The Differences Between The Ways That African Americans Danced In The Spirit ("Shouted"; "Did The Holy Dance") Before And After The 1990s

Jonathan DesVerney Gospel Channel. Mar 9, 2022 

#COGIC

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Edited by Azizi Powell

Latest revision - March 25, 2024

This pancocojams post showcases four YouTube videos of African American praise breaks or praise as part of the worship in church services in the 1990s and/or in the 2000s.

This post also includes selected comments from those videos. These examples document commenters' opinions that there are changes in the "old school" ways and the contemporary ways that African Americans "get their praise on" during church services. These examples  also document the preference that commenters have for the old school ways of shouting (doing the Holy dance; praising God). In addition, some of the commenters in all of these discussion threads share their views that these praise dances are fake, in part because they are so similar.

The content of this post is presented for historical, religious, and socio-cultural purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to the publishers of these videos and thanks to Jonathan DesVerney Gospel Channel for publishing these compilation videos and thanks to Oneness 92 and the other producers/publishers for those videos. Thanks all those churches that are featured in these videos and thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post.
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This post is part of an ongoing pancocojams series about the different ways throughout  Africa and the African Diaspora that people dance in the Holy Spirit.  One of my main points in showcasing these videos is that people's culture influences how they dance in the Spirit.

Click the "ways people dance in the Holy Spirit" tag below for more pancocojams posts on this subject.

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SELECTED COMMENTS FROM VIDEO #1's DISCUSSION THREAD

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxEN8Cqp51c [This is the Discussion thread that is embedded at the top of this post. The clips show Praise breaks from the 1990s or ealier.]

1. @ladyindaroom, 2022
"We used to shout this way when I was coming up. The Holy Spirit would have us under pews as the Lord would deliver from Strongholds in Jesus name"

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2. @ccnygirl, 2023
"Listen, I wasn't really a shouter but the Holy Ghost would knock me out and I would be under the pews."

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3. @ladyindaroom, 2023
" @ccnygirl   The Holy Spirit will do it for real"

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4. @wonderfullyblessed2833, 2023
"Lol...been under a few pews myself ️ I thank God for it , much deliverance came from it"

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5. @marilynturner7145, 2023
"Everyone had their own step.   Different not everyone doing the same dance like we see a lot now."

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6. @desirewright43,2022
"We STILL dance like that in my church! Such a blessing to be able to express our love and gratitude to God through a Holy Ghost filled dance!!! I danced like nobody's  business when I wasn't saved,  I  dance even more now for what God saved me from!! Praise God!"

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7. @marquishalsell, 2022
"it's like our church still have this experience but lack the movement it's pretty much missed please pray that everyone will come back to this food fr fr"

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8. @baptistabro, 2022
"There is no reason to believe that the Lord Jesus , the Holy Apostles, or any Christians behaved like this prior to the 1900s. This had no roots in biblically orthodox Christianity. It has its roots in pagan African folk religion."

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9. @claudiathomas9063,2022
"@baptistabro  I do believe it has influence as well but that's not all. When one is worshipping you become overwhelmed in His presence.  This is call praising Him innthe dance. Holy Spirit led dance"

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10. @charlespayne5965, 2022
"@baptistabro  proof please?"

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11. @charlespayne5965
"@baptistabro  DAVID-DAVID!!!!!!!"

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12, @staceyj8934, 2022
"@baptistabro  not true. When the arc of the covenant returned…DAVID DANCED OUT OF HIS CLOTHES!!! Stop judging and read your word!!!!"

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13. @irapeterson1413, 2022
"Everyone dance the same now. That's why I like to see Bishop GE Patterson, Bishop Daniels, Bishop Linwood Dillard, Bishop Hines, Presiding Bishop Sheard dance. And it was a Bishop from Nebraska in the 1992 convocation, older like my grandfather was dancing.  The holy ghost in it. My paw paw used to come in the church dancing.RIH Elder Jafus Jones SR. Nicholson Temple COGIC, Hattiesburg, Mississippi. 10 years gone, but never forgotten. We love you and miss you pawpaw.

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14. @heatherporter3674, 2022
"So true! All of these people you listed and the ones on this video let The Lord have His Way in them and in their praise, not someone else’s “praise.” It’s too choreographed now. People on here look they finally have life-long shackles released off of them. Lord, please do it again in Your People! We need it!"

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15. @katham9525, 2022
"@Heather Porter  choreographed ain't the word. Plus we were raised when someone was shouting they were not to be touched. If it was under the holy ghost God would not let them hurt themselves."

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@dinagreen8508, 2022
"Most people back then, would " LET GO" and "LET GOD" have "HIS WAY" ......"Real Holy Ghost Dance" back then......Halalujah!!!....Glory to God!!! ️️"

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16. @Sweetdification, 2022
"Miss those Days Also the Usher's would encircle mainly the women Saints IBA OBA Oludumare Yah OSHA Qedamawi  King Of King's Lord Of Lord's Ist Conquering  Lion And Tribe of Judah Jesu Hàlleluyah"

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17. @leandrawilliams565, 2023
"You are so right ....people are so busy trying to shout cute and be cute in today's time..smh"

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18. @tbatt4364,2023
"I remember as well. Now it's like the spirit hits all the people the EXACT same way. I realized that while encouraging kids to praise they are mostly copying what they see. But when I was young..yes you got snatched. I think I read someone said you could end up under a pew. That was so true.'

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19. @lindawarren7086, 2023
"AMEN TO ALL IN AGREEMENT WITH THIS HOLY DANCE!!!! The saints back then were going thru real tough!!!! Some husbands were not bringing home the rent or mortgage money, some had children by other women other than their own wives.... bills were due! Babies needed a new pair of shoes.... Church was our outlet to let off steam!!! The Holy Ghost truly dwelled on the inside of us! All Glory and Praise  belong to our Almighty God!!!"

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20. @reneefox9640, 2022
"Back in the day when the anointing fell.  Today most seems rehearsed and almost choreographed."

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21. @cgreen2984, 2022
"They are!"

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22, @edwardbuckley2311, 2022
"You are right. And, it is disgusting and sad.'

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23. @leanonlene222, 2022
"Dance, Dorinda Clark Cole!!! As a child, I remember thinking that the music was so fast. Not too fast, just fast. Just think how fast everyone's feet are moving now, compared to the 80's. But, "Let everything that have breath praise........." The WORD didn't say, contingent upon, the tempo, the sound of music, or lack thereof, anyway. So dance! And, give HIM the glory.

Edit: This is not a comment about the conviction of one's soul. Merely, just an observational sidebar. Carry on..."

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24, @youthleadersheart6869,2022
"Yes, that's when the real Holy Ghost would snatch you up unexpectedly. You didn't know where you were going to end up. You might end up to on your knees, back, in the aisle,  under the pew.... All I know is that when you came to.. you were delivered. If you had a habit that you couldn't break, it was left on the floor. It didn't matter if you had the music or not. You had the can't help it and the couldn't stop it. You had power to live right. People were healed every service... The good old days!!!"

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25. @mskiyabella, 2023
"Snatch is the right word! Seems like today the praises are choreographed. LET GO & LET THE HOLY SPIRIT HAVE ITS WAY!"

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26. @debbiemcclure2874, 2023
"Back then people paid the price of staying on their knees, reading the word, and fasting. I've seen people run the backs of the pews. One guy jumped clear threw a window into a deep culvert below and come runnin back in the door unhurt. People slay out in the spirit crack their heads hard on the pews when they'd fall out and get up without even a bump. I've seen alot I won't mention to avoid controversy. But back then they had power with God. My mama did.."

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27. @Nita-th9ln, 2023
"We picked them up and put them down and didn't care who was lookin at us!!  Lol"
-snip-
"Picked them up and put them down" refers to the feet. 

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28. @ShanardDSeabrooks, 2022
"Yessuh!

I knew this praise break sounded familiar, from the late Rev. James Moore & The Mississippi Mass Choir. A classic!"

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29. @jeffreybenson9586, 2022
"I like how you took the track from The Mississippi Mass choir, with James Moore! Outside of that we don’t have church like this anymore. Everything is a production now a days. We don’t truly let God has His way! In those  days the preacher didn’t even get a chance to preach because God came in an truly changed the program. We need to get back to truly letting God have his way and you’ll see more people delivered, healed and set free."

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30. @jeffreybenson9586, 2022
"And the Saints looked like Saints, especially the woman. Now a days folks want to wear the smallest, tightest clothes and run around dancing! Totally inappropriate!"

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31. @lisabrannan3988, 2023
"We still dance in the spirit we have a big congregation & when the Holy Spirit starts moving so does your feet & arms it is the best feeling in the world.Im am so blessed to be a part of a church that didnt  quench  the Holy Spirit."

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32. @can_you_guess_my_new_username, 2022
"When I was growing up the saints did not practice their dance. They would actually pray and ask God to give them a dance. Then one day, voila, the spirit would fall and they'd have their dance."

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33. @trevishall6101, 2022
"Several of those clips were from my former church, New Bethel Church Of God In Christ in Washington, DC, pastored, at the time, by the late Bishop Sherman S. Howard. And we churched like that EVERY SUNDAY!"

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34, @dinagreen8508, 2022
"........back then it wasn't about flesh, self, money, material things (or) show and God inhabit the "real" praises of "His" people. And it was "Mighty Powerful & Awesome" with "God's Miracles" all in the place. People didn't care about superficial things, like the clothes they had on, or about their hairstyle getting messed up, or about their makeup running or about getting wrinkles in their clothes or their dentures falling out or their wig falling off or their stockings getting a ruin with runs in them. All most people care about was getting in on the "MOVE of GOD" with true praises and getting "TOUCHED" by the Lord God Almighty, back then. "God is Real" you can't get no realer than God......The Bible/ God's "Holy Word" says, God is a "Spirit" and they that worship Him, must worship Him in "SPIRIT" and in "TRUTH"....... "Hallelujah" and "Glory to God!!!"
-snip-
This is how this comment was written in that discussion thread.

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35.@gailvanegas349, 2023
"Thats what Im talking about. Whew, the Holy ghost will make you move and dance like such. Dance right outta them shoes. Praise God"

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36. @mariaesposito274, 2023
"I used to buy certain shoes..to Cut the rug on! Lol"

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37. @tatianadaniel3569, 2022
"Everyone had their own way of praising God."

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38. @cherylgrace2279, 2022
"Now everyone today shout the same... No Authenticity!!"

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39. @hollyhlee, 2022
"Ohhhh to go back to the old time way!"

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40. @donnawilliams2488, 2022
"At some of the churches they still do that hallelujah praise"

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41. @reginastandberry6368, 2022
"Lord have mercy let me take off my shoes and get some of this praise"

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42. @reddmanpower606, 2022
"See this is when the Praises was real. The people just lost their self in the spirit not trying to be seen"

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43. @catmelon736, 2023
"It's rare to see this now I only saw it once in person when my aunt put on a Paul Wilbur song we had to move the chairs she was just dancing it was a beautiful thing to be seen

Edit the song was: Burn In Me by Paul Wilbur"

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44. @kevinbouknight1308, 2022
"This video was a true praise break! What we see now is folks standing arourd, thinking they're cute, not praising God. Also,  toward the end was the saints at New Bethel COGIC in Washibgton, DC on one of their annual Women's Day services. Dem chil'ren would buck a while and didn't care!
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The word "chil' ren"in this comment is probably a general referent to the church congregation i.e. the saints; the children of God
"buck" = "dance" ("shout") 

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45. @winiver77, 2023
"Yep that's about right.. we were travelling through the chairs !!!"

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46. @DG18RB, 2022
"These saints didn't call this "dancing", it was shouting because dancing was too worldly of a term. No click tracks, and no cuteness, or choreographed footwork. Straight Holy Ghost fire. We need help today Lord."

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47. @jeffreybenson9586, 2022
"Yes!!!"

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48. @Brother_E, 2022
"Right!!! Like these days, they try to be too cute or dignified when they shout now!"

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49. @nealjeter4055, 2023
" "Having church” has now been reduced to a click track, and some light cardio… Everybody wanna dance but nobody wants to be delivered…"

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50. @jeffreybenson9586, 2023
"@nealjeter4055  say that again, sir!!!"

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51. @evonwilliams7502, 2022
"yes lord we still do in my church move out of my way I'm coming though hallelujah lord"

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52. @mustangmy, 2022
"Must be COGIC Apostolic didn't "used" to wear jewelry"
-snip-
There should be a period after the abbreviation "COGIC".

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53. @wysefavor,2022
"I wonder how this “shout music” or “praise break” originallly started … All I know it’s a black thing .. the 2 step dance"

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54. @peytonlashaemcgeeblack5502, 2023
"They still dance like this."

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55. @geneadolby413, 2023
"That's not just back in the day. People still shout in church like that."

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56. @jctv7602, 2023
"Yes I remember those days ITS WHEN THE MUSIC WAS SLOW ENOUGH THAT ONE COULD ACTUALLY MOVE AROUND AND SHOUT NOW PEOPLE JUST STAND IN ONE SPOT AND JUMP OR SHUFFLE THEIR FEET...I LOVE THE OLE DAYS"

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57. @sspsllc, 2023
"We weren't allowed. If we so much as moved a leg or a hand, we got "the look," meaning that's a butt whipping when we get home. We sat, ladies crossed their legs at the ankles, kept their hands in their laps...and you better not move, or else. But I was raised old school AME in 1960s. #wishyouwoulddance ... you got excommunicated lol!!!"

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58. @soulmate7819, 2022
"Those were the best days where people were REAL and danced the Holy dance in the spirit, but now it's all a show and dancing contest to see who has the fanciest footwork and electric slide. . . Oh and one more thing and everybody dance just alike now SMH"

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59. @jeffreybenson9586, 2022
"Your so right! It’s sad."

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60. @endtimeslastdays7777, 2022
"This is when people praised God for real, now only a few churches praise God like this....

Many churches today the "praise" is choreographed not original

Many churches of today, have little to no anointing, only "praising" in the flesh"

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61. @travisrichmond905, 2023
"I like how the people are praising God and most have a different dance. Everybody mostly have the same dance  these days."

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62. @mckinleygodbolt9617, 2023
"This before they got they pretty damce"

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63. @markwilliams646, 2023
"Back then dancing like that was real..not the other stupid stuff"

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64. @cynthiahillian, 2023
"So true... Guess we done got cute... Used to... There still a few places"

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65. @themeatandmilkshow5039, 2023
"Looks like fun but also reminds me of voodoo ... I'm not keen on voodoo"

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66. @djcoolcliff, 2023
"I’m just tripping off the women being covered and being sanctified!! Now days their wearing yoga pants to church and mini skirts with no purple prayer cloth! Lol! Bless the mother’s of yesterday times!!"

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67. @justamazing4388, 2023
"All that doesnt mean nothing if you aint save."

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68. @sconiersclan, 2023
"This the real not that mirror practice stuff they now"

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69. @cynthiahillian, 2023
".. And no.. They are not drunk as you suppose.. This is that!!!!"
-snip-
This is the way this comment was written in that discussion thread.

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70. @davidmcfarlane9185, 2023
"The days when you had to tarry for it and be sure enough filled, let loose, go for broke and Praise him ! None of that choreographed synchronized stuff we see today"

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71. @rubyjewel1904, 2023
"The other dance foot shuffle every body  does is weird dnt you dance in  the spirit in your own way.They all NOW do the same step"

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72. @nathanielofjc9586, 2023
"They dance the Dance  of serpent s"
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This is probably a negative referent for voodoo and/or "African pagan religions".

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73. @jeanettehightower943, 2023
"Sorry . That is NOT the heavenly Holy Ghost.  ! That is all Flesh. Don’t blame that on him !!    That looks like the dance that people do on dance floor s !!  When they are out party ing !! ️️"

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74. @D.C.22, 2023
"Really wish the clip had the actual real music they were dancing to. Organic and acoustic, without fake clap tracks and way too much electronically enhanced instrumentation. The music now is almost circus-like and unappealing. Look at almost any footage of a dance in a church now and the people are lazy, half of them not even clapping... whereas back then, WE produced The rhythm. Not some stupid clap tracks!!!!"

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75. @terrafitchett7309, 2023
"I still dance like this, but I see a lot of pretty dancing today, and what is this thing that in certain churches all the members dance the same. When I was coming up some ran around the church, some just jumped up and down, just praised God in a corner and cried. It just makes you wonder that's all."

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76. @levih.3501, 2023
"I have too many horrible memories from black churches resembling this. I've seen all that bucking and carrying on and the loudest & most charismatic ones usually are the most venomous snakes internally, including the pastor."

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77. @ladydee78, 2023
"Now THIS is what you call shouting. This is when the church had power."

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78. @tyshondrabarnes7631, 2023
"Those who were the good old days  where I  used  to attend church  we stayed all night dancing abandoned having a Good time. Back then it was mo Smart  Phones and no Technology moreover causing no Distractions."

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79. @armandocardenas140, 2023
"Just because you dance like this does not mean you are a saint."

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OTHER SHOWCASES VIDEOS WITH SELECTED COMMENTS 

These videos are given in no particular order. Numbers for each source are given for referencing purposes only.

SHOWCASE VIDEO #2 - How The Saints Dance Back In The Day Part Two (Shout)!" [1990s or earlier praising]

Jonathan DesVerney Gospel Channel, Mar 29, 2022

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmCdtm4oAyQ 

1. @whoaitsreesy, 2022
"YESSAH! I really miss the church like this! Nothing like a good ol, ugly shout and dance praise. You could go in looking cute, but once that spirit hits-hair be not in an updo, done sweated out your outfit and your shoes would be in opposite ends of the sanctuary."

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2. @Brother_E, 2022
"Right! Wigs flying off in the aisle, Ties loose and Cufflinks missing type of praise!!"

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3. @Kevin112681, 2023
"Man!! Say that again, I witnessed wig’s falling off in the sanctuary"

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3.@h.l.thatsit171, 2022
"I love when they cut the music and there would be a hand clapping and foot stumping praise break. Let the spirit move! No need for footwork elegance, timely tag teams and group competing with the dance."
-snip-
The word "cut" in this comment means "cut off" (stop).  

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4. @evangelistw.hatcher2046, 2022
"Yes, this is what real Holiness, having the real HOLYGHOST and serving the Lord is all about. No one is mimicking each other, everyone has their own way of praising the Lord. In today's society, people just mimick each other and all that licking arms together, it's just nonsense. SOCIETY NEED TO GO BACK TO THE OLD TIME WAY. WHERE SOULS WERE ACTUALLY GETTING SAVE, SICK WAS GETTING HEALED, DEMON POSSESSED WAS FET DELIVERED AND SET FREE, MIRACLES WERE HAPPENING and no one was prophelying to people about they're going to get , cars,  s etc."

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5. @Brother_E, 2022
"Now this is REAL Shouting! That type of Shout where u don’t care who’s looking at u like u crazy. Or that “ugly” shout where ur shirt collar comes undone. Nowadays, people too cute with it or afraid to really give God praise"

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6. @Ma1nguy, 2022
"Actually in my day the tempo was slower, this is much too fast for those over 50 and 60"

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7. @ardre100, 2022
"@Brother_E   the movement of a good praise is the repetitive bass line and  screaming highs on the organ, anything other than that is just folks showing off.

They normally just got through playing in a club or at a party the night before and they bring that residue with them to the morning service."

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8. @Brother_E, 2022
" @ardre100  I know right! Lot of them it’s just a gig for them. What ever happened to having anointed and spirit filled musicians too?? Cuz I remember that in church growing up"

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9.@ardre100, 2022
"@Brother_E  exactly musicians that stayed through the whole service, and went to week day service rather they played or not"

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10. @Brother_E, 2022
"@ardre100  yup! They would even hop off the organ and shout it out!"

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11. @ardre100, 2022
" @Brother_E  yes sir they sure did"

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13. @anointedbychrist987, 2022
"I remember my God Father had a dance that nobody could do its nothing like what they do now"

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14. @brorow6821, 2022
"Just because you see people dancing like that doesn't mean they have the Holy Spirit some do but some people be acting."

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15. @stephenbent1516, 2022
"Yes!  That's those ugly praise breaks that I miss."

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16. @katizz988, 2022 
"Try the Spirit, by the Spirit. The Holy Spirit doesn't always give someone a "dance," as if they're at a Discotech."

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17. @Kevin112681,2023
"This is what I used to see growing up, running around the church, garments coming off, ladies kicking off their shoes to cut a step or two and not getting cute with it."

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #3 -The Way Back To Pentecost Church| " Somehow I Made It, Praise"

[2022 worship with "old" school praising]

Oneness 92, Nov. 20, 2022

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5FR8LjrgT4

1, @kiacarter5971, 2022
"Love this  shouting in my soul"

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2.@davidjp7197, 2022
"Is this a west Indian pentecostal church?"

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3. @oneness92, 2022
"PTL, no."

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4. @JD12313, 2022
"Where is this church located?"

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5. @oneness92, 2022
"Praise The Lord, 945 R Street NW Washington DC"

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6. @larryduncan4071, 2023
"When the Ushers go in, you know it's over."

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7. @bobbypickard4454, 2023
"Now that's old time church.,"

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8. @twinkiememphis, 2024
"I miss church like this down south we were like this in the 90's keep the fire burning"

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9. @freemanhall4826, 2024
"Ohyeah let's hv sm real church up in here God is in the building"

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #4 - 25 Minutes Of Praise Break Music! Let's Dance! [These ae clips of contemporary African American church praise breaks.]

 

Jonathan DesVerney Gospel Channel. Aug 28, 2021

This is 25 minutes of Praise Break Music!

Dance Like David Dance! Praising God with your feet and hands!
-snip-
Here are some comments from this video's discussion thread with numbers added for referencing purposes only:

1. @charlesjohnson1131, 2021
"I remember the days when the Holy Spirit would move up us as the spirit gave uterance. you could not get up on your own. if one of the elderly mothers thought you were faking she would get up and just ease you to your set. sat ya down. it were so many children praising God back then. not for show or display could not put a time limit on the praise. it would just ease down then the Preacher would Preach  the word of God under the anointing. I'm One myself. if someone out there reading this know what l'm talking about don't be ashamed to reach out to me with a high five or a like.

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2. @theodoredillard8995, 2021
"You cant turn the holy spirit on and off, this is just a show"

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3. @rogerrobinson5177, 2021
"Glad to see that other people can also recognize this for what it is."

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4. @hestersue5563, 2021
"IF YOU KNOW YOU ARE A WORSHIPPER AND SHOUT AND DANCE, WHY YOU COMING TO CHURCH WITH SOME SHORT TIGHT SKIRT ON .  LADIES,  COVER YOURSELVES AND PULL YOUR SKIRTS DOWN"

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5. @makaumasemola6281, 2021
"I'm watching from South Africa.I wish I could dance like that,is it a uniquely black church dance?old,young,men and women."

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6. @carolinehampton9973, 2021
"Glorrrry!"

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7. @allenrobinson6181, 2021
"I never could figure out our so-called pastor let's get our praise on the music starts and the puppet start moving that isn't the way the Holy Ghost works when the Holy Ghost hits you do not wait for someone to tell you dig let's get up and shout you going to move where the without the music."

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8.@lhamp1946, 2023
"Are you giving God praise by the move of the Holy Spirit or the direction of man to please the bishop? Um, what would God rather"

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9. @cinnamondavids845 , 2023
"Praise the Lord"

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