the prevailing sense as to the impropriety of respecta- ble individuals taking part in it ; and hence the gay circles of Rome and its provinces derived all their en- tertainment, as is done in the East to this day, from the exhibitions of professional dancers. Under the patronage of the emperors, and of their luxurious trib- utaries, like Herod, the art was carried to the utmost perfection, the favorite mode being pantomime, which, like that of the modem Almehs or Arab women, was often of the most licentious description (see Lane's Mod. Eg. ii, 105-9 ; St. John's Nubia, p. 268 sq.). A story of love was chosen — generally an adventure of the gods — as the plan of the dance, and the address of the performer consisted in representing, by the waving of his hands, the agility of his limbs, and the innumer> able attitudes into which he threw himself, all the va- rious passions of love, jealousy, disgust, that sway the human breast. (See at large Ludan's Treatise on Dancinff.')
Amateur dancing in high life was, as that writer in- forms us, by no means uncommon in the voluptuous times of the later emperors. But in the age of Herod it was exceedingly rare and almost unheard of, and therefore the condescension of Salome, who volun- teered, in honor of the anniversary of that monarch's birthday, to exhibit her handsome person as she led the mazy dance in the saloons of Machsarus — for, though she was a child at this time, as some suppose (Michaelis, Introd.\ she 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 un- limited promise, great as they were, have been equal- led and even surpassed by the munificence which many other Eastern monarchs have lavished upon &vorite dancers. Shah Abbas (to mention only one anecdote of the kind), having been on a particular occasion ex- tremely gratified with a woman who danced before him, and being at the time much intoxicated, made her a present of a magnificent khan that yielded him a considerable revenue. Next morning his minister reminded him of his extravagant liberality, where- upon, being now cool and ashamed of his folly, he sent for the dancer, and obliged her to be contented with a sum of money (Thevenot's Tra». in PersiOy p. 100). It is by no means improbable that Herod too was flushed with wine, and that it was from fear he should retract his promise if she delayed till the morning that Herodias sent immediatdy for the head of the Baptist.
It remains to notice further that the Jewish dance was performed by the sexes separately. There is no evidence from sacred history that the diversion was promiscuously enjoyed, except it might be at the erec- tion of the deified calf, when, in imitation of the Egyp- tian festival of Apis, all classes of the Hebrews inter- mingled in the f^tic revelry. In the sacred dances,
Female Sacred Danoe.— From the KgypHan MoDumenta.
DANCE
660
DANFORTH
although both sexee seem to have frequently borne a part in the procession or choros, they remuined in dia- tioct and separate compimies (Psa. Ixvlii, 25; Jer. xxxi, 13. I
Dancing formed a part of the religious ceremonies , of the Egyptians, and was also common in private en- tertainments (see Wilkinson's Anc. Eg. abridgment, i, ' 133 sq.). Many representations of dances both of men ! and women are found in the Egyptian paintings. The . *' feast unto the Lord," which Moses proposed to Plia- ! raoh to hold, was really a dance (an ; see above). — I Kitto, 8. v.; Smiths. V. I
HlH. de la Dante (Par. 1724) ; He<^er, Dit foa (Berl. 1832). See Musical. Issivcicestb.
Dancers, a sect which appeared on the Bkixi in the Netherhmds about 1374. They pmddi streets, entered houses and churches hzif nU crowned with garlands, dancing and angiog,i unknown names, falling senseless on the gnmii exhibiting other marlLS of demoniacal agitstin. was customary for persons of both sexes, in tterp lie worship, to begin dancing; and, holding od a er's hands, to continue their extnordinaiT i till they f^ U down on the ground hreatfalMS. B;
Male Dance in Figures among the ancient Egyptians.
A modem Oriental dancing-party is thus described by Layard {Nineveh^ i, 119) : " The dance of the Arabs, the IMke^ as it is called, resembles in some respects that of the Albanians, and those who perform in it are scarcely less vehement in their gestures or less ex- travagant in their excitement than those wUd moun- taineers. They form a circle, holding one another by the hand, and, moving slowly round at first, go through a shuffling step with their feet, twisting their bodies into various attitudes. As the music quickens their movements are more active; they stamp with their feet, yell their war-cry, and jump as they hurry round the musicians. The motions of the women are not without grace ; but as they insist on wrapping them- selves in their coarse cloaks before they join in the dance, their forms, which the simple Arab shirt so well displays, are entirely concealed. When those who formed the debkfe were completely exhausted by their exertions, they joined the lookers-on, and seated them- selves on the ground. Two warriors of diflTerent tribes, fiirnished with shields and naked cimeters, then enter- ed the circle, and went through the sword-dance. As the music quickened the excitement of the performers increased. The by-standers at length were obliged to interfere and to deprive the combatants of their weap- ons, which were replaced by stout staves. With these they belabored one another unmercifully, to the great enjoyment of the crowd. On every successful hit, the tribe to which the one who dealt it belonged set up their \rir-cry and shouts of applause, while the women deafened us with the shrill tcMehl^ a noise made by a combined motion of the tongue, throat, and hand vi- brated rapidly over the mouth. When an Arab or a Kurd hears this tahlehl he almost loses his senses through excitement, and is ready to commit any des- perate act. A party of Kurdish jesters from the moun- tains entertained the Arabs with performances and imitations more amusing than refined. They were received with shouts of laughter. The dances were kept up by the light of the moon the greater part of the night."