Article XI: On Dances

34. That we may proceed in order, we shall set forth three things: 1. we shall explain the general doctrine; 2. we shall speak of dances in particular customary in our time; 3. we shall indicate the practice of the confessor.

35. 1. There are three classes of dances. The first is per se modest, the second per se gravely immodest, the third per se lightly immodest.

Dances per se modest are those which, without any wholly base end or immodest external act, while musical instruments are sounding, are performed among persons of the same sex or even of different sex; although the hands of a man and woman mutually grasp one another, yet lightly, according to the manner customary among honorable persons and in honorable dances. For this "is per se no fault, or at most is venial, because generally in this there is no danger of lust, or only a light one." Gury, 234. Now then dances of this kind are in no way per se illicit, because they are indifferent in themselves and are prohibited by no law. Nevertheless they are often immodest per accidens by reason of the danger which can easily be found even in those modest dances. St. Thomas, on Isaias, c. 3; and 2.2, q. 168, a. 2; L., l. 3, n. 429.

36. Corollaries. 1. Those who are so weak that they undergo grave danger of sinning in dances must abstain from them under mortal sin, unless perhaps at some time a certain necessity urges and means are applied so that the proximate danger of consent is absent. On the contrary, says Tamburini, l. c., c. 8, de Chor., n. 3, if from experience you have known that danger of this kind is not present to you, I think that you are in no way guilty of mortal sin by dancing in this way or by looking at those dancing.

2. To dance modestly or to be present at honorable dances from some necessity, or from the decorum of one's state, without probable danger of sinning, is no sin; because a sufficient reason is given for permitting the sins of others, if there are any. Hence marriageable girls are excused from sin by dancing decently when they cannot be absent from dances held in the father's house, or among neighbors or relatives, or cannot refuse dancing without being mocked, or without displeasing parents or betrothed men requiring them.

3. Indeed, to be present at honorable dances, even without necessity, yet with danger and notable scandal excluded, and to dance decently in them, not only is not mortal, but can easily also be free from every sin. For sometimes men are found, and not rarely women, to whom even in dances among persons of different sex no danger, or a very remote danger, threatens. But although these are to be dissuaded from dances, nevertheless a promise of avoiding dances would be demanded from them imprudently and unjustly under denial of absolution. - G. 243.

37. Dances per se gravely immodest are those which, with men and women mixed, or indeed even separated, are undertaken with obscene gestures, immodest touches, dishonorable songs, indecent nakednesses, and those things gravely repugnant to modesty. There is no one who denies that these dances are altogether illicit. Cf. St. Thomas, l. c., a. 3. - To these dances per se immodest belong dances which take place in taverns, to which dissolute men and dissolute women of every kind come together. But in no way is it lawful for an innkeeper, for attracting more guests, ordinarily to admit gravely base dances in his buildings, just as neither is it lawful to set before them for reading public newspapers which evidently and ordinarily are opposed to good morals. G. 256. To this also, generally speaking, are referred dances with masks among persons of different sex. For experience establishes that games of this kind are allurements to lust and an efficacious cause of immodesty. G. 244.

38. Finally, dances per se lightly immodest are those in which lightly dishonorable gestures, touches, songs, and adornments are had. These dances, as is clear, per se speaking, are not gravely illicit, but only lightly, because they are only lightly dishonorable. Nevertheless per accidens they can very easily be gravely illicit by reason of the danger of lethal fault which can very easily be found in them.

39. Corollary. 1. The threefold corollary established above regarding dances per se modest also has place, yet with due proportion, regarding these dances that are per se only lightly immodest.

40. 2. The dances customary in our time, concerning which the controversy is greatest, are those which in French are called valse, polka, galop, and others similar to them; to all of which this is special, that a man and a woman clasp one another in mutual embrace, and thus, held together, proceed by dancing in a circle. - Now then there are many indeed who universally hold these dances as per se immodest, both because that excessive proximity of bodies proceeds all the way to the very compression of bodies, with the greatest danger, as is clear of itself, of venereal delectation, and because those dancing, clinging together and separated from others, so that it is as if one man alone with one woman alone, are also in great danger of speaking obscene things. Hence they say that those cannot be absolved who indulge in the aforesaid dances and do not wish to renounce them. "Nevertheless there are not lacking upright men who say that these very dances can be done in a manner not so indecorous, although commonly they are very dangerous." Gury-Dumas, Cas. 233. Wherefore also as regards these more recent dances, it will belong to the confessor to judge concerning particular cases, from the manner, circumstances, gravity of the motive, gravity of the danger, etc. G. 242.

41. 3. As regards practice, these things generally can be at hand for the confessor. 1. "The confessor ought especially to attend to these two things, namely to the danger of the person of the penitent, that he may restrain it, and to the reasons which he can have for assisting at dances, that he may indulge him or at least not act so rigidly. For the faithful occur not rarely who, from a grave cause or moral necessity, are impelled to take part in dances." Gury-Dumas, Cas. 234. - 2. "If no hope is given of removing dances from the midst, as most frequently happens, excessive severity will harm the salvation of souls; for many, thinking these amusements to be lawful or not gravely illicit, are unwilling to abstain entirely from them; they desert confession, the Eucharist, and sacred sermons." Bouvier, l. c., de chor., 8. - 3. "He, on the contrary, who treats penitents assisting at dances kindly, by persuasion and prayers turns them away from dangers of this kind, furnishes them salutary counsels that they not expose themselves to danger; if they have fallen, he rebukes them paternally, defers absolution for them, and finally, when they are contrite for grave things admitted, although he does not judge them immune from every sin, absolves them, admits them to communion at least at Easter, consults much more efficaciously for their salvation and profits the good of religion." Bouvier, l. c. - 4. Generally speaking, "dances, as they are accustomed to be done, are always dangerous; therefore confessors... ought to turn young persons of either sex away from them as much as they can," Bouvier, l. c., although they have not yet gravely relapsed. But then let the confessor proceed with due charity, and rather by way of counsel. Let him commend to his penitents certain spiritual exercises, pious reading, prayer, etc.; and, with the grace of God helping, he certainly will not be frustrated in the very best outcome of the matter. Cf. St. Francis de Sales, Introduction to the Devout Life, part 3, ch. 23.