Classical Greek mythology
In a classical Greek song, Apollo, one of the twelve greater gods, the son of Zeus the chief god, and the god of medicine, music, and poetry, was called The Dancer. In a Greek line Zeus himself is represented as dancing. In Sparta, a province of ancient Greece, the law compelled parents to exercise their children in dancing from the age of five years. They were led by grown men, and sang hymns and songs as they danced. In very early times a Greek chorus, consisting of the whole population of the city, would meet in the market-place to offer up thanksgivings to the god of the country. Their jubilees were always attended with hymn-singing and dancing.
Opinions vary greatly with respect to how Holy Books consider dancing. If anyone undertakes the articles of this section, please refrain from comments other than factual explanations. Let the texts (i.e., exact quotes) speak for themselves.
The Jewish records make frequent mention of dancing, as a religious ceremony, or as an expression of gratitude and praise. As a means of entertainment in private society, dancing was practiced in ancient times, but by professional dancers, and not by the company themselves. The Bible sanctions dancing as a religious rite, to be practiced on joyful occasions, at national feasts, and after great victories, and "performed by maidens in the daytime, in open air, in highways, fields, or groves;" however, there are no instances of dancing sanctioned in the Bible, in which both sexes united in the exercise, either as an act of worship or as an amusement, and any who perverted the dance from a sacred use to purposes of amusement were called infamous. The only records in the Bible of dancing as a social amusement were those of the ungodly families described by Job xxi, 11-13, who spent their time in luxury and gayety, and who came to a sudden destruction; and the dancing of Herodias, Matt. Xiv, 6, which led to the rash vow of King Herod and to the murder of John the Baptist.Dance in Holy Scriptures of various nations
Dance in Bible
