Pageantry

Posted By Lena - February 19, 2010

"And these are the garments which they shall make; a breastplate,

and an ephod, and a robe, and a broidered coat, a mitre, and a girdle:

and they shall make holy garments for Aaron thy brother, and his sons, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office."Exod 28:4

Dance was created for Gods purpose to glorify him in worship. In many ways the garments worn in the early testament are similar to those worn in praise and worship dance today.  The garments you choose to wear for dance ministry should represent humility, holiness and priesthood. 

Garment Length

A dancer needs freedom to move with the arms and feet so use modesty for your clothing. The length of your garment should allow you to dance freely without distractions. The dance minister should show a Humble and modest attire. Depending on the dancer’s height, praise garments will differ in length for each individual person.

If the bottom of the skirt or palazzos is dragging you will need to do one of three things 1) Create a small hem at the bottom of the garment to adjust to the dancer's height 2) Place a small stitch in both sides of the waist to adjust to proper size 3) Cut off the extra material at the bottom of garment. Most of the large dance distributors allow for the convenience of cutting off the bottom of the garments without the worry of fray or ravel of material.

Fit

Women

The clothing should be loose and not tight. The neckline should not be low cut to expose bosom or cleavage. Women are recommended to wear a sports bra or one of good support to control bouncing for energetic dance movements.  Dancers can use girdles if they wish to produce a smooth tummy affect. Slacks or Pants is not recommended in ministry because they  highlight the shape of the hips causing temptation to others. Palazzo's or loose praise pants are recommended in place of pants.  They are available in all colors to enhance your praise dance wear.

Men                                          

The clothing for men should not be tight. A praise top along with praise style pants are recommended. You can purchase men's clothing from most large dance distributors.

Arms Length

The arms should be covered but this depends on many things. If you are dancing in warm climates which may cause you to be exposed to the heat for long periods of time, you should just dress accordingly to the weather. Dance leaders should use good judgement for the safety and health of their dancers. For example if you are ministering in an all day outdoor event with scorching temperatures, I would suggest you dress for comfort and coolness to prevent dehydration and sickness.

The key is to use professionalism when choosing praise dance wear. Sleeveless garments can also enhance the message of the dance as long as it is worn in a professional manner. Keep in mind certain materials and colors will make the body perspire more than others.

Group Attire

When purchasing outfits for a dance ministry team, make sure the style of clothing agrees with everyone's size in the ministry. It is easier to choose garments for solo dances verses group dance ministry because of the assortment of shapes and sizes.

The weight and shape of the dancer affects how the attire will fit the body. Not everyone will have the same fit for the same outfit, even if you order the correct size for the dancer. For example, if the dancer has a large breast cup size then it is best to order their dance top 1 size larger than their normal size.

Often attire will agree with the majority of the dancers but in some cases not all.  You will need to make the best decision for the entire ministry. You can order an ephod or overlay to wear over a leotard or blouse if it becomes an issue to agree upon choosing a top size for the group. Dancers in ministry involve different ages, sizes and shapes so it varies.  The key element is to show decency and order in your clothing.

Comfort

A dancer should wear styles of clothing for comfort which is suitable for their size to be presented in ministry, where the focus is on God and not on the dancer's body. The choice of your attire should provide flexibility and easy movement for dance so that it does not distract the message.                                                             

Size

The garment industry has improved praise dance clothing greatly for an assortment of sizes. You can now find praise clothing in all sizes ranging from xs children to 3x for adults. In choosing sizes it all depends upon the manufacuturer and the material of the garment. Praise garments runs slightly different from your regular clothing sizes.

Colors

Different colors, styles and designs adds creativity and beauty to the dance. When wearing light colored dresses and palazzos choose black leggings and camisole leotard to wear underneath. This will prevent exposure of the undergarments. If you are using flags with your dance you can coordinate the colors together with the attire.      

Caring for your Garments

Dance outfits should be professionally cleaned regularly especially when using frequently and in warm climates. If it is not in your budget to pay for dry cleaning services, each dancer can contribute to dues for the upkeep of their uniforms or you can start a fundraiser to help manage the costs of the uniforms. Make sure you remove your attire immediately after dancing and before eating and drinking.

Hair

The hair should be neat and not hanging in the face to prevent any distractions to the dancer. If the dancers hair is very long it should be pulled back in a bun or pony tail to prevent flying. The hair should be neatly groomed and presentable for dancing.  Keep the bright hair colors away from ministry.

Makeup

All makeup is optional in ministry and it is up to the individual. I do recommend a light touch up for my dancers. Makeup should be applied to produce a soft tone affect. It should bring out your natural skin tone only not to change the entire color of your face. The  bright colors colors should not be used in ministry. If you have applied your makeup before changing into your attire be careful not to smear it on your clothing.

 Foundation

If you do not normally wear foundation but you are wearing it for a special dance event, make sure you test the color first before you put it on your face. Foundation can be worn in liquid form or powder. The main thing is it should not change your color entirely to produce a mask affect. It should be as close as possible to your normal skin tone. Foundation is easiest to test for color under sun light and nonflourescent. The use of a brush will give even out the foundation for a nice blend. Using a sponge will give you a light coverage on the face.

Powder

Be careful if using loose powder. This can get messy and ruin your attire. I recommend a pressed powder but make sure it is applied very light.

Concealer

Use concealer to clear up marks on your face. Follow with foundation or powder.

Eyeliner

When using eyeliner, it is best to use a waterproof version and non liquid which will run. Many times when we are ministering in dance, the tears will roll down our face and cause the makeup to run. Perspiration from warm climates can also allow the makeup to run down the face. Use modesty with eyeliner not to make it too thick and broad under the eyes.

Eye shadow

The eyes should have a soft tone effect. It is important not to apply too much color to distract the message of the dance. Choose soft and warm colors which provide a heavenly affect. Stay away from bright colors over the eyes.

Lipstick

When you wear lipstick in ministry, the color should not distract the message. When I  do choose to wear lipstick while ministering, I use a neutral color which leaves a soft neutral look close to my skin tone. When you are wearing lip gloss, choose a clear or soft color because of the high shine against the lights. The use of  Lip liner will help lipstick to stay on longer. Once again, keep the bright colors out of ministry.

Mascara

If wearing mascara, it works the same as eyeliner.  Choose a water-proof mascara. 

Jewelry

Jewelry should be worn to a minimum when ministering. Earrings should be small and nothing oversized to cause distraction or put the entire focus on you. Wedding rings are fine. Bracelets should be removed to prevent them hanging on to clothing. Eye glasses should be removed unless the dancer depends on them 100%. 

Shoes

A soft ballet slipper or liturgical shoe is recommended for ministering in dance. If you are dancing without shoes for special dance events make sure your toe nails are neatly groomed and your feet are moisturized. 

Finger Nails/Toe nails

The nails should be neatly cleaned and groomed. Nail polish colors should be soft and not bright and should produce a natural look for ministry. False nails are fine as long as they are not way beyond the natural length to distract the message.