Artist bio

Angelique Lipford received her BFA in Dance Education from Kent State University. She has an extensive amount of experience performing and instructing modern dance, Afro-fusion, ballet, and liturgical dance. She also enjoys integrating other disciplines (art, creative writing, and technology) into her works to maximize and further develop her creativity and artistry. Angelique’s professional experience includes choreographing a number of dance concerts, theatrical plays, and teaching dance to students in grades three through eight. She has been dancing since she was eight years old and is now the Director of the dance ministry at her church, Zion Pentecostal Church of Christ in Cleveland, Ohio. Angelique is grateful to be able to use her God-given gift to impact the youth and spread the love of movement to all!

Title

A Mother's Lament

Medium/Genre

Dance - Modern

Artist Statement

When creating dances for the Lord, I seek Him and ask to be pleasing in His sight. I recognize the power and anointing on my life is not of anything that I have done, but completely because God’s hand is on my life. Sometimes the Lord will give me movements that demonstrates how He is wanting to move among His people. Other times, He will give me a story that shows what is on His heart or what He is wanting to say to His people. In this work, the Lord is saying, “Will you fight?” It makes me think of 2 Chronicles 7:14 which says, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” Fighting not only brings victory, but it also brings healing, deliverance, restoration, and so much more! Are we ready to fight?

I pray that my dancing touches the lives of those who witness it and that I can be used to break strongholds and represent God!

How it fits into contest

In this story, the mother is recalling all of the beautiful memories she has created with her child while simultaneously being tormented as she understands she will never have these experiences again.

A Mother’s Lament takes a look at what many of our Black mothers are facing today - the loss of a child due to deadly, anti-Black violence. It’s meant to remove the covers and cast light on the real enemy...who seeks to kill, steal and destroy our souls. Oftentimes we get blindsided, believing we should be at war with people, but our warfare is against the enemy! My hope is that believers everywhere will see this as a call to stand and storm the gates of hell on behalf of those who are broken-hearted, discouraged, wounded, and mourning - that we will fight the enemy who is causing this suffering.

Ephesians 6:12 says, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” We will not idly stand by while Black mothers watch their children’s lives viciously snatched from under them. This battle we are up against can only be won in the Name of the Lord; therefore, we must put on the whole armor of God and prepare to fight!

Credits

Choreographer/Dancer/Director: Angelique Lipford
Editor/Photographer/Videographer: Felicia Battle of Battle Photography
Costume Designer: Richelle Knight
Co-Star/Child: Noah Lipford

How to Purchase this Artwork

Digital copy of song.
Website: Audiomachine.com
Price: $99.99
How: Go to website, create an account, select the track, add to cart, choose license type, pay for license, download song.

Transcript / Lyrics

None

Submit Your Artwork Today!

Curious? Interested in submitting artwork to our contest? Know someone who might be? Through April 14th, 2022, the Engage Art Contest is open to the whole world! Get your foot in the door by claiming your Artist Page now!