Company Keepers April 2006

There are only a few basic moves that can be done with the streamer:

Circle
The circle is the most basic move. A circle is just what it sounds like, moving the handle of the streamer around in a
circle. It can be done overhead, in front of your body, or to the side of the body.

Figure Eight
The figure eight consists of two circles together. As you complete the first circle, you move immediately into the second.
If, for example, the first circle is clockwise, then the second would be counterclockwise. Again, this can be done
overhead, or in front of your body.

Wave
A wave consists of moving the streamer back and forth rapidly overhead, in front of you. This is usually only done
overhead, as doing it in front of you will cause the streamer to just drag on the ground, and will not look as good.

Weave
A weave is a continuing “S” motion in front of your body. You would start on one side, usually the side away from the
hand holding the streamer, then move the streamer across your body, waving the handle up and down.

Toss
To toss the streamer, make a large circle in front of your body. As your hand comes back up to the vertical, increase
speed, and release the handle of the streamer when it is just above your head. We have to warn you though- this one
takes a lot of practice!

Streamers are usually used individually. They can be held in either hand. However, most people find it easiest to use
the streamer in the hand that they write with. The key to using a streamer effectively is to make large, smooth
movements. With large movements, the streamer will make a smooth, clear loop, following the stick. When most people
start using streamers, they tend to make small, jerky movements. This will cause the streamer to end up getting tangled,
or wrapped around the dancer’s arm.

If you want a real challenge, try using two streamers at once. Although this is difficult, on a fast song, it can be rather
spectacular! Practice, practice, practice!

Always remember to be aware of the audience when using streamers. Safety is also important, so that we may have
liberty to use them in any setting. Stream on!

Last month we were introduced to A New Testament Dance Study, entitled "For This Cause I Bow My Knees" by
Rekesha Pittman, our Editor-in-Chief. This month we will look at the Significance of Dance in The Old Testament. There
must always be a balance in our learning and knowledge (studying), and eventually teaching, for we know that “My
people are ruined because they don't know what's right or true. Because you've turned your back on knowledge, I've
turned my back on you priests” (Hosea 4:6, The Message). We must be accountable for what we know, learn and teach
as children of the Most High God. Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be
ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15 KJV).

My introduction to this Old Testament study is movement. I thought it important to include it as a reference point to show
the history of movement, hence dance. The significance of dance in the Old Testament is based upon movement in
general.

Movement began with God (Genesis 1:2) and ends with God (Revelation 22:9). Genesis 1:2 says….the Spirit of God
moved (hovered) upon the face of the waters. Strong’s (No. 7363) definition for the word movement is the Hebrew word
rachaph, which means to flutter, move or shake. When God’s spirit moved, it wasn’t Him standing still speaking some
boring command for the world’s creation- no- His spirit literally moved in the creation of the universe.

Movement began and will end with God, the originator and creator, Genesis the beginning and Revelation, the end time
to come. Just as movement is vital to us as human beings, it begins and ends with life. Just as in the creation of life from
our Heavenly Father, the creation of life begins when a woman becomes pregnant and the baby is in her womb. The
baby begins to move as it grows. The mother starts feeling the baby’s growth as it begins moving, developing,
stretching… when there is no movement, there is cause for concern. It could be nothing, or it could mean danger, even
death; it could be a sign that there is still life, or perhaps not. As in death, we no longer have movement. Consequently
if we have life, we ought to be moving.

To gain a better understanding and more thorough knowledge of movement, it helps in our knowledge of the meaning
of dance (movement) in the Old Testament. Not only is movement noteworthy, but the whole harmony of praise was
obviously imperative to God. We know from the Bible that music was in heaven and that it was Lucifer’s job (Ezekiel 28).
When satan rebelled against God, it seemed that God missed this glorious sound and wanted His created earthly
beings to experience this in the earth realm. He wanted us to be a sort of replica of the praise due unto Him. He did this
with Adam and Eve’s first-born son Cain and his generation. Jubal was Cain’s great-great-great-great grandson.
Genesis 4:21 says he was the “father of such as handle the harp, and the organ.”

As we move through the Bible and subsequent generations, dance is integrated into the lives of the children of Israel.
Dance is used the first time in Exodus 15:20. Dr. Pamela Rutherford Hardy states in her book, Make His Praise
Glorious this law of first mention (page 115b) of dance. The custom at that time was the closest living female relative
was to meet and greet the returning victor after battle. Miriam was the closest female relative to Moses. This dance
represents dance used for the prophetic, victory and warfare. The prophetic song that Moses and the children of Israel
sang in Chapter 15 was done with no rehearsals nor practices for perfection; it was a victory dance in that it was done
after battling with Pharaoh and his army; it was victorious in that God’s chosen people won and were delivered from
Egypt.

The whole 15th chapter of Exodus makes it clear that praise and worship (Exodus 15:2-3), singing (Exodus 15:1), and
dancing (Exodus 15:20) was fundamental to the children of Israel. Many of the Hebrew words for praise are expressed
throughout this chapter: ealats and tehillah - they were joyfully rejoicing in song and dance after being delivered from
the hand of the enemy; nathar - they were shaking off the bands of bondage and wickedness that held them captive in
slavery to the Egyptians for many years; halijkah – a caravan across the Red Sea heading to the Promised Land, are a
few examples.

Below are six different types of dances that were used in the Old Testament, and which are relevant today. There are
many more and I trust that in your study time, you will discover more of these dynamic giftings that our eternal YHWH
has given to us for Kingdom (on earth as it is in Heaven), soul-winning and enemy defeating purposes.

Prophetic Dance is found in 1 Samuel 18:6-7. After King David returned from killing the giant, women came from all
different cities singing and dancing to meet King Saul, declaring through their dances that "Saul had killed his
thousands, and David his ten thousands." At this particular time, David had not yet slain ten thousand.

Another type of dance is a Victory Dance. A biblical example of this is when Jephthah fought in a war against the
Ammonites and the LORD delivered them into his hands. "And Jephthah came to Mizpeh unto his house, and, behold,
his daughter came out to meet him with timbrels and with dances: and she was his only child; beside her he had neither
son nor daughter." (Judges 11:30-34). His daughter was his closest living relative and came to greet him with the dance
of victory after the war. This victory dance remains relevant to the church today. As we read almost daily or see on
television, the church is under MAJOR attack. Dancing preachers must maintain their victorious warfare dances for the
deliverance sure to come. Our God has never been defeated!

There is also the Dance of Travail. Dr. Aimee Kovacs, author of Dancing Into the Anointing states, “The dance of
travail is a dance of faith where we thank God for the answer to our prayer before the answer is visible. In this type of
dance, we proclaim to the principalities of darkness that our God is able to do above and beyond what we ask of Him”
(page 53). In summary, the dance of travail is similar to the warfare dance. However, the dance of travail is a victory
dance by faith. It is a confession or testimony before the manifestation is evident. It is a prevailing prayer as in Jacob
wrestling with the angel until he, Jacob, prevailed. It is not agonizing that brings the promises, but it is believing that God
is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him (page 58). The Hebrew word chuwl or chiyl means to
travail (Isaiah 66:8-11, Jeremiah 30:23, Micah 4:10). The biblical usage of travail means to twist, whirl, dance, writhe,
fear, tremble, travail, be in anguish, be pained. This type of dance could be done today during your struggles. You must
press through, travailing, trying to get to that breaking point. The key is to know that the breaking will come.

Ceremonial Dances in the Old Testament are types of dances that would be done at feasts, such as those in Exodus
12:14 and 23:14. These are the types of dances that are done today at ceremonial events like baby dedications,
funerals, and weddings. I had to minister at a funeral. Although there were many who did not understand initially the joy
in the dance, they soon were overcome with the song selection as it showed that it was a celebration of her life here on
earth. It was also a celebration of her return to her Father in Heaven. There were several people so moved by the
dance that they asked some of us who ministered in dance to pray for them and they got saved.

Dance of Praise. This type of dance is always done, no matter how we feel or when we feel like it. Scripture commands
us to always praise the Lord; therefore it is incumbent upon dance ministers to always praise Him with the gift He has
bestowed upon us. A perfect biblical example of this is King David who states, “…I will bless the LORD at all times: His
praise shall continually be in my mouth” (Psalm 34:1). All times is always, forever. This type of praise is relevant
yesterday, today and forever. When I wake up, at home, work, and church, at the gym, etc. I can’t think of a better way
to explain this except to say, PRAISE ALL DAY, ANY WAY, EVERY WAY!

Dance of War. This type of dance is ongoing as well. The key here though is how you come out of the war. Yes, you’ll
be wounded, possibly missing limbs, maybe even blinded, BUT victorious! We are in a spiritual war every single day of
our lives-- satan warring against our Great Jehovah for our very lives, and for those who aren’t saved. We are in
constant conflict with our flesh to do what is right spiritually and morally, battling to do the right thing in our finances, with
our spouses, children, on our jobs, for divine health, deliverance from things that keep us in bondage, etc. God is
always testing us, which is sometimes in itself major warfare to overcome. We then have satan who is always tempting
us, putting obstacles in our way, using areas of our lives where we are weak and in which we struggle (sexually, morally,
physically, etc). This warfare dance is evidenced by powerful tools which we physically possess- our hands and feet!
There are many scriptures that attest to a dancers ability to overcome these challenges using hands and feet (Psalm 18:
32-36, 144:1, Joshua 10:24, 2 Samuel 22:30, and Malachi 4:3). From these scriptures it is apparent that our hands and
feet are of course to always praise our Saviour, but it is also obvious that they are used in the defeating of the enemy
and in deliverance from our weaknesses.

As you can see from the above few examples, dance is and was essential to our Great God. He gave us many examples
to follow but not exactly to the letter of the law in the Old Testament. It is a guide to assist us in our knowledge of
learning to do things correctly as it relates to praise and worship using the dance. If we seek God in our quest to learn
about liturgical dance, then I know He will do as He says in Psalms 32:8. “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way
which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.” I conclude that it is why we were created as evidenced in Isaiah 43:
21 “This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise,” and evidenced in Revelation 4:11. Therefore,
LET US WORSHIP WITH ABANDON!