There is a time to weep and a time to laugh, but Perfect Praise Dance Ministries focuses on the time to dance.
"We're not just entertainment," said fourth-year College student Natalie Banks, Perfect Praise president. "We definitely consider it a ministry. We hope people will see God in a different way than they've seen him before."
The ministry dance group is part Christian fellowship -- similar to the Impact Movement or Chi Alpha -- and part dance group, performing to Gospel, jazz and classical music.
"Pretty much everyone in the group listens to [the music] and weighs in with their opinion whether that music should be included," said Keshia Ashe, president-elect and current vice president. "Most of the songs are just uplifting and worshipping God."
She explained that while her background in ballet affects her choreography, each group member approaches music differently in part because they each bring various levels of dancing experience. No auditions are required for the group. Instead, members gain dance experience at the biweekly practices.
"Some have been dancing all their lives and some have never danced other than Perfect Praise," Banks said.
Though the group is currently comprised of all black female members, Ashe said "we open our arms to any and every person that wants to worship God through dance."
Though the group consisted ofthree members at the start of the year, the ministry has since grown to 10 members. Emphasizing retention, Ashe said she expects everyone except the two graduating fourth-year students to return.
Perfect Praise has participated in a number of events this year such as Exclusive, Step It Up's Portraits in Color and the Impact Women's Conference, as well as several performances at churches in the community.
"I've gotten nothing but positive feedback [from the audiences] and I take it that people invite us back year after year as a sign they like us," Ashe said.
Though the group typically performs at events sponsored by other organizations, Perfect Praise will host its own annual performance, Alpha and Omega, May 1.
"The idea is to dance the story of the Gospels, so we have a whole creation section, then the story of the fall of man and the redemption of man through Christ," Banks said.
Perfect Praise formed its own CIO in 2004 after having been a part of the Impact Movement, a Christian fellowship group, according to Impact president Charlene Brown.
Impact Movement's goal is "to take the truth of Jesus Christ to the campus, community and world," Brown said.
Perfect Praise split off for funding reasons and still maintains close ties with Impact by performing with the group on a regular basis, according to Brown.
"Even though we're two separate entities, we still have love and we'll always be there to support their events," Brown said.
Ashe said she was excited for Perfect Praise's future endeavors and the impact it could have.
"A personal goal of mine is to reach out to young folk in the community," Ashe said. "I feel that dance and other ways to express yourself can really affect young people."
Read More
Holding onto every grain in the hourglass
By Mai Hukuoka | YesterdayNow that I’m back at school, I have made it my mission to take note of the sneaky passage of time.
Students brave the cold for a whirlwind sorority rush
By Mia Tan | 3 days agoStudents recount a mix of emotions from rush, with some disappointed after dropping from the recruitment process and others ecstatic to join Greek life.
Top 10 ways to avoid burnout this semester
By Sam Saks | 4 days agoAs you settle into this semester, try implementing these 10 tactics to take care of yourself and wave goodbye to burnout.
