Troupe transforms dance into prayer BY CLARE MARIE CELANO Staff Writer Above: Caprice Ingram, 18, of Freehold, rehearses with a liturgical dance troupe at New Beginnings Agape Christian Center in Freehold. At left: Tyrone Mitchell, 14, of Freehold, is a member of a liturgical troupe that uses its dance skills to minister "God's word through movement." You can always tell when people are engaged in doing something they are meant to be doing - it shows on their faces. And Vicky Johnson, who leads the liturgical dance ministry at New Beginnings Agape Christian Center, Throckmorton Street, Freehold, is a perfect example. When Johnson dances with her group, not only is the dance stunning and moving, but her face is alive with the knowledge that she is doing exactly what she is supposed to be doing - dancing for God - and she does it with beauty, with grace and soul. Johnson, 40, of Jackson, a professional dancer and instructor at the Howell Academy of Dance, Howell, has been choreographing the liturgical dance ministry at the Freehold church since 1999. She and the 10 members of the troupe come together in body, mind and spirit to minister through the art of dance. PHOTOSBYJEFF GRANIT staff The group ministers at church functions and special events. In fact, that is how the dance ministry began. Johnson said she was called in to create the ministry for Women's Day, a special tribute to women's ministries at the church in 1999. Church officials were so pleased with the group and its effect on their congregation that they asked her to continue the dance ministry, which Johnson said she was happy to do. She said she felt everything she had done in her career, which included musical theater in her hometown of San Antonio, Texas, and in New Jersey since 1988 led her to this point and "to this place in order to dance for Him." The dance group ministers with planned routines on the fourth Sunday of the month at New Beginnings. The members also provide spontaneous praise and worship ministry during the other Sunday services at the church, with the exception of the first Sunday of the month, which is Communion Sunday. Johnson has been dancing since she was 9 years old. She moved to New Jersey in 1988 and met her husband, Michael, who is one of the praise and worthy ministers at the church. The couple have four children, Zayne, 9, Zahna, 7, Zyon, 5, and Zoelle, 4. She has taught dance to children of all ages, but now prefers to teach ballet, tap and jazz to what she calls "the babies," children ages 3 to 7. Watching the liturgical dance group at a recent rehearsal for an Easter week service, one can see Johnson's influence on her students. Uplifted faces and almost fluid motion grace the bodies of the dancers as they bring their hearts and souls to God in this very powerful art form. The dancers ministered with the choir and with the church musicians to three songs, "The Blood Song," "My Life, My Love, My All" and "Sweet Communion." Johnson said the mission of the group is "to minister God's word through movement." The members of the dance group are Johnson's children, Zayne, 9, and Zahna, 7; Tyronne Mitchell, 14, of Freehold Borough; sisters Tiffany Orrange, 15, and Samantha Orrange, 17, of Marlboro; sisters Shakerra Ingram, 16, and Caprice Ingram, 18, of Freehold Borough; Joy Stradford, 11, of Marlboro; Johnette Mitchell, 26, of Freehold Borough; and Danielle Blaise, 11, of Freehold Township. "The Blood Song" was ministered with a neighboring liturgical dance ministry from St. Veronica's Roman Catholic Church, Howell. The ministry was created for the church by Kathleen Churchill, who contacted Johnson to ask her to help her put the dance ministry in place at St. Veronica's. Two of Churchill's daughters danced with the St. Veronica's church ministry until they reached high school. Kristin, 17, a sophomore at Red Bank Catholic High School, Red Bank, and her sister, Brittany, a junior at RBC, both belong to a liturgical dance ministry at the high school. Churchill's youngest daughter, Jackie, 12, a student at St. James Elementary School, Red Bank, was also a liturgical dancer at St. Veronica's. Brittany Boscamp, 17, previously danced with the St. Veronica's liturgical dance ministry. Now a senior at Monsignor Donovan High School, Toms River, she belongs to the liturgical dance ministry in her own high school. With raised arms and eyes lifted up to Heaven, the group of dancers from two different religions came together to celebrate the Easter holiday with their liturgical brothers and sisters. In the spirit of camaraderie and friendship, it was evident there were no distinctions in race, religion or gender in this church, on this night. The blending of both church dance groups was a tribute to the song they ministered to, "The Blood Song." The dancers wore a red fabric strip draped around their arm, signifying the blood of Christ, according to Johnson. The song itself, performed by the church choir, spoke of people being the same, "no matter what denomination, culture or race you are. As long as your blood is red." Under Johnson's direction and guidance, what appeared to be a combination of ballet, Pilates and contemporary dance steps and movements, the dancers' bodies spoke in prayer. What seems to distinguish this art form from other dance forms is the faces of those dancing the ministry. From Johnson to the younger members, the facial expressions of these dancers who minister for God seemed to be almost transported to another place. As in others who engage in varying forms of prayer, so, too, does this form show on the faces of those who take part in it.