What is Davidic Dance?
It is worship dance that is in the style of Israeli folk. There are steps used in dances that are thousands of years old, and just like the Torah, it has been passed down from generation to generation as a means of expression and worship to our God. Each step has meaning culturally, and rooted in praise to God. Since it is very cultural, almost every Israeli will recognize the steps to the traditional “Hava Nagila” or “the hora” or “Ma’na Vu.” The beautiful thing about using Israeli dance steps in our worship to Messiah Yeshua is seeing Jew and Gentile come together as one new man to worship the Messiah of Israel using Israel’s dances. Even on the dance floor, our goal is to the Jew first but also to the Gentile!
What does scripture tell us?
Scripturally, 2 Samuel 6 gives us a picture of David dancing before the Lord with complete abandon. In the Psalms, David writes countless praises to God and blesses Him in worship. There are actually seven Hebrew words for praise used in the Psalms, and each one has a different physical action associated with it, which is where we get physical motions like hands out in front, arms raised above our heads, kneeling, clapping, shouting, and extravagant over the top dance routines for those powerful intercession moments.
For each service, unless otherwise stated, anyone is welcome to join our dance circle Saturday morning. The leader that week will be clearly pointed out in the circle and everyone can follow that person. Some dances have choreographed steps, and some don’t… yet.
Although David danced before the Lord in an ephod, we have a different uniform for worship corporately. Our dancers wear modest clothing when bringing an offering of praise to God. There are silk wrap skirts available in the lobby for female dancers to use during worship. Feel free to borrow one and return it at the end. He clothes us in garments of praise in exchange for the spirit of heaviness (Isaiah 61:3), so we make a point to put on a garment of praise when we go to His house for worship. It is not required to wear one, but it is welcomed!
Seven Words of Praise
Hallel – to shine; hence, to make a show, to boast; and thus to be (clamorously) foolish; to rave; causatively, to celebrate; where we get the word, Halleluyah (Praise to God).
Yada – ‘‘hand’, the arms are extended in worship or confession, see Psalm 107:15, 1 Chronicles 16:35, Psalm 57:9, etc)
Toda – “an extension of the hand” – it’s literally the extended hand. Think of a thanksgiving offering or tithe or giving something to Lord in thanksgiving.
Shabach – to shout, loud. It’s to praise His name with a shout of joy! Psalm 63:3, Psalm 117:1, etc
Barak – kneel, to bless. The physical action associated with barak is to kneel in worship to God.
Zamar – to praise using music on stringed instruments, to make music accompanied by voice, to celebrate in song and music, to praise.
Tehillah – a hymn. Corporate worship! Sing in unison to our God of unity!
Bonus Word:
Shachah – to depress, i.e. prostrate (especially reflexive, in homage to royalty or God):—bow (self) down, crouch, fall down (flat), humbly beseech, do (make) obeisance, do reverence, make to stoop, worship.
Source: https://thinkaboutsuchthings.com/hebrew-words-for-praise/