Conducting a Christian dance workshop with children at a church in London.
When Krishna Brown left Jamaica in 2001 to pursue academic studies in Spanish and literature in Spain, little did he know that he would embark on a dynamic ministry in Christian dance.
Dancing had always been second nature to this 32-year old product of Greenwich All-Age School and Kingston College.
As a six-year old, he often danced to entertain family and friends. But when he got baptized as a young Christian, he abandoned dancing as he perceived it to be an egregious sin. So, for almost 10 years, his talent was stifled in his pursuit of being a good Christian.
Reclaim dancing
But in his early 20s, he explained, "I felt it was time to reclaim dancing even with the religious pressures at hand. My heart was free and God liberated me. I didn't care what anyone wanted to say. I knew the condition of my heart with God and that was the most important thing."
He then embraced Latin and Indian dancing and performed at many cultural fund-raising events.
His dancing moved to another plane when four years ago while on a scholarship to Spain he took his first formal academic dance class. Since that time he has sat at the feet of many dance maestros.
"I have danced and taught in more than 20 cities in 10 countries, including Jamaica, Spain, U.K. and France. I have been taught by some of the best international teachers and superstars from all over and with whom I maintain a professional working relationship. I even went to Egypt to study and participate in their annual Oriental Dance Festival.
Depend on the Holy Spirit
Today, he dances professionally as he balances doctoral studies. Although he is the beneficiary of formal training, Krishna said, "I still consider myself a novice even though I dance at the professional level," he said. "I am basically self-taught but it is the Holy Spirit who teaches me all things. On stage, I dance improvised and I depend on the Holy Spirit 100 per cent to direct my every movement."
Krishna knew he wanted to seriously pursue a ministry of Christian dance about a year ago. He approached his pastor, Rebeca Jacob, one year ago and expressed a desire to utilise his dancing skills in congregational worship.
Not long after, he was given the opportunity to share his gift of movement at Amistad Cristiana the church where he worships in Madrid. So positive was the feedback that it set him on a course to greater explore how to bring glory to Christ through dance.
First production
In March of this year, he organised and directed his first Christian dance production, Night of Friendship and Glory which was held at the San Juan Evangelista Theatre in Madrid.
Before that, he had put on two secular shows: Fusion Night -Oriental dance fused with Indian, Jamaican, Tango, Flamenco and Latin Dance at the famous Galileo Galilei show house in June 2003; and Oriental and Indian Dances at the Alfil Theatre in April 2005.
Buoyed by his successes to date, Krishna will on Sunday, November 19, put on this fourth dance production dubbed Eternal Passion: Christian Music and Dance at the Galileo Galilei, show house.
This production will be done by his own dance company Soul Danza International, which he created last March. The show is set to last for about two hours and will feature about 12 pieces.
Krishna does not believe there is a place for sensual dancing in the church: "I really don't think that sensual dances in church are biblically sound because the nature of a sensual dance exalts the flesh not the spirit."
He does not believe that dancing can truly change lives. He said "It is the Holy Spirit abiding in us that changes us. Only a personal encounter with Christ truly changes us. However, Christian dancing can help to minister God's love, grace, beauty and compassion and therefore can serve to encourage and motivate believers and even act as a stimulating catalyst for non-Christians into wanting to know God.
Use talents for Christ
"I have no idea if people are getting saved (through the dance ministry) but what I do know is that it has helped Christians with artistic qualities and talents to challenge themselves to use their talents for Christ and has also served to encourage and motivate frustrated Christians who struggle with internal conflicts being a Christian and being a semi-professional or professional dancer at the same time
"After one of my shows, a new Christian (who was experiencing internal conflicts being a professional dancer and a Christian at the same time) contacted me to thank me for how God used me to minister to her spirit. Today she forms a part of Soul Danza International.
While acknowledging that there has historically been a stigma sometimes associated with professional male dancers, Krishna said "If one is secure about his or her gender identity and grounded in biblical truth, there is absolutely no need to feel uncomfortable in any way. It may be true that the stigma is there, but I am quite confident and secure in Christ that it does not really affect me."
Krishna is pursuing his doctorate in the field of geography. His doctoral research focuses on the socio-economic and environmental impacts of tourism in Port Antonio, Ocho Rios, and Montego Bay. On completing his doctoral studies, what exactly does this former Kingston College headboy hope to do?
"For the moment, I am living life to the fullest doing what God wants me to do here in Spain. There is much to be done. Because of the fact that I work and study at the same time, my doctorate will be drawn out. However, I do plan to do workshops in Jamaica on Christian dancing when next I visit. Two years ago, when I was in Jamaica, I taught Oriental dance in a gym in New Kingston. After finishing my doctorate, I would like to work in the tourist industry or eventually become an official ambassador of Jamaica.
Krishna Brown may be reached at yokrish@ hotmail.com Send feedback on Mind&Spirit to mark.dawes@ gleanerjm.com.
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PROFILE OF KRISHNA BROWN
Greenwich All Age School
He topped his class for six consecutive years there.
Kingston College
Obtained 12 CXCs/GCE O/A-Levels (with five distinctions) and three A-levels.
Started as grade captain in 1986 and finished as head boy 1992-3.
House captain
Founder and president of Spanish Club
Captain of the school's Spanish quiz team that won the National Spanish quiz competition in 1991.
Drum major and acting sergeant major of the Cadet Corp.
Held executive posts in the science club, geography club, UNESCO, ISCF, drama club.
University of the West Indies, Mona
B.A. (Hons) in Geography, Upper Second Class Honours
Diploma in education (with distinction in theory and credit in practice) and the person who graduated with the most credits in 1998 from that programme.
M. Sc. in Natural Resources Management ( LOME IV Scholarship) 1999.
Work Experience in Jamaica
Worked as a teacher of general paper, Spanish and geography for nine years both full and part time.
Also, as an interpreter and translator (English and Spanish) and other odds jobs.
Taught full-time/part-time
Kingston College, Campion College, Liguanea School, Queens Prep, University Undergrad Summer School, Montego Bay Community College.
Education in Spain
Post-graduate diploma in Spanish language and literature (with distinction) (Scholarship from the Spanish Government).
Post-graduate diploma in human resource management (with distinction) from the University of Vic and the post-graduate Institute of Pyschological Studies.
Masters in international relations and foreign trade (with distinction) from The Institute of Professional Training and Employment and The College of Political Scientists and Sociologists of Madrid.
PhD candidate at the University Complutense of Madrid.