 |  April 26, 2002 |
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by A. Victoria Hunter
The Rev. Amy Gregory, Assembly movement coordinator, remembers dancing at seven years old.
"The connection between worship and dance is something I have always understood in my heart," she said. "It is a natural thing and a great challenge."
She's done liturgical dance for about a dozen years, she said. Her work is based on her belief that dance is a part of being human. Dance in worship has become more accepted in recent years, she said.
Ms. Gregory will be dancing at Assembly with Danielle Morellino, Thania Acarón, and the Rev. P. Kimberleigh Jordan.
They will drape the altar each day. During last night's opening worship, they brought the communion elements. They will dance as readers recite a litany Saturday morning and to the theme Assembly song Sunday.
"It is an honor and a privilege to be invited to participate in Assembly," Ms. Gregory said. "I've been thinking of the fullness of God drawing us together as one body. I'm feeling the fullness of God's love. Hopefully, the dance enlightens and feeds."
"There's no strict framework," she said. "It can be flexible. There are all types of dance used in worship."
The dancers will wear a variety of long skirts and long tops.
"Water imagery is reflected in Assembly songs and that's reflected in our choice of blue and green colors," Ms. Gregory said.
The dance form she's chosen is a form of modern dance.
When asked if there are many pastors who are also choreographers, she laughed.
"Not too many," she said. She understands that liturgical dance and worship are two different lives.
"I'm trying to bring dance and worship together," she said. "It takes discipline and time to choreograph the dance. The same for preparing for worship. Dancers and choreographers need down time to be open."
Ms. Gregory is part of the ministry at team St. Paul and St. Andrew United Methodist Church in New York City, where she serves as the worship and program minister. She is a member of Wyoming Conference.
Above: Liturgical dancers participate in worship at the opening plenary of Assembly 2002. Amy Gregory is in the picture at the top. Photos by Ed Moultrie, GBGM. Click on any photo to see a larger version.
Adapted for the web from Response Daily.
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