of my life dancing. As a toddler, I begged my mom to do ballet and although I later tried other activities, I would always gravitate back to dance. I appreciated learning the technique and performing but as most dancers would probably agree, the best part is the artistic expression. Dancers are artists who can tell stories and communicate emotions without speaking a word. 

During the pandemic, I lost opportunities to dance in traditional settings, such as classes and dance groups, so I learned to get more comfortable with at-home improvisation. My years of training and performances and costumes and exposure to this artform found its ultimate fulfillment in a simple practice: worshipful, cathartic movement in the privacy of my own home. 

However, I don’t think this experience is limited to trained dancers. Humans, across different cultures and throughout history, have danced regularly, often in religious settings. Clearly there is something profound about the relationship between dance and the human experience. So how can we use dance to benefit the Christian experience? Is there a way for believers to dance in a way that brings glory to God?

Dance to Worship

We are naturally physically expressive people. A large portion of our communication is non-verbal - our facial expressions, hand movements, and posture adds layers of meaning to our conversation that words can’t do on their own. Even remaining completely still while talking conveys something (usually awkwardness or creepiness). 

If prayer and singing worship are ways that we communicate to God, why would we avoid the profound depth that physical expression adds? My suspicion is that those who are reluctant to engage their bodies in worship are afraid of being irreverent or embarrassing themselves, but the reality is that they miss out on the passion and freedom that comes with physically expressive praise. 

But don’t just take my word for it, take God’s! Following the exodus from Egypt, Miriam led the women of Israel to dance and play tambourines (Exodus 15:20) as they worshipped the God who delivered them. David famously “danced before the Lord with all his might” (2 Samuel 6:14). Psalm 30:11 and Ecclesiastes 3:4 contrast mourning to dance - just as mourning is the deepest expression of sadness, dance is the highest expression of joy. And not only is dance approved in scripture, it is also encouraged: Psalms 149 and 150 include dancing in the list of ways to bring praise to God, ending with the exhortation, “let everything that has breath praise the Lord!”

God is pleased when we steward all of our available resources to bring Him glory. Our bodies are a precious resource that we can use to create something beautiful that exalts the one who created us. We can get a glimpse of God’s extraordinary creativity through the creative works of His image bearers. 

What is one word that is most often used to compliment ballerinas? Graceful. God uses human movement to reflect His grace, which is a beautiful aspect of His nature and an essential component of our salvation. 

I don’t think it’s a stretch to say that God loves when His children dance before Him. And you don’t have to be a trained dancer to glorify God with dance - even the most rudimentary movements done with a worshipful heart are sweet in His eyes.

Dance for Catharsis

Dance is not just reserved for expressing our positive emotions to the Lord - it can also help us acknowledge and express our negative feelings. 

Our physical bodies are often affected by our mental and emotional state. For me, I can often recognize the physical manifestation of my emotions before I recognize the emotion itself. When I notice my heartbeat quickening and my leg starting to shake on its own accord, it makes me pause to ask myself if I’m feeling anxious. This isn’t limited to fleeting emotions - our physical bodies are also affected in complex ways if we have experienced trauma, as explained in the popular book “The Body Keeps the Score” by Bessel van der Kolk. 

One of the ways we can access and process our emotions is through strengthening the connection between our minds and our bodies. This is often referred to as “mindfulness”, a word that Christians tend to avoid because it is most commonly associated with secular belief systems or other religions. I’d argue that we can faithfully engage in mindfulness practices when our motives seek to deepen our relationship with God.

I’d argue that dance is one of the most underrated and easily accessible practices of mindfulness for Christians. Especially when accompanied with music, dance engages the mind and the body at the same time, enabling us to tap into the unrecognized emotions in our bodies, ask ourselves how we want to physically express those emotions, and pour them out in a healthy manner. 

Almost everyone has already danced in some capacity (as a kid, at weddings, at concerts, etc.) Unless you are dancing to perform or to learn a specific style of dance, it requires no training or practice to dance for catharsis. The goal is expression, not perfection. God, who is gentle and lowly (Matthew 11:28-29), delights when we pray through our deepest emotions, so He will also love when we confess those emotions with our movements.

How and When to Dance?

Often fear of man or self-criticism keeps us from expressing ourselves through dance. The idea of truly letting go feels like it might be embarrassing or frustrating because we don’t want to look silly. God does not find our authentic expression cringe-worthy just because we do. It feels vulnerable to let loose enough to dance freely, but God meets with us gently and lovingly in the midst of that vulnerability. 

New to this kind of dancing? Try clearing space in your bedroom, setting dim lighting, turning on music, and begin with swaying. The music you choose can help you guide how to move - if you want to dance joyfully, choose upbeat music. If you want to dance more somberly, choose slower music. Activate your arms or legs slowly and subtly until you feel more comfortable moving in bigger motions. And release all expectations of “looking good” when you dance. The goal is authenticity, not performative excellence. 

Wanting to dance in church? Some churches regularly dance during worship gatherings - what a wonderful culture of freedom and expression! However, many church congregations stick to raising hands and kneeling as the extent of their worshipful motions. In those settings, one person full out dancing may cause distraction or confusion, detracting others from focusing on their own genuine worship. In church gatherings where dance isn’t common, I advise starting small - like swaying and clapping - and encouraging others to grow as physically expressive worshippers.

I know realistically, most Christians won’t turn to dance as their primary, or even frequent, form of worship or catharsis. But I think it’s worth exploring. You never know if dance could add color to the beautiful tapestry of your life lived for Christ!