Liturgy: The Dancing Nun

In the midst of an ecumenical service in Stanford University's Memorial Chapel last week, a petite female figure, dressed in a long white robe, leaped out of the foyer into the center aisle.

She began to dance toward the altar, her arms gracefully beckoning the 1,400 Protestants and Roman Catholics in attendance to join her in worship. By the altar, she performed a symbolic offertory. Later, she danced a joyous finale entitled God Is Light, then twirled daintily back up the aisle and slipped out of the church door.

The lady in white was Sister Tina Bernal, 22, who may well be the nation's only dancing nun. After five years as a professional dancer with the San Francisco Ballet Company, which she joined at age 13, she entered the Society of the Religious of the Sacred Heart in 1964. Although Sister Tina spends most of her time studying theology, her superiors have lately allowed her to dance at experimental worship services. She is not allowed to wear ballet costumes. So she performs in a white version of Sacred Heart's traditional black habit — the order wears both colors — because, as she puts it, "white celebrates life."

To Sister Tina, liturgical dancing symbolizes man's oneness with God.

Says she: "Sacred dance is the unity of man in action before God. I am a community when I dance." She also feels that religious dancing helps emphasize the sacredness of the human body. Recently, she began teaching ballet to other sisters in the order, and foresees the day when they will be able to join her in dancing as well as reciting prayers.