Getting to know MACA Dance

Stephanie Lamplough (Creative Arts) talks to Salvationist about MACA Dance.

What is MACA Dance? 

A group of dancers aged 17 and over who are connected to The Salvation Army and want to express their faith through dance. 

When did it start? 

About seven years ago. If we needed a dancer for something, we had to hunt to find somebody, or people danced during the week but didn’t connect that with their faith or the Army. Now, it’s grown into a group who go round to corps and lead weekends, encouraging people to dance and worship God. 

How do the corps weekends work? 

We visit three corps a year to lead local or divisional weekends. On the Saturday, we hold a workshop for children aged 6 to 17, followed by an open working audition for those aged 17 and over interested in joining the group. We see where they can fit with the choreography and chat about faith. 

The team rehearses in the evening and leads the meeting on the Sunday. That meeting can then feature the children from the workshop. We probably get about 15 to 20 children each time. Recent visits have included Portsmouth Citadel, Romford and Oldbury for a divisional weekend. 

What else does MACA Dance do? 

We’ve released videos for Remembrance Sunday and Christmas in recent years. We take part in territorial events, including Together, where we do a workshop and we perform programmes in the same space as the International Staff Songsters and International Staff Band. The musical Belongings also featured members of MACA Dance. It’s all really exciting; I had no idea it would blossom into this!

How many people are in MACA Dance? 

We’re full with 12 dancers. The team is from everywhere, so it’s a challenge to get together. Not all the dancers go to all the weekends, but we use those as opportunities to meet up and rehearse. We also meet at William Booth College in May for a whole day of rehearsing – and food! We have also started MACA Dance Junior for 16-year-olds.

How important is it to have a space for young people interested in dance? 

It’s fantastic to have something for people aged 16 to 18 who might think there’s nothing for them at the Army because they don’t fit the traditional mould. That’s not to diminish those things – I come from a big, traditional corps – but I think people no longer see music and creative arts as two separate things. It’s important for young people to know they’re not on their own, that other people love what they love, and that it can be a way of expressing their faith. There are lots of young people with a passion for dance – just look at Musical Theatre Day and the musical theatre option at Territorial Music School! 

MACA Dance offers a way for young people to use their talents and stay connected to the Army at an important age. They can join a WhatsApp group with these 12 people and have support. They can belong. 

Get to know some members of MACA Dance

Taffy has always been an enthusiastic dancer. She started volunteering for summer schools as a student leader and then as a full leader as years went on. She has a BTEC in performing arts. She loves the idea of using dance as a form of worship (see Psalm 87:7).

As an intern in the USA Central Territory, Marissa has led a dance troupe performing at commissioning events and the Divisional Dance Troupe for the Eastern Michigan Division. In 2022, she obtained a bachelor of arts degree in Dance from Columbia College Chicago and subsequently held the role of divisional assistant director of music and arts in the North and Central Illinois Division. Marissa s desire is to use her gifts in music and the arts for God’s glory. 

Jess has always loved to dance and is grateful that MACA Dance gives her the opportunity to combine dance with faith. Growing up, she trained in a number of different dance styles. She was part of Team England at the Dance World Cup and leads the dance group at Birmingham Citadel.