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When Shakira Ellis' family joined the Village Baptist Church in Bowie four years ago, the 14-year-old loved to watch the women's dance ensemble perform at services. She wasn't the only one.

Shakira and seven other girls have since formed their own youth worship dance ensemble to take an active role in the services. The adult group has performed regularly for at least 10 years, said Pastor Bruce Salmon. A youth group also used to perform six years ago, said dance ensemble instructor Leslie Parreco.

"But all the girls graduated and went off to college," Salmon said.

The disintegration of the youth dance ensemble left a void in youth leadership opportunities at the Bowie church. Parents were in the process of reforming a Children and Youth Committee in 2008 and wanted to incorporate experiences that help their children bond with each other and the church, said Colleen Graham, who leads the committee.

"Part of the goal of committee was to make sure they had some memorable experiences," Graham said. "We spend a lot of time in church and I want to make sure the parents are not just going through the motions."

When children were asked what activities they'd like to do, there was overwhelming support for a youth dance ensemble.

"I thought it was going to be a great opportunity to put a great face in front of the youth group," said Ashley Graham, 11, of Bowie.

Others saw it as a way to finally be able to perform with the beauty and grace of the adult ensemble.

"Since it's so pretty, I thought I'd like to do that," said Amelia Dashiell, 10, of Bowie.

Salmon said the dance ensemble gives the girls a unique opportunity to take responsibility for part of the service.

"They have a chance to participate in worship [in a way] that many young people might not be able to in terms of worship leadership," he said. "You don't typically think of teenagers [as] being worship leaders."

Parreco, a professional ballet instructor and parishioner at Village Baptist, agreed to lead the youth group as well as the adult group.

"The thought of dance in a church, a lot of people think we are going to get up and start hooting and hollering," Parreco said. "It's just a different way to express yourselves in worship."

While some of the girls had dance experience, including some whom Parreco had previously taught ballet, for others it was the first time they had ever tried on a pair of dance shoes. Keeping the steps simple, Parreco led the girls through six weeks of practice, and they performed for the first time Dec. 14 at two services. They unfurled ribbons and used sign language to explain the spiritual message of the music as they danced.

"I was nervous at first because I messed up," said Shakira of one of her ribbons not unfurling properly. "But I think we are planning on doing another because we had so much fun with this one."

It's a commitment Salmon said the church seemed to wholeheartedly embrace.

"The congregation gave applause, which doesn't usually occur during worship," he said. "But I think that was a sign that people enjoyed it."

E-mail Andrea Noble at anoble@gazette.net.