Chorus

Come here the Learners – and, Lord God, they come to me –

        Each a Unique, made by You, of each, of every body, mind, but one,

A desire in their souls, this journey here traveled, for ‘haps hope full to see,

        If I will loose the wish, the wish that is full my own, ask they, pass on –

                    I want to Dance! I want to move, and move in Joy, they say!

                    In Joy!  That place to reach, and how far toward it, hap’ this day?

 

First Position

The Learners’ selves present, and wait, and stand, and wait, are how ill at ease –

        For my beginning, my first instructions, or next thing to learn, or say some command,

They gesture, these Learners, toward same selves, both arms, and brimmèd so with wanting to please –

        And me, show them moving that is Art, motion uncommon, action different, still same foot and hand,

                                Turned a treasure, new, flex of muscle unknown, and fair stretch of limb,

                                And I am here, to lead, to tutor, to form, to shape, and in Name of Him –

                                            And so come here, you Learners, moved by God to come to me –

                                                    Each made Unique, exceptional, in silhouette, and all through only one,

                                            And deep within, in those selves, here before me, these souls I see

                                                    That wish not vain, they would take from, take hold of firm, and own –

                    I want to Dance! I want to move, and move in Joy, they say!

                    In Joy!  That place to reach, now they have started, worth from this day!

 

Second Position

These Learners, wide their arms, wide for something You, God, put in to embrace –

        The Power of Creating in them – “Say, ‘It is in me,’” with this body and the mind within;

Yes!  Yes – made to make these forwards, backwards, ups, acrosses, all while still in place

        Is harmony of all the moves in all these compass ways, fluid, flowing – they begin

                                To see, to vision the work behind the Art, these disciples do,

                                Can I do it? ask they, let belief come to them, make the answer True!

                                                That ‘cause the Learners come to me, from You, to do, to want, to see,

                                                      That like I move, they ‘s well can be, but own, own variation each one,

                                                And from that depth of soul, ‘haps young but no less deep in front me be,

                                                      The wish begins to fill, it starts toward summit, goes, goes on –

                    I want to Dance! I want to move, and move in Joy, they say!

                    In Joy!  Knowing I can there go, can that be, glad am I this day!

 

Third Position

Learners point they now aside, other arm up high, though as if to plead “Which way go now?”

        Which way now, and which way next – but these motions are just parts of a beauteous cloud

Of moving, of feeling – Can I pour out wholly these who watch, who ‘vere me as one knows all how?

        Music plays, but how I turn, and stand, extend, and bend, and leap, as well, as well, impresses loud,

                                This part of me can go apart, itself, and free from that, but all in a grand thing same,

                                Will you believe, Learner, you can move these moves – all; All! I can! will you exclaim?

                                                My loving God, have I done well with these minds, hearts, bodies come to me,

                                                       Your Uniques made, Your small, young images, to You sacred every one,

                                                And have I reached down, deepest part, that beyond wanting helps them see,

                                                      The wish for what they want to acquire, beauty make, answer begun –

                    I want to Dance! I want to move, and move in Joy, they say!

                    In Joy!  I was dancing!  I was doing it truly – that they could tell this day!

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Fourth Position

And see, right taught, the Learner says, I do this task so long for wishèd,

        Move they in bliss, that of creating thrill, new gladness ne’er before did know,

That because Teacher, Mistress, both strong and gentle, blessèd, blessèd, and God-led

        Did show me, and again, when hand to body pointed, other upraised, yea, did me show

                                The answer to my question put, to my knowing added, did my hunger relieve,

                                To know these motions are a splendor, hold them rightly, and now believe –

                                            Then, help me, God, Instructor Great, to prod to more, these come to me,

                                                    The moving I love now be their love, each Unique just, just so to’ve done,

                                            That yearning here to say to those, form them the greatest way to see,

                                                    And fine things, pure things, to Your Glory, but just, just now, begun

                    I want to Dance! I want to move, and move in Joy, they say!

                    In Joy!  I was truly doing!  I learned! I performed, I did, this day!

 

Fifth Position

Arms high lifted, the Learner exults, so Thank you, God – receive greatest Praise,

        Fully journey on, and ‘haps years to ensue, these God-formed bodies will jump, turn, bow –

And all the array of making this Art, with my help, and Yours, with this all will we raise

        An Honor to You, that a purpose from You, and a Dream for these, will, now, somehow

                                Be a Truth, be their lives, their assurance . . . and e’en escape sought in saddest ebbs low

                                Of this life without surety, and sometimes pain, but always – always Good will show,

                                Your Guiding Hand was with my guiding hand; this together, Lord, we took hold,

                                And could tell them, reason they came here, object yearned for, “Take! Take! And be bold!”

                                            You gave me Learners aspiring for skill, and for beauty, so, so I did see,

                                                    A fervor, fresh and new, for to move, move in space, and new courses go,

                                            Path of life I already, and gladly, tread, so my footsteps may then be

                                                    For enabling them, and so done, in their eyes, bright, bright, such a glow!

                    I want to Dance! I want to move, move in Joy, did they say!

                    In Joy!  I truly, truly can dance, dance, came I to know it this day!

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