From the Early Church to ‘Boots on the Ground,’ Dance Is Worship

The viral line dance “Boots on the Ground” has sparked debate about whether popular dances belong in church, but its joyful performance in one Black Southern congregation reveals a deeper truth: dance has always been a sacred expression of worship, community, and liberation. Tracing a history from early Christianity’s ecstatic rituals to the suppression of Black dance under colonial and racist systems, the essay argues that Southern soul and line dancing reclaim the body as holy. Far from being secular intrusions, these movements embody Black joy, resilience, and the divine presence in everyday life.

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This article was published in Sojourners on August 19, 2025, and was written by Deirdre Jonese Austin

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