Mullen 1 Kimberly Mullen Caroline Prohowsky Dance 460 August 6, 201 !he Physical o" !

he #$iritual #ince the beginning o" time, religion has been a central an% "un%amental com$onent o" cultural societies& 'n (arious religions throughout the worl%, rituals, ceremonies an% or%inances are $ractice% an% wi%ely acce$te% all o" which %ee$ly in(ol(e the $hysical bo%y& )owe(er it is not o"ten that one asks why there are so many $hysical com$onents o" religious worshi$* +hy is it that religious $eo$le $hysically kneel to $ray* +hy is it that they gather together in large grou$s to worshi$ on a regular basis* +hy is it that they must eat or %rink or %ance or sing or $er"orm certain or%inances in s$eci"ie% manners to obtain greater connection with Deity* As seen throughout the history o" ci(ili,ation, in (arious cultures an% religions, we see the %ee$ incor$oration o" $hysical e-$erience in religious worshi$ as it hel$s to %ee$en connection to Deity, internali,e religious e-$eriences, increase unity among $eo$le, an% enhance learning& 'n lineage.base% societies, some o" the most sacre% things were taught an% celebrate% through %ance an% $hysical mo(ement& +e o"ten see in these early cultures how %ee$ly %ancing is associate% with s$iritual e-$erience& /ll"el%t state% 0in $rimiti(e %ance there is com$lete in(ol(ement o" the %ancers1 this is not mere $er"ormance, it is a celebration o" $ersonal belie"2 3404& !ribe members woul% $re$are "or %ays both $hysically an% s$iritually "or these ceremonial %ances& !hey woul% e-tra(agantly or%ain themsel(es with ornate clothing an% ornamentation& !hey woul% "ast an% $ray "or %ays be"ore the %ancing religious ritual& !hey woul% %ance in "ormations, one o" the ol%est being the close% circle where they belie(e% great $owers coul% be loose% an% the or%inary worl% woul% be locke% out& A"ter creating such an en(ironment, they woul% %ance tirelessly which woul% bring them %ee$er an% %ee$er

Mullen 2 into state o" min% until they woul% "inally enter into an altere% state through a sort o" trance %ance& 5ecause o" the intense $hysical in(estment in these early religious %ance ceremonies, these $eo$le woul% literally lose themsel(es in the mo(ement an% "in% themsel(es on a higher $lane o" s$irituality 3/ll"el%t 40.4 4& !his ele(ate% "rame o" min% that came as a result "rom their %ancing is e(i%ent by the e-treme rituals they were then able to $er"orm& 6r%inarily these %ance rituals woul% be e-tremely $ain"ul an% %i""icult to %o, i" not com$letely im$ossible, i" it were not "or the altere% state they were in because o" %ance& 6ne such ritual entitle% the #un Dance is %escribe by Paul 7a%in& !his %ance woul% be %ance% a"ter se(eral %ays o" "asting, $rayer, chanting an% o""erings being ma%e to the go%s& 't was highly religious an% sacre% as the %ancing tribe members woul% sel".in"lict torture u$on themsel(es %uring this "amous ritualistic %ance& !he %ancers woul% ha(e the "lesh un%er the breast or on their backs cut an% s$eare% through with a skewer& !his skewer was then tethere% to a $ole, aroun% which they woul% %ance an% $ull away "rom with all their might& !hey woul% %ance straining u$ towar%s the blin%ing light o" the sun until the skewer e(entually tore through the "lesh 37a%in 1 4& 'magine the $ower that those $re$aratory %ays o" %ancing, chanting, $rayer an% "asting must ha(e ha% in or%er "or these %ancers to ha(e entere% into such a %ee$ trance so as to be able to $er"orm such e-treme religious rituals& !he $ower this mo(ement ha% is un8uestionable as it enable% them to internali,e their e-$erience so %ee$ly that they coul% withstan% unsur$assable amounts o" $ain& !heir religion is truly a whole bo%y e-$erience& +ithout this $hysical mo(ement, these %ancers woul% not ha(e been able to $er"orm such e-treme religious worshi$& !here"ore we see how essential e-$eriencing the $hysical an% $er"orming the trance %ance is to their religion& !hus we see that $hysical mo(ement an% %ance has been a large $art o" religious worshi$ since the earliest o" times& +e also see that $hysical mo(ement is a central com$onent to s$iritual e-$eriences in Christianity as well& /(en in the ancient 5ible we ha(e recor% o" the great King Da(i% %ancing be"ore

Mullen the ark o" the Co(enant, one o" the most sacre% ob9ects, while wearing the most sacre% o" clothing, in the most sacre% o" all $laces in their religion&

0An% it was so, that when they that bare the ark o" the :or% ha% gone si- $aces, he sacri"ice% o-en an% "atlings& An% Da(i% %ance% be"ore the :or% with all his might1 an% Da(i% was gir%e% with a linen e$ho%& #o Da(i% an% all the house o" 'srael brought u$ the ark o" the :or% with shouting, an% with the soun% o" the trum$et2 3King ;ames 5ible, 2 #amuel 6<1 .1=4&

6" all the things Kin% Da(i% coul% ha(e %one to show true worshi$ at such a sacre% an% ceremonious time, he %ance%& !his s$eaks (olumes about the im$ortance o" %ance to the ancient )ebrew society an% in the 5ible that Christians so %ee$ly cherish to%ay& 5oth in Christianity an% in lineage.base% societies we ha(e obser(e% that %ancing an% o""ering u$ $hysical sacri"ices are two o" the most $rominent com$onents o" religious worshi$& !here"ore, it is e(i%ent that $hysical mo(ement o" the bo%y enables $eo$le to "eel the $owers o" hea(en more strongly an% e-$ress their "eelings o" worshi$ more "ully& Perha$s an e-$lanation as to why $eo$le are able to "eel >o% more strongly when they are $hysically e-erting themsel(es may be "oun% in the Christian belie" that >o% create% our bo%ies in his image& 5ecause he create% our bo%ies, our bo%ies are there"ore sacre%& As taught in >enesis, 0#o >o% create% man in his own image, in the image o" >o% create% he him1 male an% "emale create% he them2 3King ;ames 5ible, >enesis 1<2?4& Members o" !he Church o" ;esus Christ o" :atter.%ay #aints belie(e that >o% has a tangible bo%y o" "lesh an% bone an% now that we are on earth an% ha(e our own bo%ies, we are able to become more like him 3Doctrine an% Co(enants 1 0<224& !hey teach that we all li(e% with >o% be"ore we were born, but in or%er to $rogress it was necessary "or us to come to earth, obtain a bo%y an% so we coul% become more like >o% 3Preach My >os$el 4@.4A4& !here"ore, our bo%ies are essential to our s$iritual $rogression& 't woul% be im$ossible "or us to $rogress any "urther in the $re.

Mullen 4 mortal worl% without obtaining a bo%y& !here"ore it interesting to take note that our li"e e-$eriences, learning an% $rogression are all %e$en%ent u$on our bo%ies& !here"ore we surely can see that our bo%ies are a sacre% an% central $art o" our li"e e-$erience, both $hysically an% s$iritually& /l%er Da(i% A& 5e%nar, a$ostle o" the :or% ;esus Christ in !he Church o" ;esus Christ o" :atter. %ay #aints state%<

06ur $hysical bo%ies make $ossible a brea%th, a %e$th, an% an intensity o" e-$erience that sim$ly coul% not be obtaine% in our $re.mortal e-istence& !hus, our relationshi$s with other $eo$le, our ca$acity to recogni,e an% act in accor%ance with truth, an% our ability to obey the $rinci$les an% or%inances o" the gos$el o" ;esus Christ are am$li"ie% through our $hysical bo%ies&2 35e%nar 414&

+e learn that our bo%ies are one o" the most central $ur$oses o" us being on earth& !hey are essential to our $rogression in this li"e an% there"ore central to religious worshi$& #$iritual e-$eriences are am$li"ie% as we engage% our bo%ies in them& 0#im$ly state%, there are lessons we must learn an% e-$eriences we must ha(e, as the scri$tures %escribe Baccor%ing to the "leshB2 35e%nar 414& Cor this reason, $hysical in(ol(ement is so central to s$iritual e-$erience as it allows us to more %ee$ly internali,e our e-$erience an% connect more intimately with Deity& #ome may claim that %ancing an% $hysical mo(ement may be more e(i%ent in religious ceremonies o" ancient times or in non.Christian religions, howe(er the im$ortance o" $hysical in(ol(ement in worshi$ is still (ery e(i%ent in current Christian religious ceremony& Although it may be more subtle than a lineage.base% tribal %ance, Christian religious $ractices still gi(e great im$ortance to what the bo%y is %oing %uring religious ceremony& Cor instance, throughout a Catholic mass we see $eo$le stan%, sit an% kneel %uring s$eci"ie% times o" the ser(ice& 'n (arious Christian %enominations we

Mullen = see kneeling with clas$e% han%s an% a bowe% hea%s as a recogni,e% stance o" $rayer& 5a$tism by water is also commonly $ractice%, where $eo$le will literally be washe% with water to symboli,e being washe% clean o" our sins be"ore >o%& !he institution o" the #acrament or Communion is also $ractice%, where Christians will eat brea% an% %rink wine or water to remember ChristBs sacri"ice "or men& !here is great symbolic meaning in all o" these $hysical actions o" religious $ractices& )owe(er, these actions %o not only ha(e symbolic meaning, but also hel$ to create a $hysical an% s$iritual connection "or the in%i(i%ual who is $artici$ating in them& Cor instance, there is $ower that comes "rom $hysically being immerse% in water or $hysically eating brea% an% water or $hysically kneeling %own to $ray& 't not only re$resents something abstract but gi(es that in%i(i%ual a $hysical an% more tangible e-$erience with Deity& As e(i%ence% in a sim$le $rayer, a $erson $hysically an% s$iritually "eels more humble when they lower themsel(es %own to their knees to $ray& 5y $hysically changing their stance, they can more easily "eel a s$iritually change o" their hearts turning towar%s >o%& !here"ore the connection with Deity is strengthene% as $hysical action is incor$orate% into s$iritual an% religious worshi$& #uch $hysical in(ol(ement in religious $ractice is not only use% to strengthen $eo$leBs $ersonal connection to >o% an% Deity, but it also hel$s to connect them to those aroun% them& 7eligion $lays a ma9or role in uni"ying "amilies, communities, tribes, an% cultural or ethnic grou$s& !here"ore, surely the $hysical $lays a role in this s$iritual an% uni"ying bon% as well& !he ancient >reeks %emonstrate% this $rinci$le as they gathere% together "or large religious "esti(als that woul% last "or se(eral %ays& Perha$s the largest o" these was the Cesti(al o" Dionysus, a "esti(al celebrating the go% o" "ertility, wine, an% the re(elry that goes with it& 6ne o" two %ays woul% be s$ent o""ering sacri"ices an% $ara%ing to honor Dionysus an% then the "ollowing "i(e %ays were assigne% to %ithyrambs an% $lays& 3+ilson 2A4& Dithyrambs were long hymns that were sung an% %ance% by a grou$ o" "i"ty men& 'magine the unity such a grou$ woul% ha(e to achie(e in or%er to e-ecute such a $er"ormance& Dot only the $er"ormers became unite% but the entire ci(ili,ation woul% also %ance, sing, celebrate an% make merry& !hey woul%

Mullen 6 all gather together in Athens an% become unite% as a country& During this time 0businesses came to a stan%still1 wars cease%1 $olitical concerns were ignore%2 3+ilson 2@4& /(erything woul% be $ut asi%e so nothing coul% inter"ere with the im$ortance o" this time where all >recians coul% worshi$, celebrate an% bon% together& Although these "esti(als ha% immense in(ol(ement o" the $er"orming arts, they were so much more than a $arty or e(en a religious ceremony or $ersonal e-$erience& 't was a uni"ying s$iritual an% social e-$erience "or all& 5ecause o" the time, tra(el, %ancing, singing an% acting that occurre%, the $eo$le were $hysically in(este% in this e-$erience there"ore making it a %ee$ an% enriching one& !his hel$e% to create the strong sense o" culture, unity an% camara%erie that is e(i%ent in the ancient >reeks& !his unity enable% their society to "lourish because so much o" their culture was base% u$on the artistic an% $hysical celebrations o" their religious belie"s& Along with the unity o" the >reeks, we also see how $hysical e-$ression o" belie" uni"ie% other cultural grou$s as well, such as the lineage.base% tribes $re(iously %iscusse%& As analy,e% abo(e, by $artici$ating in %ancing an% $hysical mo(ement these tribes were strengthene% by each other an% able to enter into such a %ee$ trance that they were ca$able o" withstan%ing immense amounts o" $ain& )owe(er, such rituals woul% ne(er ha(e been e-ecute% by a single $erson& 7a%in state% that e(ery one in the tribe was able to $artici$ate& !hey each ha% their own roles to "ul"ill an% relie% on one another, which built a strong sense o" unity among the $eo$le& !he warriors were to %ance an% act as i" they were $re$aring "or war& !he $le%ger an% his associates were to ha(e "aste% an% $raye% throughout the %ays o" ceremonious $re$aration be"ore they 9oine% in an% began to %ance& 6thers were sent ahea% to "in% a tree to ser(e as the sacre% $ole the #un Dance woul% be centere% aroun% 37a%in 12. 1 4& /ach o" these roles in(ol(e% $eo$le an% uni"ie% them, bringing the $eo$le closer together in the name o" religion an% their >o%& !his is why such %ances woul% be use% to hel$ reen"orce tribal unity %uring times when it was es$ecially nee%e%& Dance was hea(ily relie% on %uring trying times such as "unerals an% war where the $eo$le %e$en%e% on each other "or su$$ort an% strength& 'n contrast, times o"

Mullen ? re9oicing an% marriage where "amilies were 9oine% also greatly in(ol(e% %ance 3/ll"el%t4& !hey woul% all be brought together to %ance an% create that bon% o" unity between man an% wi"e an% their "amilies& !he uni"ying $ower that %ance an% $hysical mo(ement brings is so (ery e(i%ent in the li(es o" the lineage.base% societies& 'n a%%ition to a uni"ying tool, $hysical mo(ement also ser(es as an e""ecti(e teaching ai% in religion& !his too has been a$$arent in (arious cultures an% historical times, "or religious an% non. religious $ur$oses& Esing $hysical in(ol(ement as $art o" s$iritual learning greatly assists in teaching the rising generation an% con(eying in"ormation to one another& Cor instance, #usanne :anger wrote how %ance e(ol(e% out o" a means o" story telling an% gi(ing in"ormation in lineage.base% societies& #ince there was a lack o" %e(elo$e% (ocabulary, it was necessary that recogni,able gestures along with mo(ement an% noises 3such as animal cries or natural soun%s4 woul% be use% in or%er to e""ecti(ely communicate myths an% religious belie"s& !his gra%ually %e(elo$e% into ritual %ances that use% sim$ler imitati(e mo(ements soon incor$orating all the elements o" %ancing, acting, singing an% s$eech& !his symbolic art became a (ital metho% o" $assing %own myths, legen%s an% belie"s to the chil%ren o" their tribe 3Kraus 14& Esing $hysical mo(ement as a teaching tool has been use% since the ancient times o" >reece an% lineage.base% societies an% is still o"ten use% to%ay& 't is $ro(en that humans are able to learn an% more "ully com$rehen% in"ormation when they are able to ha(e a han%s.on e-$erience& !he more $hysically in(este% their bo%ies are when recei(ing the in"ormation, the more they are able to retain what they ha(e learne%& 0!he Dational Association "or the /%ucation o" Foung Chil%ren 3DA/FC 1AA24 claims that $hysical acti(ity is (ital "or chil%renBs cogniti(e growth& !hey stress the nee% "or $hysical actions to hel$ them gras$ abstract conce$ts& /ngagement in acti(e rather than $assi(e acti(ities is&&& an im$ortant un%erlying $rinci$le "or $rimary e%ucation&2 3Da(ies 624& #uch clear e(i%ence is $roo" o" the $ower that mo(ement has in hel$ing chil%ren com$rehen% in"ormation,

Mullen @ es$ecially abstract in"ormation& +hen trying to learn something as abstract as religious conce$ts, it is no won%er why s$iritual teachings o"ten incor$orate acti(e $hysical $artici$ation to hel$ enhance the learnerBs e-$erience& 7ecent stu%ies ha(e also conclu%e% that this $hysical mo(ement an% %ance, such as s$inning, hel$s to im$ro(e learning an% memory& Dr& Crit, Mengert e-$lains that while s$inning, cells are actually Gcentri"icate%G to the outer regions o" the brain where memory is store%, s$eci"ically to the lobes that are o$$osite the %ominant han%& !here"ore, this mo(ement hel$s to increase memory acti(ation an% allows chil%ren to retain greater amounts o" in"ormation& 'n a%%ition to enhance% memory, %ancing while learning hel$s chil%ren remember what is being taught because memory an% emotion are store% in the same area o" the brain& !here"ore, when the chil% is e-$eriencing $ositi(e emotions, which are easily ignite% in the brain while %ancing, the $art o" the brain that stores memory is also more acti(e an% there"ore able to recall the in"ormation more rea%ily because o" the $ositi(e emotional connection they ha(e to it 3!eacher #u$$ort Corce4& !here"ore $hysical acti(ity in religious worshi$ $lays a bene"icial role in hel$ing $eo$le learn an% remember the abstract an% s$iritual $rinci$les being taught& !his is a clear e-$lanation as to why lineage.base% societies an% the ancient >reeks woul% ha(e use% %ance an% mo(ement as a means o" $assing %own myths an% religious legen%s& 'n Christianity to%ay, we also see mo(ement use% to hel$ chil%ren learn an% remember religious stories an% belie"s& Crom my own $ersonal Christian u$bringing, ' remember learning many o" the 5ible stories at Church through songs that ha% correlating actions& !o this %ay, the stories that ha% songs an% mo(ement associate% with them ' can remember much more clearly than those stories that %i% not& 't is not in"re8uent when those songs an% stories will come into my min% years later an% strengthen my "aith an% re"resh my knowle%ge& !hrough acting out the wor%s o" a song, oneBs memory an% knowle%ge is enhance% an% the ability to recall e-cellerates& Certainly $hysical mo(ement, song

Mullen A an% %ance $lays a tremen%ous role in teaching chil%ren religious $rinci$les& As we ha(e seen, the $hysical bo%y $lays an immense role in religion& 't %ee$ens oneBs connection to Deity an% hel$s to internali,ation religious e-$erience& !his is achie(e% because the more in(este% one is $hysically in a religious ritual, the more "ully they are to e-$erience it s$iritually& +e ha(e also seen the uni"ying $ower religion has ha% in bon%ing grou$s together as they $hysically gather an% worshi$ as one entity& Physical mo(ement also heightens the ability "or $eo$le to learn, com$rehen%, an% remember the s$iritual conce$ts taught in religious $ractices& !here"ore $hysical in(ol(ement in religious $ractice has assiste% $eo$le in (arious cultures, religions an% historical $erio%s to %ee$en their connection to Deity, internali,e s$iritual e-$eriences, increase unity among $eo$le, an% enhance religious learning& !he $hysical an% s$iritual elements o" religion are inse$arably intertwine% to com$liment an% enrich each other throughout religious worshi$&

Mullen 10 +orks Cite%< 5e%nar, Da(i% A& G+e 5elie(e in 5eing Chaste&G Ensign, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints May 201 < n& $ag& Da(ies, Mollie& Movement and Dance in Early Childhood& /%& Mollie Da(ies& 2n% e%& e%& :on%on1 !housan% 6aks, Cali"&< Paul Cha$man, 200 & /ll"el%t, :ois& Dance, from Magic to Art& /%& :ois /ll"el%t& Dubu8ue, 'owa< +& C& 5rown Co&, 1A?6& King ;ames 5ible& /%& !he Church o" ;esus Christ o" :atter.%ay #aints& #alt :ake City, E!& 200?& Print& Kraus, 7ichar%, #arah C& )ilsen%ager, an% 5ren%a Di-on& )istory o" the Dance< 'n Art an% /%ucation& !hir% e%& #an Cransisco, CA< Pearson /%ucation, 1AA1& Print& :anger, #usanne& Philoso$hy in a Dew Key< A #tu%y in the #ymbolism o" 7eason 7ite, an% 5eha(ior& Dew Fork< !he Dew American :ibrary, 1A=1& reach My !os"el# A !uide to Missionary Service& #alt :ake City, E!< Church o" ;esus Christ o" :atter Day #aints, 2004& Print& 7a%in, Paul& The Story of the American $ndian& Dew Fork, Dy< >ar%en City, 1A ?& Print& !eacher #u$$ort Corce& GChil%ren Dancing Can #u$$ort :earning&G S"inning is one of the most effective memory im"rovement e%ercises& +eb& 10 Aug& 201 & Hhtt$<IIwww&teacher.su$$ort. "orce&comIchil%ren.%ancing&htmlJ& +ilson, /%win, an% Al(in >ol%"arb& :i(ing !heatre< )istory o" the !heatre& Dew Fork, Dy< Mc>raw. )ill, 2012& Print&