Joliet praise dancers on way to Tennesee to perform on gospel television show

JOLIET – Five young praise dancers from Joliet are on their way today to Tennessee to appear on a BET gospel T.V. show.

All five are going for two reasons – to give honor and glory to God, and to move others to be closer to him.

The girls, ages 9 to 17, are members of the St. John Praise Dancers at St. John Missionary Baptist Church in Joliet, where the Rev. Herb Brooks Jr. is pastor.

While in Tennessee, the girls will perform on Bobby Jones’ “The Evolution of Praise Dance 2.” Jones’ show on BET features new and famous gospel artists.

Carlene Rush of Joliet, the praise dancers’ director for the last six years, said the show will be televised, but she doesn’t yet know the date.

Appearing on the show will open additional opportunities for the dancers to minister through dance, Rush said.

“They’ll be able to go to different churches and organizations,” she said. “Right now they’ve danced at St. John’s and other churches in Joliet. When you go anywhere, the name of Bobby Jones is connected to something really big.”

Rush said a former member of the praise dance team – Natayia Grant of Joliet – suggested the girls audition for the show and provided the contact email. Rush said she reached out to organizers and was asked to submit a video of the praise team dancing.

“In February we got an email that the girls were accepted to be on the show,” Rush said.

Since then, the praise dancers have received several donations to help offset expenses. These included a $500 registration fee and the hotel rooms, which are now paid in full, Rush said. Additional donations and gift cards will help pay for car rental, gas and food.

The girls dance monthly at St. John’s during the church’s 10:45 a.m. service. On July 17, they danced twice, once at St. John’s and then later that day during a program at Second Baptist Church in La Grange, Rush said.

Although praise dancing has commonalities with other dance forms, its main difference is that the music is gospel and the intent is ministry.

“It may touch somebody,” Rush said of praise dance performance. “You never know what people are going through when they come to church. Just watching the dance may help them forget what is going on and help them through some things.”

Several people assist Rush with directing and choreography. One is Rush’s 17-year-old daughter, Charlene Rush, who has been dancing for many years. Two former praise dancers, now adults, Shirley Mackey of Romeoville and Jassila Holliman of Joliet, also work with the girls.

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Meet the members of the St. John Praise Dancers at St. John Missionary Baptist Church in Joliet.

• Charvone Carter, 13, of Joliet – Carter feels praise dancing releases troubles and concerns, both for the dancer and the viewer. “I feel like I can express myself and relax,” she said.

• Sharmoni Gee, 11, of Lockport – Gee has never been on TV, but she is looking forward to appearing. “People can see me praise dance and know anything they do is going to be OK,” she said.

• Kyla Kelly, 12, of Joliet – This is Kelly’s second television appearance; the first was during a competition four years ago, she said. For Kelly, praise dancing expresses her love for God. “I love him so much and he gets me through everything,” she said.

• Ariana Lester, 10, of Joliet – Lester is excited that people will see her on TV but not for reasons of vanity. “Because I’m praising God,” she said.

• Charlene Rush, 17, of Joliet – Rush said she’s danced since the age of 4, but never on TV. She believes it’s a good venue for the medium. “I feel I can touch a lot of people,” she said.