History of Dance at First Assembly of God Wortmanville
Dancing at First Assembly all began some twenty years ago. It was the desire of Elder Angela Massiah’s initiative to see this art form come alive. It all started at a Children’s Concert when she along with others encouraged a few young ladies to choreograph a dance for the Children’s Christmas Concert. This was done and it was well received. Subsequently, other young women with this desire became a part of the group. However, they danced only when there was a concert.
As the group grew with more young women, a permanent group was established with scheduled meeting times. It was during this time that Bro. Wayne Daniel, a renounced male dancer of the National School of Dance and Dance Company in Guyana, became a member of the fellowship. Hence, he was commissioned with the task of training and leading the group. It was at this point that the group danced not only at church concerts but at National Events around Guyana. He subsequently migrated and the group had a new dance instructor – Sis Donessa Alleyne- Fraser. It was under her tutelage the name CEKAHALAME was derived. Subsequently, she migrated to pursue studies in medicine.
The name became active when the group had its present instructor who was appointed in 1999 to continue the work of the ministry. Sis. Deborah Hutson was impressed by the meaning of the name and hence, with the approval from church, elders commissioned the name. Therefore, the group is now known as the Cekahalame Dance Ministry, First Assembly of God.
This Ministry is comprised of three sections based on age. The three sections are: The Kingdom Worshippers, The Glorifiers and The Exalters.
The Kingdom Worshippers
The Kingdom Worshippers are the youngest dancers in the Cekahalame Dance Ministry. Their ages range from three (3) years to approximately ten (10) years. They are currently under the leadership of Sis. Tiffany David.
The Glorifiers
The Glorifiers consist of approximately twenty young ladies in the ministry whose age ranges from eleven (11) to thirty (30). This group comes directly under the leadership of Sis Deborah Hutson, Dance Director.
The Exalters
The Exalters are the mothers in the ministry. These are the ladies that look over and bring guidance and correction in the Ministry. This arm of the ministry consists of fifteen ladies.
Motto
Dancing into the anointing and touching the heart of God through dance.
Scripture
The Dance Ministry Scripture is taken from “II Timothy 1:6- 7”
“Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.
For God hath not given us a spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”
Cekahalame Dance Ministry is a biblically based, spirit filled family whose objective is to minister healing and deliverance to people’s heart; to train and activate others to effectively reach the lost through creative expressions of dance. As artistic ministers we will transcribe the heart of God into an acceptable life changing form.
We exist to teach others about this unique art form through which to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ and set captives free!
Derivation of Cekahalame
Our name is a derivation of several Hebrew words that express different dimensions of praise and worship.
CE Comes from the Hebrew word- CEGID which means to fall down in worship.
KA Comes from the word- KARAR which means to dance. This word is used in the context of the dance King David did while bringing in the ark. It is important to note that being of a male gender did not inhibit David from dancing before the Lord.
HALA Comes from the word HALAL which means to praise, to rave, to celebrate and be clamorously foolish. It is the word used in Ps. 150 where the Psalmist speaks about praising God with the timbrel and dance.
ME Comes from the word MECHOWLAH which means to dance. This word is used when Miriam danced a dance of victory after the people of Israel were led out of Egypt (captivity) - Exodus 15: 20
Hence CEKAHALAME: Dancing before the Lord in praise and worship.
Leadership Structure of Cekahalame Dance Department.
Dance Director: Sis. Deborah Hutson
Assistant Dance Director:Sis. Tiffanny Weekes
Treasurer:Sis. Samantha Craig
Secretary:Sis. Carrissa Pearson
Assistant Secretary:Sis. Latoya Bess
Dance Worship Leader:Sis. Zoe Grenville
Choreographer:
Sis. Tiffany David
Sis. Nina Washington
Sis. Tiffany Weekes
Dance Schedule
Saturdays
The Kingdom Worshippers- 13:00 hrs – 14:30 hrs
The Glorifiers – 14:00 hrs – 16:30 hrs
Tuesdays
The Exalters – 19:00 hrs – 21:00 hrs
Every 3rd Saturday all sections meet for a time of Prayer and Fasting at 14:00 hrs.
