|IT seems strange that the Dance should have almost everywhere
degenerated into something base and trivial, while its children, Music
and Poetry, in spite of lapses, should have preserved their dignity and
beauty. It seems even more strange when we remember that dancing had a
religious origin. Among the Jews, as among other peoples, dancing was
constantly associated with the ceremonies of faith.
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In Christian churches the choir was originally designed as a place
in which the chanting of hymns and canticles might be conveniently
accompanied by rhythmic movements. On feast days the honor of leading
the dance was reserved for the bishop. This is why he was known in those
days by the name, of _praesul_, the is, he who dances first. A bishop as
_premier danseur!_ We can hardly believe it now, yet why should we not,
seeing that the movements of priest and server at mass have the nature
of a solemn dance? And there are places in France and Spain where
liturgical dances still exist. The most notable is the dance executed
before the altar at Seville in Holy Week. I am afraid that the one that
used to take place in the choir of Saint Leonard's at Limoges, where,
at the end of each psalm, the people sang instead of the _Gloria Patri_,
"San Marceau, pray for us and we will dance for you," is now extinct.