New Jerusalem Garment
05-06-2006, 09:28 PM
Helena & I have LOTS of stories about all of the banners and garments, obviously, but we love to share. Not because it makes us look good or right, but to remind ourselves and others who care to listen that there is incredible power in well-crafted symbols. God provides the power. We get to sit and watch and say that holy word, "wow!"
You can imagine that this has been a pretty popular garment, one that many she dancers have wanted to wear, for all sorts of purposes and choreographies. It has participated in at least one real wedding, and a whole bunch of dramatizations of weddings, usually portraying the bride of Christ symbolically. Always fun, always powerful, always a conversation starter.
One of my favorite stories about this garment was a choreography done in one of the Pennsylvania churches we called home. Small dance company, maybe four or five dancers plus Christina. Christina was about 6' tall, blonde and beautiful, graceful as could be. She studied with Ballet Magnificat for a year or so, so you get some idea that she was pretty good. The church sanctuary doubled during the week as a gym. 100' square with ugly gas lighting in the room, but good professional lighting for the platform. Dark room, well lighted platform. The company dancers are on platform doing choreography to Michael W. Smith's "Agnus Dei". Very nice, powerful in its own right. Christina began to move forward, down the middle aisle, in the darkened room. By the time folks saw her, she had passed them and all they could see was her white dress and the blue, hour-glass shaped tunic-like back of the garment (same shape as the front, and same royal blue as the background of the front) plus the cap and veil hanging down the back. Then, she came straight out of the shadows and up on platform, still with her back to the congregation. This was the "debut" for the garment at that congregation. As she joined the others and began to take part in the choreography, it was all pretty natural, until she turned around and the theatrical lights hit the garment. There was an audible, congregational gasp in the body. What a moment! There was this sudden recognition of the beauty and power of His Bride. It was an amazing moment from my vantage point in the congregation.
You can imagine that this has been a pretty popular garment, one that many she dancers have wanted to wear, for all sorts of purposes and choreographies. It has participated in at least one real wedding, and a whole bunch of dramatizations of weddings, usually portraying the bride of Christ symbolically. Always fun, always powerful, always a conversation starter.
One of my favorite stories about this garment was a choreography done in one of the Pennsylvania churches we called home. Small dance company, maybe four or five dancers plus Christina. Christina was about 6' tall, blonde and beautiful, graceful as could be. She studied with Ballet Magnificat for a year or so, so you get some idea that she was pretty good. The church sanctuary doubled during the week as a gym. 100' square with ugly gas lighting in the room, but good professional lighting for the platform. Dark room, well lighted platform. The company dancers are on platform doing choreography to Michael W. Smith's "Agnus Dei". Very nice, powerful in its own right. Christina began to move forward, down the middle aisle, in the darkened room. By the time folks saw her, she had passed them and all they could see was her white dress and the blue, hour-glass shaped tunic-like back of the garment (same shape as the front, and same royal blue as the background of the front) plus the cap and veil hanging down the back. Then, she came straight out of the shadows and up on platform, still with her back to the congregation. This was the "debut" for the garment at that congregation. As she joined the others and began to take part in the choreography, it was all pretty natural, until she turned around and the theatrical lights hit the garment. There was an audible, congregational gasp in the body. What a moment! There was this sudden recognition of the beauty and power of His Bride. It was an amazing moment from my vantage point in the congregation.
Blessings!
Dean
DeanZF
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