38. Dancing to Freedom: Therapy and God's Presence

In this episode of 'God on the Move', Renelle Snelleksz shares her remarkable story of becoming a dance movement therapist after leaving a high-profile news presenting career. Growing up in Calcutta and later moving to Mumbai, she recounts her spiritual journey, encounters with the Holy Spirit, and discovering dance movement therapy during a sabbatical in 2011. Renelle speaks about using dance therapy to bring healing and freedom to trafficked girls in India, emphasizing the deep, subconscious healing it offers. She highlights her work with International Justice Mission and her experiences in worship dance, describing the challenges and ultimate empowerment of affected girls through creative expression.

 

Links from the interview

• Renelle’s website

 

Renelle Snelleksz

Dance movement therapist Renelle Snelleksz’s life testimony is rooted in experiencing the power of the Holy Spirit to break oppressive trauma and bring healing and restoration to the lives of those she ministers to. All of life’s experiences, good or bad, are stored as memory in the body and impact the mental, physical, emotional and social well being of a person. Using the core principles of Dance movement therapy creates a safe space for people to address the core issues of life and relationships. But the intensity of deep pain in the human heart can only be restored by the power of Jesus to deliver us from bondage and propel us into freedom. Using movement and the expressive arts, this ministry has witnessed many lives transformed after child sexual abuse, abandonment and neglect, issues of identity, depression and mental health problems, suicidal thoughts, divorce and marital stress, domestic violence and addictions.

Renelle responded to God’s call on her life in 2011 to quit her media career in Broadcast Journalism to be trained in the psychotherapeutic methodology of Dance Movement Therapy. She works mostly with girls rescued from sex trafficking, partnering with agencies in India that fight sex-trafficking and sexual violence. Her ministry AL!VE – Rise to Dance Again, takes dance movement therapy to children recovering from cancer, youth from impoverished communities, corporate offices and private clients among others. She also uses movement and the creative arts to release the church into the freedom of expressive worship engaging “heart, soul, mind and strength”.

Along with her husband, they lead a small house church in Pune, India. She is also a mother to a toddler and has always loved travelling, dancing and all things creative!

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