In May 2012, we had our annual Spring show at the dance company I teach for. With prayer and thoughtful consideration I choreographed a piece to Gungor's "Dry Bones to Beautiful Things" to my advanced jazz group.
I thoroughly enjoyed teaching it and, I think, they enjoyed learning it even though it was a several month process. The concept of the piece was to convey how we feel dead and ineffective, or useless and stuck in personal places whether it's in the heart, the mind, or the body.....we all have dry bones experiences.
The costume selected to further enhance the darkness of when the soul-cries-out concept, was a black one-armed costume with shreds of fabric cascading down the bodice to visually paint the picture of the torn anguish when to the unborn again, God is not present, or to the born again, have separated ourselves from His presence.
The music had to be edited to about 8 minutes, down from its' original 12 minutes. I didn't want the meaning or integrity of the lyrics to get lost only because of a time restraint. The entire song takes you from a dry death to a fertile fresh alive praise! It is a most excellent written and composed piece of art! Dance shoes off for Michael Gungor!
This summer my family and I traveled to my husband's Cuban roots, Key West, Florida. I, again, was influenced at the Key West Butterfly Conservatory by the God-process of going from a worm to a flight-ful and fancy butterfly. The becoming beautiful in a tight, constrained place. The cocoon. I made one of my photos, that was actually shot on an ugly, gray, gloomy, rainy day, to be the cover of my Dance Disciples calling cards. You can see the picture on this blog!
The theme seems to have been for my dance journey in 2012 and seems to continue for 2013, is the dance of change. Even so to the point that the piece I am working on now for this particular class is "Paradise" by Coldplay (Thanks Kristen Morrow!). It will continue the thoughts of dreams flying away and disappointment of disillusions. It is not complete yet, but I know the finish will declare the goodness of God and the strength of His gentle hand. It will, hopefully, convey the cocoon containment through the pain of change to the place of divine appointment.
A new year always represents change, but do we ever really change? Are you waiting on God to do the change or is He waiting on you? Have you sensed that it's time for a different beat but afraid to interrupt the drummer? Are you waiting for a trumpet blast or a letter in the mailbox? How many confirmations will you need? Have you been snug in the cocoon boundary and now find it hard to press against its' encasement to let you go? Have you any inkling of what to do first? What has been burning in your heart? Do you think you have to know HOW to change before you can change?
Whether you want your develope' higher, your split grander, more fouette's, your prayer/worship/Word time more intense, or your emotions more mature. A dream taking off in the right direction, a goal achieved, or relationships healed. What is it? Where is it? When is its' time? How is God gonna achieve it without you? Who's gonna make it happen?
Have you put yourself "out there" before and flopped? Has resistance worn you out? Is fear the voice of reasoning in your head? Repeat these words after me..."I'm fid'na, just watch, I'm fid-na". And then bust out all over in full technicolor glory!! Just like the bold, brazen butterfly that had something to give. There's a world out there that needs your beauty, your outspread wings your ability to fly and your feet to pollinate
the garden to which you're sent. Go be awesome.
Romans 12:2: "And be not conformed (cocooned) to this world: but be ye transformed (butterflyed) by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."
Through these winter months, a season of seemingly stagnated lifelessness, just as you would prepare for a summer bikini body, or a pageant talent piece, or a spring show, or a try-out audition piece, practice God's presence! Practice and go over your call or your dreams. Practice and mark through where you're headed or want to go. When Spring emerges you will be ready to go and do what you do!
In perception, winter looks like the death of all of nature when in reality it's the rest before renewed life begins its' performance!
"You helped set them free when I thought they had died, the butterflies in me that flutter inside. They will dance again, this I owe to You. And again they will fly because You taught them to." - Author Unknown
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