Familiar dialogues on dancing, between a minister and a dancer
An edition of Familiar dialogues on dancing, between a minister and a dancer (1798)
taken from matter of fact with an appendix containing some extracts from the writings of pious and eminent men against the entertainments of the stage, and other vain amusements recommended to the perusal of Christians of every denomination.
By John Phillips
Publish Date
1798
Publisher
Printed by T. Kirk, no. 112, Chatham-Street
Language
eng
Pages
39
Description:
Substantiated by quotations from other writers including Pascal, the Prince of Conti, Chief Justice Hale, and Archbishop Tillotson, Phillips declares dance to be a vain and idle amusement. While he acknowledges that many people assume the study of dance teaches good carriage and a "graceful and easy way of moving our limbs," he notes that Quakers, "who hold dancing in abomination," manage to display good carriage without benefit of dance instruction. As with other writers of antidance literature, Phillips notes that, although dance was prevalent during biblical times, only women participated.