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| Spring 2002 | a publication for alumni, family, and friends |
Christine Smith
"I think good worship involves all our senses and all the possible gifts we have to offer God and to each other," said Tim Eberhart, campus minister. "Interpretive dance is a beautiful, powerful way of incorporating more of ourselves in worship." A group of about three dancers usually performs as a part of the Celebration service. "Our dancers here at Wesleyan are some of the best I've seen," said Eberhart. "They always offer energy, humor and a genuine devotion that is evident in their every move."
Peterson said she begins by selecting a hymn or song that she feels will translate well. She then translates it into sign language and adds dance steps to complete the performance. Peterson describes interpretive dance as a different medium to worship through, and says that she finds it exhilarating. "I think it enhances the service," she said. "It's something different from everyone singing together." Viedt shares Peterson's enthusiasm and says that dance ministry spices up Celebration and offers variety to keep people interested. "I love to dance and if I can get a message across while I am doing it, even better," she added. Peterson first became involved with dance ministry as a high school student. Nycol Beynon, Peterson's youth pastor, taught her youth group a dance and gradually introduced them to interpretive dance. Beynon is a 1993 graduate of DWU and, according to Peterson, did interpretive dance when she was involved with JC & Company at Wesleyan. Peterson said that she remembers when Beynon first showed her a dance and she felt that this was something she could do. As a child, Peterson said she prayed that God would give her a good voice so that she could sing. "It didn't happen; I can't sing at all," Peterson said. "Instead He gave me this sign language ministry that is the same effect because I could still glorify Him and I could do something beautiful that wasn't a voice." By the time Peterson was a junior in high school, she had taken over the dance ministry and was teaching others. She brought this experience with her to Dakota Wesleyan and once again took on leadership roles that included dance ministry. She says that dance ministry has taught her a lot about leadership and the nature of prayer and worship. Eberhart sees dance as another opportunity to praise God. "I believe we are called to live out our faith in every aspect of life," said Eberhart. "Interpretive dance is a nice symbol of that-faith is moving, acting...it's alive." Contact Tim Eberhart, DWU campus minister, at tieberha@dwu.edu for more information. Dakota Wesleyan University |
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Celebration,
Wesleyan's weekly worship service, gives students the opportunity to express their faith
and spirituality in both traditional and alternative ways. One of the alternative forms of
worship seen regularly at Celebration is dance. This act of taking lyrics from songs and
Scripture and translating them into dance has received a positive response from
Celebration participants.
The person responsible for organizing these
interpretive dance performances is Vicky Peterson, a junior from Bismarck, N.D., who is
majoring in human services. Two student dancers who help Peterson are Sarah Viedt, a
sophomore English and secondary education major from Winner, and Jodi Plender, a junior
business major from Hartland, Wis.