Contact organizations such as the National Liturgical Dance Network on Facebook, the Sacred Dance Guild (sacreddanceguild.org), and the International Liturgical Dance Fellowship (ildf.org) to find and enroll in modern dance classes. Liturgical dance movements are often derived from modern dance, though many praise movements vary throughout the world. Body type and size are not strictly limited in modern dance, so even beginners or older dancers may feel welcomed.
Join a praise dance team at a church or house of worship. Many praise dance teams include church members with no previous dance training. Study liturgical dance training videos made by experienced praise dancers. These are available online, and you can often view selected segments before you buy a video. For example, Jocelyn Richard, chief dancer and choreographer for the Elim International Fellowship in Brooklyn, New York, offers sequential, instructional videos that feature training in basic liturgical gestures and use of space.
Observe gestures and movements common to your own worship. Many congregations use hand gestures such as praying, raising hands high above the head, and clapping. Study body movements such as swaying or rocking in time to music that may be universal or distinctive to worshippers. View sample performances of such dance movements at sonlightdance.org.
Attend worship events that advertise liturgical dance training. Participate in liturgical dance conferences that offer workshops in movement, appropriate dancewear, history and current use of dance in worship. For example, see theeliturgicaldanceconference.org in the Los Angeles area. Find workshops throughout the United States at daretodance.org.
Register for a liturgical dance training program. Many of these specialize in giving the average person exposure to dance history, the purpose of dance in worship, appropriate worship choreography and costuming. For example, see dance.mercyhurst.edu for programs at Mercyhurst College, which is home to the Mercyhurst Liturgical Dance Ensemble. Go to bc.edu to view dance offerings at Boston College, which has an emphasis available in sacred and liturgical dance. See chosentodance.org for dance programs for people who have had little or no formal dance training.