Published: June 20, 2009 02:28 pm      

Sellersburg UMC Hearts in Motion team gives gift of dance to dads on Father’s Day

This Father’s Day, the members of the Sellersburg United Methodist Church dance team will be giving their dads a gift different than the usual tie or yard tool — they’ll be giving them the gift of dance. Hearts in Motion, the church’s dance ministry, will be performing this Sunday at the 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. services.

Nora Pritchett is the group’s choreographer and coordinator. She has worked with the program since its inception in 2001.

"It’s been a joy to watch," Pritchett said. "Last year we did a Mother’s Day dance ... [so] this year they chose to do a dance for their fathers."

The members of the team range in age from 5 to 15, with many being involved with Hearts in Motion for multiple years. The dance group performs at most holiday and special services, but there's an extra twist for this Sunday — they’re performing with their dads.

"I’ve never seen more nervous guys," Pritchett said laughing.

The group met once a week to rehearse leading up to their performances, but the dads were only scheduled three practices to prepare. Pritchett explained that though rehearsal time was limited for the dads, they did their best to ensure they had their steps down for their daughters.

"It’s been awesome to see [the dads]," she added. She described how happy it made the daughters that their fathers put such effort into the routines.

Angie Graf works at the children’s ministry at Sellersburg United Methodist Church. Her daughter, Mikayla, and husband, Dan, who also serves as the music minister, will be among the dancers Sunday.

"I’m excited that I get to dance with my dad," Mikayla Graf said. "It’s fun."

"Nora puts so much time and energy into teaching the kids," Angie Graf said. "The kids learn what the dances mean and the messages about God and Christ."

Though Hearts in Motion is a performance group, the deeper focus is on the religious meanings of the dances they perform. Pritchett felt that the girls in the group benefited from being involved in spreading the word of God through dance. The sense of pride the girls have in their performances makes Pritchett happy.

"The most important thing we try to encourage is that we are a ministry in the church [and add] to the worship," she said. "Seeing their faces at the end of their ministry with that ‘I did this, I accomplished this’ look makes it worthwhile."