Is liturgical dance allowed in the Catholic Church?

Answer: In some cultures, such as Africa and the Pacific Islands, dance has a different cultural meaning to what it has in our Western culture. In these countries dance has a legitimate role to play in religious celebrations and the Vatican has allowed this.

What is doxology dance?

Among Christian traditions a doxology is typically an expression of praise sung to the Holy Trinity: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is common in high hymns for the final stanza to take the form of a doxology.

When did liturgical dance begin?

Liturgical dance was practically non-existent until the 20th century, unlike many other dance styles that have been around for centuries. However, the start of liturgical dance actually originates back in biblical times, with many examples of worshipful movement recorded in the Old Testament.

How is liturgical dance a form of worship?

Liturgical dance is simply a Christian form of prayer and worship through bodily movement. Like most dance styles, music accompanies liturgical dance, be it live or pre-recorded. Mostly performed by females, this beautiful form of worship can either be improvised via the emotions felt during certain songs,…

Why do so many Catholics find liturgical dance abhorrent?

Yet, so many Catholics find liturgical dance abhorrent, at worst, and irrelevant, at best. To be honest, I’m baffled by the negativity, since our sacramental church embraces so many other art forms in our liturgies and churches. Paintings? Yes. Sculpture? Of course. Stained glass, fiber arts, mosaics? No problem. Music?

Are there any references to dancing in the Bible?

Among the Fathers and ecclesiastical writers and in the conciliar texts there is mention of dancing, an evaluation of it, a comment on the biblical text in which there is an allusion to the dance; more frequently there is a condemnation of profane dances and the disorders to which the dances give rise.

What was the dance in the Byzantine liturgy?

In the Byzantine Liturgy, there is an extremely simplified dance on the occasion of a wedding when the crowned spouses make a circular revolution around the lectern together with the celebrant.