Comments on: Dance Ministry Ethics #5: Inspiration or Imitation

By: Lakita

Lakita — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 20:10:16 +0000

@Nitasha: Please do not be discouraged! In fact, I commend your candidness.
As you can see from the variety of replies here, some people do not mind if you "borrow" choreography and others would take offense. In order to avoid offending, it is always best to ask and respect the answer. << — That is my practical answer.
Spiritually speaking, I would encourage everyone to seek the Lord for divine choreography. He may give it to you in a dream or through a passage of Scripture. Reference my previous comment for more information.
I also agree with what Rekesha said about building your vocabulary. Some ways to do that include:
- Attending classes, workshops, seminars
- Dance Instructional books* and videos
* I will be giving away one copy of Min. Jocelyn Richard's Ebook – Phenomenal Choreography for Worship. Enter simply by leaving a comment here:
http://panehpraise.com/2009/11/give-phenomenal-choreography-worship-ebook/
(Contest ends 11/20/09)

By: Rekesha Pittman

Rekesha Pittman — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 19:11:41 +0000

Hey Nitasha!
No need to be discouraged. Be encouraged that if you pray to the Lord for choreography (I do) that He can give you a message too! When we know better, we do better. You will be amazed at how the Lord will reveal Himself to you if you just ask Him. Build your vocabulary. Study. Work as a group. Having this conversation is great to open our all of our eyes. It's ok to feel convicted or repentant, but condenmed? NO! Thanks for sharing!

By: Nitasha Melton

Nitasha Melton — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:41:51 +0000

Wow…I can say that I'm one of those people who is guilty of watching someone's choreography and teaching it to my group. I never thought of it as stealing. I never told anyone i made it up, i tell them where i got it from. I have to tell the truth…right now i feel very discouraged. I love to watch youtube and see the different dances to use. But i dont want anyone offended because of that so i guess i have a lot to think about…

By: Fruitfulvine2

Fruitfulvine2 — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 11:48:33 +0000

What an interesting discussion! I’ve never even given much thought to all this being part of a dance ministry. This is eye-opening to say the least.

Stopped by to say hi. Enjoy your Sunday!

By: Lakita

Lakita — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 05:41:19 +0000

Great discussion! Thank you Jocelyn for reminding us of the “laws of the land” and Rekesha for the WORD!

God owns everything, but we are the STEWARDS. So when HE downloads choreography to someone, that person is “leased ownership”.

For example, if you lease a car, you don’t own it…the bank does. However, you are responsible for it and no one is allowed to take it without your permission.

We serve an OMNISCIENT GOD!
Known to God are all his works from the beginning of the world. – Acts 15:18

Therefore He has choreography that He can divinely craft for YOU. That takes away the need to use what He has given to other people.

Another example – God gives us VISION that is crafted specifically for who we are. My eyeglasses correct my vision to 20/20 but if someone else puts them on they will not be able to see clearly.

Finally, @Dancer246, you brought out a good point about technique. Here is my analogy for that: Technique is to choreography as words are to a story.

In other words, it is the building blocks we use to create the finished “product”. We can use the same English dictionary and create an infinite amount of books.

Rather you agree, disagree, or agree to disagree…let’s reason to show common courtesy to the “originator” by asking permission. Some people do not mind and it that case it is OK, but it is always better to ask than offend.

Blessings!

By: LeShaunda Randle

LeShaunda Randle — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 04:13:02 +0000

Wow. I was just discussing this earlier today. Someone was asking me to do a mime workshop and they mentioned a video they saw on you tube and they wanted to do that particular piece in that particular fashion. They are just beginning to start their mime ministry and had some questions. I shared with her that I recommended making it “their own” and offered to choreograph it for them at the workshop so that it could be inspired by God and not just a replication of the same thing. I have attended workshops where the choreography was “off the chain”, but when or if I decide to minister that particular song at the church where I am dance director or at the christian arts center, I will change the choreography. Sometimes the students get upset if we don’t do it exactly how we do it at the workshop. But I always tell them that is what God have to them we have to minister what God gives us. I think replication is ok if permission is given but let us be used by God so he can create a new dance in us. We must be open to the Holy Spirit and minister what He wants to say to our particlar community or church.

By: Rekesha Pittman

Rekesha Pittman — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 23:38:20 +0000

@dancer 246:

I was blessed by your post!

By: dancer246

dancer246 — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 20:51:07 +0000

i like reading what everyone has to say, jocelyn i hope you put this in your next book!
i believe that all Diving inspiration comes from God. in the secular world, everything is inspirired from something else, writers are influenced by other writers, filmakers are influenced by other filmakers. in the dance world there are particular styles of dance, methods of teaching and technique that has a particular influence. if you study a technique long enough, you will see the influence in a particular company’s movements or concepts. i recently took an telecourse with the NLDN (National Liturgical Dance Network) and in the history portion we learned that Alvin Ailey has had the greatest influence on liturgical dance, even though his dances are not liturgical. but because of the influence of the Baptist church in his early life, (Revelations) caused people to use modern/ballet in the black churches. it is not the only influence, but is documented as the greatest (PBS Free to dance). thanks, Rev. Eye for this insight.
it is one thing to be INSPIRED by someone else, and to outright copy them. it happened to me, and it made me feel uncomfortable. it was done right in my face, in the church where i was sitting on Easter Sunday. i can understand the feeling of frustration, it is really lazy to do this, because (1) you don’t know what was in the person’s heart when they choreographed it (2) second-hand revelation is never as good as the original. however, there are dancers who put out videos that can be used as choreography, you can buy them online. when i see people doing them, it still does not work unless the people doing the dance really understand what they are dancing about, and not just copying.
think about this: there are plays that are performed, the theatre company pays royalties to do other’s plays, but the script cannot be altered and there are stipulations on how the work can be published. the writer must be respected.
in the spiirtual realm, dance is a message in movement. preached messages are messages in words. preachers are inspired by other preachers, but if they preach another’s message word-for-word, it is a weak message.
i don’t believe that we “own” anything, and we can be inspired by someone else. but we don’t have to copy them, we can get our own work and it will be effective.

By: Rekesha Pittman

Rekesha Pittman — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 19:17:27 +0000

Preach Jocelyn!

Too long have we condoned “stealing” in Jesus name. We must also obey the laws of the land (that do not conflict with Christian beliefs). Teach Teacher!

By: Jocelyn

Jocelyn — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 17:32:39 +0000

Ministers we must be responsible.
There is a difference between public domain and copyright protected works.
According to the us government, choreography is intellectual property,
protected by copyright laws like. literature, visual art photography,music,lyrics,
dramatic works for screen and stage, audio and visual recordings.
When our pastor preaches in our Churches that sermon is his/her intellectual property,
even his/ her written study notes for the sermon is protected by copyright laws.
Choreography has the same protection and we should act accordingly.
The hymn A Mighty fortress is our God “, by Martin Luther is in the public domain.
That means it may be use without permission. Even though the song is in
public Domain it would be proper to give Mr. Luther credit for the song when useing the work.
However ; the song and music”How great is our God by Chris Tomlin is protected by copyright laws.
It is Mr. Tomlin’s intellectual property. Thefore; one must obtain permission from him to use it.
Let me include that tittles can not be copyrighted. The King James version of the Bible is in public domain. However the NIV is not.
Now, getting back to choreography for worship dance. If you see choreography of others that you want to use.
Just ask them. They may say yes, with no requirements. They may require a certain way to credit the peace or even a fee.
They have every right. If we use other’s choreography without permission or giving credit,
we are stealing intellectual property even if it is for ministry.
In college if you use someones work in a paper and do not give proper credit.
you can be dismissed. I do not think that getting permission to use others
choreography takes away from ministry objectives. Note this example,
If I want to use a sermon taught Billy Graham or Bishop T.D.
in a blog post it does not take away from the Gospel to give credit or get permission from their ministries.
The same is true for worship dance choreography.
We must stay above reproach in this area. In the past ministries have been scandalilzed in the media because of this very issue.

Check out the link below from the gov for more information.

http://www.copyright.gov/fls/fl119.html
http://www.dancehere.com/copyrighting-choreography/