After attending a small congregation, Rock n' Roll oldies dance, that a sister had held at a rented hall, I had heard that an elder privately counseled her on the playing of the song "the twist" and then dancing the "twist" to it. I thought, surely this had to be some kind of mistake, so later at home, I got out my Watchtower index and there it was in black and white, counsel to avoid the twist and it's so called immoral influence, coming from "Pagan fertility dances".

True, there were go-go bars with female dancers who shook their breasts and hips, but can not that be

"Put Away Your Sexual Appetite" - Colossians 3:5

Sexual abuse, domineering sex and sex that hurts others in relationships are the ONLY real application. To apply this and other scriptures in any other way, restricting normal human sexuality, is to misquote and put a unfair legal requirement that is not there.

said of every generation of music? And what is so bad about that? Human beings are sexual creatures. Where in the bible is it wrong to express one's sexuality in a dance? There are always some who will take it to the extreme, while others will not. Being a balanced and mature person, it must be recognized that Hank Ballard, Chubby Checkers, Joey Dee and the dance called the "twist" was, and still is, an innocent, fun and envigorating dance to "twist" to. Anyone can take this dance and many other neutral activities and change them to be sexual, immoral or put an unfair interpretive meaning into it that simply is not there.

The following information in blue italics below is from the February 15, 1969,

Watchtower Magazine - page 113 in the bound volume.

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" For example, when dances like the "twist" and all its later developments are introduced, the young accept them eagerly and without question, while their parents raise their eyebrows or smile indulgently for a while and then take them up with almost equal fervor, ostensibly in order to project the youthful image themselves. What they fail to realize is that such dances have their origin in pagan fertility dances that were performed in times past as a part of immoral religious rites. And just as they were designed to arouse the sexual emotions of the participants in the religious orgies, so their modern-day counterparts contribute to the loosening of moral inhibitions.

Those who subscribe to the modern morality that allows for premarital sex relations have no objection to this. But what of those who have no such end in view, who may be indulging themselves simply because it is the custom? Such ones should not deceive themselves. They are still affected emotionally in the same way. Stimulation of this sort inevitably leads to improper inclinations, and those who entertain wrong desires can be just as completely overtaken as the twenty-four thousand were in succumbing to the Baal of Peor in the days of Israel.-Num. 25:1-9."

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This amazes me. To say that the dance called the "twist" has "it's origin in pagan fertility dances" is unbelievable. This is certainly far fetched and typical of the Watchtower Society. This is a classic example of what happens when a religion assumes too much authority or that is has some type of appointment from God. What about the dance called the "charleston" from the 1920's era, I suppose that it's origins are also from pagan fertility dances, because of the immorality that prevailed at that time period?

In the bible, King David was so joyful in serving his God, Jehovah, that he not only sang, but would actually dance for God. On one occasion, as David danced, he even took off some of his clothes ! And in front of the all the Women in Israel ! Certainly, many of the women in Israel must have found David attractive, as he danced without his shirt on in front of them.

When his wife Michal became annoyed and embarrassed for him, she told David that he acted foolishly. She specifically stated how he danced in front of all the women. But apparently her anger ran deeper, for she began to "hate David. King David then reprimanded her and Jehovah approved. Not only did Jehovah find David's singing, dancing and removal of some of his garments acceptable, but he also punished his wife Michal, making her barren of children, for her criticism of David. (2 Samuel 6:14-16, 20-23)

No doubt, if the Watchtower were around in King David's day, his actions of dancing in front of many women and removing some of his clothes would have been condemned as immoral and "originating from pagan fertility dances." (2 Samuel 6:14-16, 20-23)

The following information in blue italics below is from the

July 1,1962, Watchtower Magazine - pages 410-412 in the bound volume.

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DETERMINING FACTORS

First, find out just what the dance is. What movements are involved? How is the dance described by observers and in newspapers and magazines? If the origin and development of the dance can be learned, this may prove enlightening. Check the facts learned with Bible principles.

To illustrate: Suppose a young adult or a parent has heard about the twist and wants to know whether it would be proper for a Christian. Well, observe how people describe it. You will likely find frequent comments in newspapers, perhaps such as this one: "The Twist, stemming from a dance called the Madison that erupted a number of years ago in Philadelphia, is a rhythmic, shoulder-shaking, hip-swiveling step in which the partners synchronize their movements but do not touch."1 One popular American magazine devoted many pages to the dance and said: "To the song's insistent beat the partners rock back and forth on the balls of their feet while frantically twisting their hips."2 If local news media shed little light on the matter, one could find publications in a public library that discuss recent trends. Thus if one opened the 1962 Britannica Book of the Year, he would find several comments, including this: "There was also a revival during 1961 of two teen-age dances, the twist and the fish. They were publicly condemned by several U. S. clergymen. In late fall, the twist in particular suddenly took on the characteristics of a major dance craze. . . . It features a minimum of movement of the feet and a maximum of bodily gyrations."

The "Pagan Fertility Dance"

Many of the news reports will likely have a few words about the origin of a new dance, and this is true of the twist. Time magazine, for instance, commented: "The Twist at first was an innocent enough dance; it has since been largely discarded in favor of such refinements as 'The Roach' and 'The Fly.' But the youngsters at [a certain New York nightclub] have revived The Twist and parodied it into a replica of some ancient tribal puberty rite. The dancers scarcely ever touch each other or move either feet. Everything else, however, moves. The upper body sways forward and backward and the hips and shoulders twirl erotically, while the arms thrust in, out, up and down."3

That nightclub and its revised twist, further explained this same news report, "might well have remained just another flesh spa for the midtown beatnik crowd" had it not been popularized with café society by a newspaper society editor.

So what have you learned about this dance? In this example we have found that the dance craze mainly involves bodily gyrations and that the words used to describe them are "frantic," "sensual" and "erotic." You have also learned what kind of persons developed the dance and that it is basically an imitation of some pagan tribe's dance, involving gestures of a sexually suggestive nature.

Now, what are the Bible principles and commandments that will illuminate the facts you have learned? If you do not know, ask a mature Christian. Or use the Watch Tower Publications Index to direct you to those principles. You will find many. For instance, does the dance involved conduce to holy conduct? God's Word says: "Become holy yourselves in all your conduct." God's Word speaks out against "cravings for sensual pleasure." It warns against "shameful conduct" and "things which are not becoming." It requires modesty for Christian women. Christians are told to consider and practice whatever things are "chaste."-1 Pet. 1:15; Jas. 4:1; Eph. 5:4; Phil. 4:8;1 Tim. 2:9.

Now ask yourself: How does the dance you have in mind measure up to those Scriptural requirements? You should be able to make the right decision now.

WHERE IS THE EMPHASIS?

Many dances put emphasis on foot patterns, accompanied by graceful movements of the body. But

MY BOX

Human Beings Are Sexual Creatures

Where In The Bible Does It Condemn Human Sexuality As Being Unclean? Nowhere.

some dances have little to do with foot patterns and movement; they put the emphasis on body movement, which may or may not be erotic. Some dances of primitive tribes and peoples are designed to stimulate sexual feelings. The Canaanites had fertility dances. Similar ones were performed at the ancient Bacchanalia, which served as an excuse for immorality. In his book World History of the Dance, Curt Sachs expresses the belief that "hip and belly dances" of such places as the South Seas have "only the purpose of sexual stimulation. But the original goal was magical: coitus movements, like all other sex motives, promote life and growth."

If a modern dance is an imitation of the erotic gestures of some pagan dance, then Scriptural principles would rule it out for Christians. Vigorous movement in itself is not the determining factor; the polka is fast but not necessarily erotic. Nor is the sole determining factor whether partners touch one another. It is not necessary for physical contact to take place for persons to have their passions aroused. Observing the movements of dancers may well excite base thoughts or passionate feelings.

So when any modern dance puts the emphasis on gyrating of the hips and rolling of breasts by females, it is well to realize that this is not modest behavior, that this same sort of thing is done by native people in various parts of the world in their fertility dances. The Christian can be certain that it has the same effect upon people where he lives as it does among primitive people.
Christians may find enjoyment in dancing; but when they find that the dance currently in vogue in the old world is sexually suggestive (highlighting erotic movements of the breasts and hips), then they avoid it, instead of feeling that they ought to follow the crowd. Some may laugh at you because you do not go along with the crowd, but the important thing is that you have a good conscience toward God.-1 Pet. 4:3, 4.

WHAT IS THE DANCE'S REPUTATION?

The apostle Paul told Christians to hold to "whatever things are well spoken of." (Phil. 4:8) So in determining whether any dance is proper or improper for Christians, find out what its reputation is. Worldly society or beatniks may approve a dance, but we cannot be guided by those who throw off restraint and who give first place to so-called "sexual freedom." So what is the community feeling? More particularly, what is the feeling of your religious congregation? How would you be looked upon if you danced it? If one wanted the reputation of the twist as popularized by a New York nightclub, he might read an article similar to one written by Geoffrey Holder, a Trinidad-born dancer, who said:
"The Twist? I'm sitting this one out. It's dishonest. . . . It's synthetic sex turned into a sick spectator sport. . . . Social dancing was never meant to supply vicarious kicks for spectators. When it does, watch it! . . . When Antony Tudor wanted to establish his hero as a sexpot and phallic symbol in 'Pillar of Fire,' he came out and did the Twist-for a few seconds, to establish character. . . . From the dawn of time, the classic way of showing male potency, sexual vigor, has been the same pelvic movement. In African fertility dances, you always find it naked. Honest."4

You do not need special articles, however, to give you an idea of a dance's reputation. Some very short news items say a great deal. For example: "The City of Tampa has opened 1962 by banning the Twist, a new dance step, in its community centers."5 "Moralists debated the propriety of the dance. In her column, Elsa Maxwell confided that Princess Olga of Yugoslavia had agreed with her at the Polish Ball that the twist shouldn't be danced in public places."6 "The White House firmly denied today that President Kennedy or anyone else danced 'the Twist' at a party there."7 "The new dance, the Twist, has been banned at Roseland Dance City [New York]. 'It is not, in our opinion, a ballroom dance,' according to Lou Brecker, who founded the theater district ballroom in 1919. 'It is lacking in true grace.'"8

Your local news media may also contain letters to editors that often reveal much as to what people are thinking, such as this example; "Let's hope that the young (and not so young) bodies of our Twisters are lying, that their minds do not behave inside the way their pelvises and pectorals do outside."9

So even if a Christian can participate in a dance with a good conscience before God, because of having no wrong motive, that is not enough. He must consider the effect upon the onlooker. The onlooker knows what goes on in his own mind when he sees a sensual dance, and he assumes that such thoughts are going on in the mind of the dancer. One's saying: "My mind and conscience is clear" is not enough, because the Scriptures are emphatic about keeping "from becoming causes for stumbling."-1 Cor. 10:32.

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Because the president, John F. Kennedy, denied dancing the "twist" and some overly conservative, unbalanced people of that time period condemned the dance, does that support the dance as being immoral? Is it fair to quote the bible in support of this? It is evident that in every century and time period, the bible is both misquoted and unfairly used to support the current cause and trend in both human society and religious organizations.

Some religions and denominations of Christians even go a step further then this Watchtower article and condemn all dancing as immoral. Certainly, the bible does not teach this, for there is nothing specifically stated on this subject. In this case of dancing, whether it is the "twist" or some other dance style, each individual "must use his or her own perceptive powers to distinguish what is right and wrong", as King David did in his day. No organization of men or slave class should enslave us to rules and regulations otherwise. (Hebrews 5:14)

For additional comments made by the Watchtower Society, on the "twist", please see the March 22, 1962, page 31 and the June 22, 1962, page 30 issues of the Awake Magazine.

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