 Artistic Director/Choreographer, Errin Berry was called to minister in dance at the age of 16. At the time she had not received any formal dance training but was a member of Dance Afrika Dance in Cleveland, Ohio. She is a gifted and anointed choreographer, teacher and dancer. She currently resides in Chicago where she teaches dance and dances with Muntu Dance Theatre. She commutes monthly to Cleveland to continue to work with the ministry she help to create.  |
Prayer, our commune with God, involves the most sacred moments of the worship service: a word of prayer, prayer songs, silent prayer, pastoral prayer, The Lord's Prayer, invocation and so on. Yet still there has been one stone left unturned -dance as prayer. Although dance has become more widely accepted in churches across America, few realize the power of movement and its rightful place within a worship setting. Dance should not be just a means to fill a spot on the program or a source of entertainment. Praise dance, just as in the prayerful moments of reverent communication is in divine order. This is not to say that praise dance will not and should not entertain. Dare I say that in the day of the IPod, praise dance, like the vibrancy of our worship service, should attract non-believers, as well as, hold the interest of the congregration. As praise dance becomes more popular, it is imperative that this initial draw becomes secondary. So much so, that it becomes invisible. A viable tool for supplication and intercession, the dance is as much prayer as it is expression. By the aiding of the Holy Spirit, I strive to create prayer through dance that invokes the presence of God with heart felt praise, preaches a relevant Word and provides a platform for worship that induces physical and emotional healing for both the dancer and the observer. It is through both movement and worship that our innermost cries are heard and deepest struggles overcome. Hallelujah! Having never seen praise dancing before starting this ministry, I am ever so grateful that the Holy Spirit has guided me to an understanding and it is with this same guidance that I say, more than anything, I desire to see sacred dance elevated to a higher level of excellence. I have seen the artistry and robust movement of such companies as Alvin Ailey and Phildanco, and witnessed the purity of praise in the churches on Cleveland's east side. When, however, do these two worlds fully meet? Alvin Ailey's Revelations does come close, but I still wonder if it is possible to have the level of professionalism and technical ability of a first rate company and the power and anointing of the Holy Spirit. It is to this end that I have a lifetime of discovery. I have been blessed to have a group of committed dancers who give of their time and their energy and who are daring enough to allow me to "experiment" as I further explore my definition of praise. Thank you!  |
