DANCE (dams), ( I I ch. run, khool, to twist, dance, dancing. chorus).
1. The words in the original, rendered in our translation by this term, denote, properly, to leap for joy (1) Ancient Dance. The character of the ancient dance was very different from that of ours, as appears from the conduct of Nliriam, who 'took a timbrel in her hand, and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances.' Pre cisely similar is the Oriental dance of the present day, which, accompanied of course with music, is led by the principal person of the company, the rest imitating the steps. The evolutions, as well as the songs, are extemporaneous—not confined to a fixed rule, but varied at the pleasure of the lead ing dancer ; and yet they arc generally executed with so much grace, and the time so well kept with the simple notes of the music, that the group of attendants show wonderful address and pro priety in following the variations of the leader's feet.
(2) Sacred Dances. At a very early period, dancing was enlisted into the service of religion among many people; the dance, enlivened by vocal and instrumental music, was a usual accompani ment in all the processions and festivals (Strabo, x) ; and, indeed, so indispensable was this species of violent merriment that no ceremonial was con sidered duly accomplished. no triumph rightly cel ebrated. without the aid of (lancing.
The Hebrews, in common with other nations, had their sacred dances, which were performed on their solemn anniversaries, and other occasions of commemorating some special token of the divine goodness and favor, as means of drawing forth. in the liveliest manner, their expressions of joy and thanksgiving. The performers were usually a band of females, who, in cases of public rejoi cing, volunteered their services (Exod. xv:2o; Sam. xviii :6), and who, in the case of religious observances, composed the regular chorus of the temple (Ps. cxlix :3; cl :4), although there are not wanting instances of men also joining in the dance on these seasons of religious festivity. Thus Da vid deemed it no way derogatory to his royal dig nity to dance on the auspicious occasion of the ark being brought up to Jerusalem.
His conduct was imitated by the later Jews, and the dance incorporated among their favorite usages as an appropriate close of the joyous oc casion of the feast of Tabernacles.
(3) Perversion. (Buxtorf, De S)'nag. lud. cap. 21). From being exclusively, or at least prin cipally, reserved for occasions of religious wor ship and festivity, dancing came gradually to be practiced in common life on any remarkable sea sons of mirth and rejoicing ( Jer. xxxi :A; Ps. xxx :t i). In early times, indeed, those who per verted the exercise from a sacred use to purposes of amusement were considered profane and in famous; and hence Job introduces it as a dis tinguishing feature in the character of the un godly rich, that they encouraged a taste for dan cing in their families ( Job x xi :t t 1. During the
classic ages of Greece and Rome society under went a complete revolution of sentiment on this subject ; insomuch that the Grecian poets repre sent the gods themselves as passionately fond of the diversion I Potter's Grec. :400) ; and that not only at Rome, but through all the prov inces of the empire, it was a favorite pastime, resorted to not only to enliven feasts. hut in the celebration of domestic joy (Luke xv :25 ; Matt. xiv :6). Notwithstanding, however, the strong partiality cherished for this inspiriting amuse ment, it was considered beneath the dignity of persons of rank and character to practice it. The well-known words of Cicero. that 'no one dances unless he is either drunk or mad,' express the pre vailing sense as to the impropriety of respectable individuals taking part in it : and hence the gay circles of Rome and its provinces derived all their entertainment, as is done in the East to this day, from the exhibitions of professional dancers.
Amateur (lancing in high life was, as that writer informs us. by no means uncommon in the volup tuous times of the later emperors. But in the ace of Ticrod it was exceedingly rare and almost on. heard of ; and therefore the condescension of Sa lome, who volunteered. in honor of the anniver sary of that monarch's birthday, to exhibit her handsome person as she led the mazy dance in the saloons of Machxrus—for though she was a child at this time,.as some suppose (Michaelis, Introd.), the was still a princess—was felt to be a compliment that merited the highest reward. The folly and rashness of Herod in giving her an unlimited promise, great as they were, have been equaled and even surpassed by the munificence which many other eastern monarchs have lavished upon favorite dancers. (See HEROD ; SALOME.) The Jewish dance was performed by the sexes separately. There is no evidence from sacred his tory that the diversion was promiscuously enjoyed, except it might be at the erection of the deified calf, when, in imitation of the Egyptian festival of Apis, all classes of the Hebrews intermingled in the frantic revelry. In the sacred dances, although both sexes seem to have frequently borne a part in the procession or chorus, they remained in dis tinct and separate companies (Ps. lxviii:25 ; Jer. xxxi :13).
2. By 'dance' the A. V. translates the Hebrew word Afachal, a musical instrument of percussion ; according to many, used to accompany the dance, and hence called by the same name as the dance itself.
Figurative. Dancing in the Scriptures is ex pressive of joy as contrasted with mourning (Ps. xxx :1 f, etc.).