April 6, 2018 at 1:53 p.m.
ARMED FORCES

DANCE CAN BE PRAYER Youth in Oneonta express themselves through movement


By KAREN DIETLEIN- | Comments: 0 | Leave a comment

Youth at St. Mary's Church in Oneonta are bringing prayer to the parish in a new way: through the lyrical movement of liturgical dance.

Interest in dance began with a 1995 production of the Marty Haugen musical, "Tales of Wonder." Previously, said youth minister Michelle Gardner, the young people "didn't think that [liturgical dance] was something that the community wanted." But when parishioners reacted favorably to the musical, dance was integrated into the youth ministry program.

Ms. Gardner stressed that the troupe's liturgical dance is not a performance, but "a way of praying. It was about giving something that you had and finding your own personal style of prayer."

Signs of faith

Kelly Cyzeski, 17, describes the choreography as "simple movements that allow people to reflect on what is being said in the music."

While the word "dance" often conjures images of leaps, twists and pirouettes, Ms. Gardner said that such agitated movements do not have a place in the program at St. Mary's. She calls the choreography "minimalist" and said that the teens are concerned about "leaving room for the people to pray."

"We pray as we do the movement, and the movement is our prayer," Kelly asserted. "We give it life."

Link to youth

Dance has also become a way that St. Mary's connects to young people. Dance has been incorporated into the Confirmation program and stands as something youth can do to "reach their spirituality," according to Ms. Gardner. "It's beautiful. They're happy. They're praying, and they don't even know it."

For teens whose spirituality is centered not in silent prayer but in action and experience, dance can be a prime way to express to God their hopes, prayers, aspirations and devotions. Because liturgical dance requires a different sort of commitment from the body than traditional silent prayer, says Ms. Gardner, it can help young people further involve themselves as active participants in liturgy.

"It makes teens say, 'I can bring all of me here? They don't just want a little part of me?' When they get up there and move, they feel they are a part of it -- not watching it, not hearing it -- but a part of the prayer process," she said.

Involvement

Youth involved in the dance troupe eventually involve themselves with other aspects of Church ministry, according to Ms. Gardner. They go on to be catechists, music ministers, lectors and Eucharistic ministers, and involve themselves in youth events and social ministries.

"The dancers 'get it,'" she explained. "They find that the community they are in makes this possible. [The parishioners are] very accepting at St. Mary's and truly celebrate these young people. They welcome a variety of prayer models and liturgies, and celebrate each other's gifts."

Kelly, who has been dancing since the age of five, said that liturgical dance has helped her to feel that she was "actually accomplishing something."

Branching out

This year, the dancers are concentrating on expanding their ministry. According to Ms. Gardner, they would like to take their unique brand of liturgical dance to conferences and other parishes; to that end, they're currently creating a video library of their repertory to show other parishes and dioceses.

Another goal is to keep the program alive, so future teens can connect with the sort of hands-on faith the program advocates.

"Some of the images of prayer that children take into their heads are hard for kids. Sometimes, it appears like prayer is a sad thing," Ms. Gardner said. "But prayer can be a celebration."

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