Yet Another Liturgical Dancing Thread

[pprimeau1976]

I have an issue with liturgical dancing in the setting of the mass. But I can see where it could be used in other ways in order to bring back the custom of outdoor Eucharistic processions.

As everyone knows, King David danced before the Ark of the covenant in what could be described as a procession similar to that of an outdoor Eucharistic procession. Would dancing in a procession in this context be unacceptable if the dancers stopped short of dancing within the sanctuary.

I don’t recall any scriptural reference of dancing being done in the Temple itself.

What do you think?

 

[VociMike]

Fair question. I think that culturally we in America just wouldn’t take it seriously. The reactions would be either “oh, isn’t that sweet!” or “oh, gag me!” Again, that’s not a religious judgement, just a cultural one. In America we just don’t have a history of taking that kind of dancing seriously; unlike, I expect, ancient Israel.

 

[benedictgal]

I see where you are heading to, but, I would caution against it because there is no tradition in the West that calls for such activity. Here is what Francis Cardinal Arinze, the Prefect for the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, has to say:

The question of dance is difficult and delicate. However, it is good to know that the tradition of the Latin Church has not known the dance. It is something that people are introducing in the last ten years – or twenty years. It was not always so. Now it is spreading like wildfire, one can say, in all the continents – some more than others. In my own continent, Africa, it is spreading. In Asia, it is spreading.

Now, some priests and lay people think that Mass is never complete without dance. The difficulty is this: we come to Mass primarily to adore God – what we call the vertical dimension. We do not come to Mass to entertain one another. That’s not the purpose of Mass. The parish hall is for that.

But when you introduce wholesale, say, a ballerina, then I want to ask you what is it all about. What exactly are you arranging? When the people finish dancing in the Mass and then when the dance group finishes and people clap – don’t you see what it means? It means we have enjoyed it. We come for enjoyment. Repeat. So, there is something wrong. Whenever the people clap – there is something wrong – immediately. When they clap – a dance is done and they clap.

Why make the people of God suffer so much? Haven’t we enough problems already? Only Sunday, one hour, they come to adore God. And you bring a dance! Are you so poor you have nothing else to bring us? Shame on you! That’s how I feel about it. Somebody can say, “but the pope visited this county and the people danced”. A moment: Did the pope arrange it? Poor Holy Father – he comes, the people arranged. He does not know what they arranged. And somebody introduces something funny – is the pope responsible for that? Does that mean it is now approved? Did they put in on the table of the Congregation for Divine Worship? We would throw it out! If people want to dance, they know where to go.

While the Eucharistic Procession happens outside of the Church, it is still a sacred and solemn act that must be done reverently and with great dignity and sobriety. Why cheapen it with a dance that will draw the focus away from the Lord?

 

[NewUlm1976_2000]

I have an issue with liturgical dancing in the setting of the mass. But I can see where it could be used in other ways in order to bring back the custom of outdoor Eucharistic processions.

As everyone knows, King David danced before the Ark of the covenant in what could be described as a procession similar to that of an outdoor Eucharistic procession. Would dancing in a procession in this context be unacceptable if the dancers stopped short of dancing within the sanctuary.

I don’t recall any scriptural reference of dancing being done in the Temple itself.

What do you think?

I have yet to see any example in the middle of a mass. Everyone I have seen have been outside the mass and there is no problem with that.

 

[benedictgal]

I have yet to see any example in the middle of a mass. Everyone I have seen have been outside the mass and there is no problem with that.

It’s still problematic, especially since, as Cardinal Arinze has repeatedly noted, there is no tradition of this so-called “liturgical dance” in the Western culture.

 

[Eilish_Maura]

It’s still problematic, especially since, as Cardinal Arinze has repeatedly noted, there is no tradition of this so-called “liturgical dance” in the Western culture.

“Western culture” is not stagnant and not without people from cultures where dance is far more common in many areas of life.

 

[puzzleannie]

“Western culture” is not stagnant and not without people from cultures where dance is far more common in many areas of life.

can you give an example where liturgical dance has been incorporated in the West as an import from such a culture where dance does have a long tradition in worship ritual?

one might be the matachinas in Mexico who take part in processions on the feast of OL Guadalupe

another might be the hula, which I understand in the Hawaiian (not necessarily other islands) has a form used for worship.

another may be a parish or diocese with a large number of members from various Asian or African cultures. The problem is, if the dance referenced is of a pagan worship tradition, that makes it doubly unsuited to Catholic liturgical usage.

Even so, to introduce them in an area or parish that is not composed of worshippers from that culture is anachronistic, and usually insulting to the culture. That is the case with most attempts to incorporate Native American rituals in the Mass, not only are they totally inappropriate in the liturgical context, whether Mass, LOTH or other, but are not even authentic, just the dream child of some liturgist or youth minister.

 

[StDominicSavio]

In then Cardinal Ratzinger’s Spirit of the Liturgy, he differentiated between liturgical dance and rythmic processions, which I thought was interesting. He was referencing the processions that can be found in places in Africa, and said they were certainly a part of proper inculturation. However, this is not Africa. While parts might, the West as a whole in regards to liturgical norms does not have a tradition of liturgical dance. As such, it would be inappropriate.

I have a general rule that generally confirms my suspicions. When I have seen liturgical dance done - usually Vietnamese, Filipino or Hispanic, it has generally been followed by applause by the mixed assembly. Applause has no place in the Mass proper - not for certain liturgical actions, not for good homilies, not for musicians after mass, and not for the dancers. It reflects a lack of understanding of what has/is taking place.