Church of St. Francis Xavier

Presenter: Luz Marina Díaz, PhD
Date: May 5 at 1 p.m. in the Main Church.

This lecture will explore a brief history of dance in worship, a rationale for incorporating dance in worship, and guidance for understanding various movement types and prayer postures in our liturgies. Luzz Marina Díaz was born in Caracas, Venezuela. She worked as a system analyst while also pursuing her passion for dancing, choreography, and teaching in two major modern dance companies in Venezuela. Upon moving to New York in 1994, she discovered her calling as a religious educator, spiritual director, and liturgical dancer. With over 22 years of experience in Catechetical Leadership, she has served as the Director of the Religious Education Program at Xavier since August 2007. Her educational background includes a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from Universidad Central de Venezuela, a Master of Arts degree in Religious Education (M.A.) from Fordham University, a Ph.D. degree in Religious Education from Fordham University, an advanced certificate in spiritual direction of the Exercises of St. Ignatius Loyola from Fairfield University, and an advanced certificate in supervision from Fordham University. She is also the Director of the Spiritual Direction Practicum at Fordham University’s Graduate School of Religion and Religious Education.