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GUEST,Dorrance Dance Studio (Taylorsville, MD USA) John Wesley's Directions for Singing (34) RE: John Wesley's Directions for Singing & Dancin 21 Oct 10


I found this page, which must have been torn out by an early Baptist from a 1730 edition of True Singing and Dancing

John Wesley's Directions for Dancing
I. Learn the dance tunes before you learn any others; afterwards learn as many as you please.

II. Dance them exactly as they are, without altering or mending them at all; and if you have learned to dance them otherwise, unlearn it as soon as you can.

III. Dance all. See that you join with the congregation as frequently as you can. Let not a slight degree of weakness or weariness hinder you. If it is a cross to you, take it up, and you will find it a blessing.

IV. Dance lustily and with a good courage. Beware of dancing as if you were half dead, or half asleep; but lift up your body with strength. Be no more afraid of your body now, nor more ashamed of its being seen, than when you danced the songs of Satan.

V. Dance modestly. Do not over dance, so as to be seen above or distinct from the rest of the congregation, that you may not destroy the movement; but strive to unite your moves together, so as to make one clear dance.

VI. Dance in time. Whatever time is played be sure to keep with it. Do not run before nor stay behind it; but attend close to the leading dancers, and move therewith as exactly as you can; and take care not to dance too slow. This drawling way naturally steals on all who are lazy; and it is high time to drive it out from us, and dance all our tunes just as quick as we did at first.

VII. Above all dance spiritually. Have an eye to God in every move you make. Aim at pleasing him more than yourself, or any other creature. In order to do this attend strictly to the sense of what you dance, and see that your heart is not carried away with the sound, but offered to God continually; so shall your dancing be such as the Lord will approve here, and reward you when he cometh in the clouds of heaven.


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