The Dancing Dervishes, sometime called Whirling Dervishes, were Mohammeden Monks or religious fanatics, who make a vow of poverty and austerity of life. Many Dervishes were wandering dancers who would spin or whirl themselves round for hours until they worked themselves into a state of frenzy, when they are believed to be inspired.

The ancient Spartans in the eighth century, during the Peloponnesian Wars between Athens and Sparta (431-404 B.C.) had their Pyrrhic Dance, a victory dance gained at a great cost, consisting of a well-organized military. The Mailclad Spearmen was called Hoplites, who gave them repeated victories.

The Mandan Indians danced the Buffalo Dance to bring game when food was low. The Rain Doctors of Central Africa danced mystic dances to bring rain.

Dancing mania, a habit accompanied by aberration of mind and distortions of the body, was very prevalent in Germany in 1374. It began in Aix-La-Chapella by a procession of wanderers dancing, twitching, stumbling and whirling from town to town, while shrieking, moaning and frothing at the mouth. Their wild movements affected those who watched and they soon joined in and followed.

The dancing mania reached The Netherlands, then on to Metz and Strasbourg, where musicians accompanied the dancers in an attempt to cure their madness. The music excited the dancers to even wilder reviles that included tearing off their clothes. Music and dancing drew hordes of participants. Everything they tried to combat the epidemic did not work. It wasn't until the early 1500s that a physician Paracelsus used cold-water baths to calm the dancers.

In the early 1500s, it found its way to Italy. By the 16th Century, they termed Tarantism, and erroneously supposed it to be caused by the bite of the tarantula spider. Music and songs were used for its cure. The songs, music and Tarantella dance are still prevalent today. Ferocious war dances by North American Indian Braves brought on a frantic mechanical intoxication capable of carrying them to victory. The African Zulu War Dance with aid of the solar eclipse on January 22, 1879, defeated a British force of 13,000 men by 40,000 Zulu's led by their Chief Cetewayo.

Dance orchestras and bands have existed for centuries, but they were first confined to courts and other aristocratic patrons in European countries. It was not until the early 1900's when syncopated music gained wide popular acceptance, that dance music became available to the public at large. From this beginning too now, dance has been an important part of peoples lives. Today we have some young groups who like to dress up. It is taking hold in schools and colleges. When they go to school proms, its tux, flowers and a limousine. Dancing remains a social (boy- meet-girl) activity at Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah. More than 3,000 students enroll annually in the more than 45 college credit courses offered in Dance. During student breaks, music and dancing is enjoyed throughout the day. Lunch time is dance time at Brigham Young University.

As we approach the turn of the Century, people are dancing in big ballrooms, cafes, book stores and any spot there is music. Dancing is a great pastime, avocation, hobby, exerciser, self-improver, art, and sport.

My Thanks to Dance Historian Dale Malpezzi and Dancing USA for the facts in this article.