Evening star., 1938-05-16
Dancing an
Innocent
Pastirne
Should Not Be Held
Burning Question
Of Morality.
BY ANGELO PATRI.

A DELE, college senior, reared in a
- religious atmosphere. is happily
, going her way, mingling with students
her own age and enjoying them and
their activities. All but one. She
cannot dance, not because she has not
the desire and the ability, but be-
cause her parents religious Scruples
forbid it. What is Adele to do?
II know that dancing can be done
to excess. but I know that other
things we do can be overdone, too. I
do not fear that might 60 too far
IN dancing any more than fear ex-
cess in other directions. I would like
to dance very much. but I have not
the courage to 60 against my parents
wishes in this matter. They feel so
strongly about it. They would think
had disgraced them and myself But
would love to dance. feel so out
OF it when my friends 60 to parties
and dance and cannot share in the
best fun of the evening"
Nobody can tell young lady in
this situation what she ought to do
1t is entirely a matter for her own
conscience to settle. It looks as
though early teaching had made
dancing sin for her, something not
to be done Even If she decided to
dance in spite Of her parents attitude
she would not enjoy it because Of her
feeling of guilt. In order to dance
with any degree of satisfaction she
would have first to overcome the
mental attitude that is now blocking
her. She must determine to do this
at all costs. this thing that her
parents deeply deplore. Is it worth
what it will cost? She must decide
that.
From my point Of view dancing is
no sin. I danced as soon as found
feet under me and heard music that
tickled them. loved 1t and still
enjoy watching it, and when the
orchestra plays dance I know I
like to dance it. My father and
mother always danced. And they
were good people. My friends all
danced, and they were decent, sturdy,
honorable young people for the most:
and if they failed in any particular of
goodness it was not because they
danced.
Then, I knew very we'll, families to
whom dancing was a sin. They and
their children did not dance, and they
~were good folk, too. So it seems to
me that dancing is just one of those
things that you do or don't do. ac-
cordlng to how you feel about them.
Doing or not doing them does not
affect your moral salvation either
way.
like to see young people dancing.
It is fine exercise for their bodies. It
gives them fine control of them. 1t
teaches them to move with rhythmic
grace and ease, and that is no little
accomplishment. It means, too. a
release from nervous tension that
creates plenty of trouble unless 1t is
released. I believe that dancing is
one Of the best exercises for college
students that can be found in q days
program. Leaving the fun out Of the
question. which We really never would
do for it is the heart of the whole
matter dancing is good for the mental
and physical health of youth.
But 1t is not. in my experience,
burning question of morality Unless
training makes 1t So Moderation in
all things spells health.
Mr.. Patri will give personal atten-
tion to inquiries from parents and
school teachers on the care and de-
yelopment Of children. Write him in
care of this paper, inclosing Scent
stamped, self-addressed envelope for
reply.
Copyright, 1881