Dance: Is it a Mating Ritual or an Art Form? The dictionary defines dance as "an artistic form of non-verbal communication" (dance). As Christians we have always heard that dancing is immoral; that dancing only led to one thing: sex. Although this is the general belief, many people find ballet art, such as The Nutcracker, to be tasteful. Dance embodies passion, grace and balance. The dance is not just a mating ritual as we have been told; It's a story too beautiful for words. Dancing is a way to communicate with anyone, no matter what language they speak or how old they are. It's a way to break through barriers and touch souls. Many people over time have debated what the true nature of dance is; some people think it is a cultural expression, others say it is a spiritual medium, and some cynics even believe that the dance is just a mating ritual. Contrary to what these people claim, dance has been used for centuries as an art form, not just a mating ritual. As an Adventist, Ellen White's writings are highly regarded. In his book Messages to young people he has a very harsh vision of dance. Ellen White believes that no Christian should be caught dancing; that Jesus and dance cannot exist together. In the eyes of Ellen Whites, dancing is only used for “self-gratification” and will lead down the “path of dissipation” (135,136). It does not distinguish between types of dance, which leads many Adventists to believe that it refers to all types of dance. So where did this negative view of dance begin? It certainly didn't start with the Bible because there are 27 different mentions of the word dance listed. Throughout the Bible, dance is used to represent joy, sorrow, and even a spiritual connection with God. In the Bible, David said, “Let them praise his name with dancing, and let them sing to him” (New International Version, Psalms 149.3 ). The only negative connotation the Bible gives to dancing is when it is mixed with idolatry or intoxication. When Moses came down from the mountain and found the people dancing around the golden calf, he had a problem with the idol and not the dance (Daniel 9). The medieval period is when dance began to develop a bad reputation. Dances such as the dance of the dead, the mania dance and the flagellant dance had emerged.