Let them praise His name in the dance: let them sing praises unto Him with the timbrel and harp. Psalm 149:3 (NKJV)
Sitting still has never been one of Sarah Jarbou’s favorite things to do. “I’ve always had an active background with dancing and movement. I just enjoy it and have found a love for it,” Sarah said.
The 20-year-old began dancing at a young age, taking ballet along with gymnastics. In girl guards she had a unit in praise dancing. Sarah recently took up ballet again at the University of Michigan-Flint, where she is a sophomore, studying to be a nurse.
Sarah has attended the Flint Citadel, Mich., Corps with her parents, sister Samantha, 18, and brother Sebastian, 17, for 13 years.
Last summer, she became a leader for the dance group at the Great Lakes Division (GLD) Music and Gospel Arts Camp. Her sister Samantha assisted as a co-leader. Sarah will teach again at the camp this summer.
She also took over the praise dance classes on Wednesday evenings at her corps. And she was asked by Christopher Ward, GLD senior director of music and gospel arts, to teach during the monthly music days.
“Having Sarah take this on has been a real blessing,” added Jessica Pascoe, West Region music director in GLD. “We had interest in dance in the division, but no one to lead it. She’s enabled another ministry.”
“Dancing is my passion,” Sarah said. “When I dance, I like to feel the lyrics and express my emotion… Every time I dance, I say a prayer and ask God to help me bring a message to people with my dancing.”
The range of styles she teaches is broad, ranging from ballet to jazz to classical.
“I teach whatever I see that fits the song lyrics. You would be surprised at how the movement in your body changes with the lyrics of the songs,” Sarah said.
She does stress one movement in particular to all of her students.
Dancing is a creative way for anyone to connect with God, she explained.
“Not everyone can sing or play an instrument. Dancing is something for everyone—for anyone who wants to spread God’s Word,” said Sarah.
Christopher says that seeing Sarah’s progression from student to leader is uplifting.
“It’s good to see kids that have come through your programs now taking an interest in leadership and being given opportunities and stepping into leadership roles,” he said. “Sarah is a beautiful person, really in tune with things spiritually. You can tell that by watching the dances she puts together.”
Sarah says because of her faith, she never really dances alone: “I feel like it is just me and God.”
