The Story Of Culottes

     Helping to bring worship dance to the church is not always an easy job. Many dancers come from the dance world into the church and find a vast cultural gap where there has been little or no exposure to the arts. This was the situation I found myself in. I had already added skirts and blouses to my leotards and tights and had come miles toward being a better ambassador for the dance in the church. Then, after a worship service I had been dancing in, I heard that two men had been in the back pew snickering every time I whirled around and my skirt came up. (needless to say, their minds were distracted from the message I was trying to present). When I found this out I was furious and later I prayed, "Lord, I've already put skirts and blouses on, what else can I do?" It was then that the idea came to me to use culottes. My mother, Evelyn Parker, agreed to make me a pair. After several experiments, she designed a pair that had just the right amount of flair to keep them from hanging down like bloomers. This design is the Culottes pattern.

     The Sacred Dance Culottes are not only the solution to the 'modesty' dilemma, but it does help to remedy the problem. I have successfully used culottes in my ministry for many years. Pastors and others have commented that one of the strengths of my dance ministry is my use of costumes. Culottes have been provided for the women dancers at the Feast of Tabernacles, and they are also used by the Church of the Good Samaritan Dance Choir*.

                                                     Valerie Henry

*[formerly directed by Valerie Henry]