"There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord." First Corinthians 12, 4-5.
Drawing their inspiration from the Bible, members of the Glory Dance Works share their love of Christ through music and song. Presenting original choreography set to gospel or praise songs, the group dances in traditional, contemporary, lyrical and tap styles to share their passion and bring a message of faith and love to audiences.
"It's really been like the Lord has provided us with all we need," said Suzanne Laskey of Cedar, a personal trainer who has been dancing since childhood. "When we need music, it just happens and when we need choreography, we will go home and one of us will have an entire piece come to them."
"It's like nothing I've ever experienced before: God's really this close to what people do," she added.
The four-member troupe is beginning their third season together and includes three dancers — Laskey, Lisa Bristol and Susan Parks — plus Lisa Kemp as their singer. A connection last year with songwriter Susan Schnerer of Traverse City has the company boosting their eight-song repertoire by creating moves to accompany her compositions.
"She writes just beautiful, worshipful songs," said Kemp. "It's so neat to be doing original stuff, what an opportunity that is. She's just thrilled about it, we're just thrilled about it and her songs are really ministering to all of us."
Glory Dance Works members weave their rehearsal and performance times around busy lives with families, careers and church. The dancers had known each other for years, taking classes together and dancing in recitals. Bristol and Kemp both attend College Terrace Wesleyan Church and had teamed up there for performances. Soon everyone knew everyone else.
"I started taking tap from her [Laskey] and we met and just clicked," recalled Kemp. "The relationship between the four of us, it was like we had always been together; it boosts our creativity and spirit, we're all sisters."
For years, Laskey aspired to form a Christian dance group. Glory Dance Works finally coalesced three years ago when the foursome performed at a women's conference sponsored by the Northern Michigan Jesus Ministry.
The positive reception and requests for visits to other churches illustrated the group's potential. They have since brought their unique style of praise to churches, worship services and small groups around the region.
Pioneering this type of worship in the region has met with occasional less-than-enthusiastic reactions. They tailor their line-up to the audience where possible, reserving the high-energy, leather-jacket-and-sunglasses tap number for appropriate settings.
"We get everything from, 'Wow, that's amazing, I really felt the presence of God,' to 'Do you really think it's OK to dance in church?'" noted Laskey.
The group's growth slowed in the spring of 2005 when Laskey headed to Iraq as a civilian instructor, personal trainer and nutrition coach for the Marines. They kept in contact via email and the trio performed without her, but since Laskey returned six weeks ago they have been honing old numbers and creating new ones.
Laskey, who danced with the Joffrey Ballet, said that Glory Dance Works provides a completely different atmosphere for performing.
"Dance tends to be very pressure oriented, very competitive and very based on your physicality," she noted. "When you are dancing for the Lord's glory, none of that matters."
Kemp and songwriter Schnerer are traveling next month to the Gospel Music Association's national convention in Colorado. The week of performances, classes, private critiques and competitions is a first for both of them but they both are thrilled just to be there.
"I'm just so excited to go," said Kemp. "I have no expectations, it will be a learning experience and I will bring back personally for my ministry and for Glory Dance Works' ministry."
Glory Dance Works as well as Grace Reflections, a piano-clarinet duo featuring Schnerer, will present a send-off concert for Kemp and Schnerer on Thursday, July 20, at 7 p.m. at the College Terrace Wesleyan Church on South Airport Road. The public is welcome and a free will offering will be accepted.