My story began at the age of 4 in front of a library, in the middle of a sidewalk, on a very busy street. My mother would let my sister go inside the library to read books, while she and I stayed outside so I could simply dance. My mother would open the front door and turn the car radio up loud as it could go.
I remember people would stop and watch, they would encourage my mother to put me in a dance group, and encourage me to never stop. My mother always said she’d put a bucket out in front of me while I danced, but she never did. She’d always sit there being my DJ and admiring my movement.
Fast forward, when I reached age 7 a dance instructor came to my church, that was the first time I officially ministered my passion to a crowd of people that wasn’t by coincidence passing by on a sidewalk. It was not the crowd of people that made me want to “show off” my moves, it was the feeling through my body and my heart when I moved that made me never want to stop.
I am now 20 years old and life has thrown many storms and pains my way, but I am grateful because through it all I know that dance kept me sane. I know God gave me the ability to move because he knows dance brings peace within my spirit. With dance, I am able to remain strong. I always felt as if I wasn’t “good with words” but through dance, I can remain silent and yet still be heard.
The dancers in The Presence’s of Yahweh’s Dance Ministry have also helped my “voice” be heard. Every dancer has an uplifting spirit where I felt that I no longer had to be alone or muted when trials come my way.
Together we can lean on one another and give all of our praise to our God. This is another family to me. In this family, I know our mission is to make others feel accepted and loved for who they are because that is exactly how this dance family made me feel. We support and build one another’s confidence, faith, and purpose all with God in the center of us.
