Revival of Old Heathen Dances

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 16, 1913

Revival of Old Heathen Dances

THAT some of the new dances which have lately been introduced into the world of amusement are a revival of old heathen orgies is the charge made by the Christian Standard of September 13. The editor says:— One of our best-known city ministers remarked to the writer the other day that in his judgment the greatest danger of the present day is to be found along the lines of a return to pagan animalism. He cited specifically the prevalence of the so-called “animal dances” in what is usually regarded as decent society. Nothing appears clearer than the fact that the dances referred to are directly descended from the old heathen sensual rites which awoke such frantic abhorrence on the part of the Hebrew prophets. These new monstrosities of rhythm are in fact very old. Their identical prototypes may be discovered in the satyr-worship of Dionysius or in the orgies attendant upon the worship of Tammuz. After being outlawed by Judaism and Christianity, they found places of refuge in the dens of iniquity which have always remained the plague-spots of civilization. It is said upon good authority that the so-called “turkey trot” was transferred bodily from the Barbary coast, the Bowery of San Francisco, to the ballrooms of polite society. The other animal dances have doubtless a similar lineage.