Dance in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints 1830-1940

Brigham Young University BYU ScholarsArchive

Theses and Dissertations

1975

Dance in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints 1830-1940

Karl E. Wesson Brigham Young University - Provo

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BYU ScholarsArchive Citation Wesson, Karl E., "Dance in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints 1830-1940" (1975). Theses and Dissertations. 5205. https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd/5205

This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by BYU ScholarsArchive. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of BYU ScholarsArchive. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected]. DANCE IN THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER DAY SAINTS 1830 1940

A thesis presented to the department of recreation education brigham young university

in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree master of arts

by karl E wesson april 1975 this thesis by karl E wesson is accepted in its present form by the department of recreation education of brigham young university as satisfying the thesis require ment for the degree of master of arts

aw ev c 7w clark T thorstenson committee chairman

4 ja y almaialmalleatonAlmalalmaaima leatonheaton committee memdermemberM er

6 r 3 date williamwliilamwilwllliamilam J usatenfsatenafen dessartmentDeSSartar mentitmentfitment chairman

typed by mary louise seamons

ii acknowledgments

appreciation is extended to dr darkclarkmark T thorstenson chairman of the advisory committee and alma heaton member of the committee for their suggestions and support in the completion of this study deepest gratitude is expressed to the writers wife for encouragement and time so freely given throughout the entire study special thanks are given to mary bee jensen for the encouragement and consultation rendered the employees of the historical library of the church of jesus christ of latterlatterdayday saints salt lake city for their patience and countiescountlesscountiesscountlesies 3 contributions and donna M hogge for her contributions the costume drawings for this study were done by marilee campbell whose help was sincerely appreciated

idiiliiii0110.11 TABLE OF CONTENTS

page acknowledgmeniacknowledgmentacknowledgments11s 0 0 0 0 3 LIST OF FIGURES vi chapterchap ler 11 introduction 1 OTATEMNToTATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM 3 delimitationsLIMITATIONSDE 4 justification 4 definitions 5 2 REVIEW OF literature 8 PRIMITIVE DANCE 9

THE development OF DANCE IN AMERICA 11

3 PROCEDURE 0 & 0 0 0 0 0 0 Is 0 0 0 18

4 HISTORY OF MORMON DANCE 0 0 10 0 0 0 0 20 THE colonization PERIOD 184718851847188151847 188518815 36 transition PERIOD 188519201885 1920 44 organizational DANCE 192019401920 1940 52 otnerOTHER PPAMSPP AMS INVOLVING DANCE 62

DANCE FORMS AND MUSIC s 63

COSTUMING ANDAMD DANCE ATTIRE 78 contributionCONIRIBUTIT ON OF THE LDS CHURCCHURCHH 90 5 SUIMMARYSUMMARY conclusionsCONCLUS lonsIONS AND recommendatrecommendationsRECOMMENDAT lonsIONS 96

SUMMARY 0 0 & 0 0 0 a 0 0 96 iv page conclusions 97 recommendations 98 bibliography 0O 0 a 0 0 0 0 s 0 99 appendixes A discussion OF MORMON ATTITUDE TOWARD DANCE 105 B COLONEL THOMAS L KANES description OF A DANCE AT WINTER QUARTERS 1847 0 0 108 C SAMPLE BALL invitation SALT LAKE CITY 1851 illiliiii111 D EXAMPLES OF HOW DANCE INGRAINED ITSELF INTO MORMON CULTURE 0 0 113

E organizational RULES OF THE SOCIAL COMMITTEE 119

F LESSON ON PUBLIC DANCING 1918 124 G INLstructionsinstructions FOR DANCE DIRECTORS 1923 128 H definitions OF DANCE TERMS 131 VITA 135

v LIST OF FIGURES figure page 1 family tree of square dance 12 2 irish1rish washerwomanwa sherwoman 67 3 turkey in the straw 69 4 rye waltz 72

5.5 schottische 0 73 6 varsouvienne 76

7 womans costume 183018351830 1835 IV 10 Is is 1 41 0 0 16 9 79 8 womans costume 183518451835 1845 80 9 mans costume 183018351830 1835 82

10 mans costume 183518451835 1845 0 10 83 11 womans costume 184618691846 1869 84

12 womans costume 184618691846 1869 0 0 85 13 mans costume 184618691846 1869 87

14 mans costume 184618691846 1869 0 0 88 15 womans costume 186918711869 1871 91 16 womans costume 186918711869 1871 92 17 womans costume 186918711869 1871 93

VI chapter I1

introduction

over 1800 years ago a definition of dance was formulated by the greek writer lucian taken from his dialogues AD 162165162 165 dance is not one of the facile arts that can be pledppiedplodledlod without pains but reaches to the very summit of all cultures not only in music but also in physics and ethics then too all the rest are activities of the soul some of the body butinbut in dancing both are combined and there is a display of mind in the per- forformancemance as well as expression of bodily development and the most important part of it is the wisdom that controls the action and the fact that nothing is irrational 81201218120 121 hist-historicallyorlorioricallycallycaily dancing is the oldest of arts only architecture goes back as far into the history of man dancing is probably older than mans attempt to build a shelter for his family primitive tribes showed expertise in dance long before they built shelters 511 dancing was a fine art before it became a folk art it accrued to religious and ritualistic performances eforeaforebefore being utilized as a recreational art only recently in the history of mankind have all people been free to join in dancing 511351151 131 3 americas native dances are limited to those of the american indians however these dances do not repre- sent the true dance heritage of the majormajorityltyalty of north 1 2 americans we may share cherish borrow from and contribute to these native dances but in the realm of pure folk dance our real heritage leads to the early folk dances of europe we can trace our folk and country dances by following the travels of our european forebears in the american folk dance one finds patterns rhythms and steps which stem from england scotland ireland france italy germany russia greece and all those nations whose sons and daughters contributed to the development of a new world and a new nation withwathw1th these pioneers came the dances of their native landilandss in time mother tongues were forgotten old loyalties ffaded as a new loyalty to the adopted country grew but the dances lived sometimes under their old namenamess but more often under new american titles per 1 haphapsc0 too the movements changed slightly not so much in actual steps as in manner but that was inevitable for the dancers were also changing and inevitably re- flected in their movements the space speed vigor and rough lustiness of a new land 13371 with the dance contributions of many countries as well as her own contributions america has built a large repertoire of enjoyable social dances america was settled by people who broke away from the established european countries and religions the predominant religious thinkers during the puritan era held hethe view that to live religiously one must refrain from recreation and play activities including dance during the early nineteenth century the church of jesus christ of latterlatterdayday saints was organized in new york under the leadership of joseph smith jr this new church differed in its attitude toward recreation and play activities by fostering and encouraging them on most occasions joseph smith himself encouraged dancing with open 3 hospitality in his home in nauvoo soonsoongoon after the mansion house was completed weekly dancing parties were featured a few hundred young taking advantage of the opportunity ofoe the social pro- gramgeam sponsored by the church 3636123611212.121 2 in 1844 joseph smith was assassinated and brigham young became the new leader of the church A convert of twelvetwe ivelve years from mcuidonmendonaidonuldonuidon monroe county new york young had been serving as the president of the twelve apostles under niiac direction the saints left nauvoo in 1846 and began the trek westward across the great plains priorpr lor to their journey west brigham young recorded the following in the book of doctrine and covenants if thou art berryymerrymereymerryy praise the lord with singing with music with dancing and with a prayer of praise and thanksgiving 15255 this statementmightstatement might possibly be consconsideredrideredjidered the basis for mormon philosophy toward recreareccea liontionblonbion and dance

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

the purpose ofoe this study was to compile a history of dance in the church of jesus christ of latterlatterdayday saints

4.4fromeromrom 1830 to 1940 tlethe foa503fo3 J owing subproblems have been investigated 13 w3twatWJ at3t irasfrasas the history of dance in the church of jesus christ of latterlatherlatterdayday saints 2 whawhatat1t was the philosophy of dance in the LDS church 4 3 what were the dance forms music and attire in dance within the LDS church 4 what was the contribution of the LDS church towards the preservation of folk dances in america

delimitations

in this study the investigator pursued the history of dance within the LDS church prior to the dance programs of brigham young university therefore this study entailsentalls the period of time from 1830 to 1940 interviews books periodicals and other historical tools were utilized to determine this dance history the study was conducted during the winter semester of 1975 at brigham young university justification

dorothy shaw stated in her book the story of square dandanedanc ing no group did a better job of carrying the best of american culture across the continent than the Morcormonsmormonsmons and thetheyy hung onto it long and well 5114 the history of dance in the LDS church needed tc beDC adequately recorded no other study has included

the elements of dance 11formsorms clothing music and more importantly choreography as proposed in this study the need for a study including these elements has been approved and recognized by mary bee jensen of the international folk dancers of brigham young university in her proposal 5 for an american folk dance research and performance company she states

10 while the international folk dancers have given their countrymen and the international community an appreciation of the american folk dance form much remains to be done specifically too little is known about the dances of early america american regional folk dancing is rapidly becoming a lost art accomplished folk dance groups are rare these facts became obvious in 1964 when the BYU dancers began to put together at the request of the peopletopeoplepeople too people organization a program of american folk dancing for presentation in europes dance festivals problems were plentiful informationformationinformationormationmatlon about the dances of the delabardelawardelawaree valley region for example couldncouldntcouldenI1 t be had at any price what kind of costumes did the settlers of appalachia wear in performing the kentucky running sets no one knew 7 others to recognize this need were the members of the general board of the mutual improvedimprovemimprovementmt association of

81 ff the LDS church Enthusiastenthusiastienthusiastsenthusiastici approval Is 0 of this studastudvstudy was given 70 since little was known of dances of early america much research was necessary thus the timeliness and significance of this study were emphasized

definitions

america in this study refrefersers to the united states

ballroomjllj011dancindancincfcf modern dances like waltz foxtrot tango cha cha etc

bowenbower A sideless boughcoveredbough covered shelter supported by posts 6 BYU brigham young university

explorers A group of young men between the ages of 14 and 16

fine art skill in performance acquired by experience study or observation limited participants used on special occasion only

folk art experience not needed to participate an art of the people and used by the people used at any time any where

F olkfolkfoik dancedalidallce dances created by a people without the influence of any choreographer

general board top organization in the mutual improvement association

general authoritiesauthoridiesijies the top leaders of the LDS church

cleanersGleagleanersners groups of young women that are college age

elghhighhlgh council A group of men that help govern the LDS church

juniors A group of young women between the ages of 14 and 16

LDS church the church when capitalized refers 7 to the church of jesus christ of latterlatterdayday saints

MIA mutual improvement association is the youth organization of the LDS church

M men groups of young men that are college age

Mormormoncormonsmormonsmons nickname for the members of the church of jesus christ of latterlatterdayday saints

Priestriesthoodpriesthoodpriesthoodhood the authority to act in the name of god

round dances As used in this study where one couple dances around the room together in a closed position

saints nickname used by members of the LDS church in reference to themselves

social dance in this study recreational dance

squarS ree dance As the name implies it is a dance done in a square form

the retrenchmentrtrenatren chmentcament associationA this association later became the MMIAIA

YMMIA young mens mutual improvement association

YWMIAY WMI A young womenwomens s mutual improvement association

zion the ideal nation or society I1 utopia chapter II11

REVIEW OF RELATED literature

in this chapter a review of some of the related literature was presented including historical literary material what is dance why does it continueconticcontijauenue to have such a strong appeal on all levels for both ssectatorspectatorPectator and par- ticipant what essentially is the meaning and purpose of dance in human life one could respond in several ways first in etymological terms second historically third through the eyes of the philosopher or psychologist or fourth as the dancer himself all four of these viewpoints will help to formulate a definition the english word dance according to lincoln kirstein is related to the french danse which was derived from the ancient high german danson meaning to stretch or drag each of these terms along with other european variants such as dandsbandsmands danca danza ana tanz are based on the rootcombinationroot combination of letters tan found in the original sanskrit meaning tension or stretching 341 it is therefore apparent that the idea of tension has been linked with dance since the beginning of western culture 8 9 at thelneuneunteunto limetimebime wrhenwehen danc-danee was becoming increasingly populaipopularpaptilar jyiiliillayiin the coicol0003i tsIs oiof europe numerous definitions

fc S 03 conceconceptsptsapts 1tichsachsuchjacbI tic ahas elegance1 giacegrace and beauty one

L 3 1 r 17721.772 0 ulloalhoulhoULIO i tycy 0 aoijoljoijohrjohn keaverwealzcweaverweavorr wrote in1n 772 dance is an elegant and regular movement har- moniously composed of beautiful attitudes and con- trasted graceful posture of the body and parts there- 1 0off 133253 0 12 5 jean georges noverre in 1760 described dance in ji ss3saiiimiti I1 irir toneeoneone s dancing according to the accepted definition of thechecho vordword is the art of composing steps with grace precision and facility of the time and bars given in kilekliethet hele usicmusicrr just as music itself is simply the art of combining sounds and modulations so that they afford pleasure tofcobho the ear 1312513125131.25 these definitions were based on the types of lancesdances common in 18th century europe

PRIMITIVE DANCE

one f imedfamedaimed hjlstorihistorian an of dance gastongas ton vuillier tiadefiade lticc velyvelryveary acirlcir thatbhatl only the common european forms could be regarded as dance ililiiillilalialin his conclusions the more pI1 imitivelimitiveimi tive cuilcullcultculturelireureuceks could liotriotilotnot have been acquainted with i10e articlticarfciltic m ig t pr 7 of dance

olkeoikek ikejike poetry andalidaridarld music to which it is closely lleliea the choreographic art was probably unknownild to tetilethlethee earlerearlier ages of humanity savage man waandringandnd rringningi if3ifa rt forests y devouring the quivering flesh oiof his s canan have known nothing of those rhythmic postlposturesiresiiwhwhiciwnicrwhickici reflect sweet and caressing sensations ennuiejytitcit ely alleralieralienailenalben vo3 hishilship moods the nearest approach to such must hahaehaveve beenjeendeen4eenjeen the leaps and boboundsandsunds the inco- herent gesturesgestgesturesyuresy by which he expressed the joys and furies of his brutal life 64ix64six64 tixsixix 10 nevertheless a true historian of dance must recognize that prehlprehistoricstoric man did dance it was a highly intricate partpalepaiet of his life and the ancestor of dance as we know it today sheldon cheney the distinguished historian of drama points out the significance of dance as an ancient form of primitive artistic expression man dances after the activities that secure to primitive peoples the material necessities food and shelter the dance comes first it is the earliest outletoilgun tlettietalet for emotion and the beginning of the arts not only did drama as suchthesuch the art of which action is a pivotalmapivopivotaltalmaterialaerialmaterial arise out of primitive dance 0 & music too which can hardly be disassociated from the theatres beginnings traces its ancestry to the sounds made to accentuate the primitive dance rhythm the stamping of feet and clapping of hands the shaking of rattles the beating of drums and sticks dance then is the great mother of the arts 121112121112.111212 within the past and present cultures dance has been a major form of social expression and religious ritual a utilitarian and omnipresent art pearl primus the american negro dancer who studied thithetherancethedancedance of africa extensively writes with the trained eye of an anthropol- ogist the role of the professional dancer was of tremendous importance in africa he was necessary to all ceremonies all feasts all occasions which involved the health and wellbeingwell being 0off the tribe in return for his services the tribe fed and clothed him and provided for him in his every need he was left free to dance Is it any wonder then that dance stands with music and art at the very top of the list of cultural contributions of the african to the world 48256 why was dance so important to primitive societies what function did it serve to them 11 dance was used as a means of worshipwoishiprship as a way of expressing ol01or reinforcingLeinforcing tribal unity and strength as a fframeworkramework fforor courtship or matingmating as a means of communication and as a therapeutic or healing experience itI1 is likely that the use of dance as a means of aesthetic expression would rarely be found among primitive peoples rather than from the audience for such a performance they dance themselves nor was dance viewed as a means of recreation after labor the life of primitive man does not make a clear distinction between work and rest and rituals and play- like experience are thoroughly integrated with the productive work of the society 35163516 how did the dancing among primitive peoples begin douglas kennedy suggests that the religious aspects of dance had as their purpose communication with the unseen forces which provided food promoted fertility regulated the weather gave good fortune in warfareandwarfare and thus co- ntrolled tribal welfare and human survival man danced originally to supplicate the gods on all important occasions of life 3316 kennedy writes As the faith behind such primitive religious impulses weakens the dances which express it are not immediately abandoned but they gradually change their character the form of the ritual remains but some of the magical content departs the dancer becomes lesieslessc and less of a medicinemakermedicine maker and more and more a performing artist in fact the ritual changes impe- rceptibly into art it was in some such manner that the folk dances in different parts of europe grew out of old pagan rites as the pagans themselves were con- verted to clrclechrcliristianity1stianity and gradually lost their primi- titiveW beliefs 3331323331 32

THE development OF DANCE IN AMERICA

dorothy shaw prepared a study of the family tree of american square dance this chart helps one to under- stand the ancestry of this and other dance forms in america 12 basically american folkfoik dance has two great ancestors the strong boldboid style of the english and the subtle nuances of the french dance in america has embodied both of these and from their example created a rich and diver sifsifiedsiftedled style of her own

genealogical chartcharnchann 1450 the present the ancestry of american square dancing from the greens and fields of england from the royal ballrooms of france the morris dance maypolemay pole dances ballroom dance of the french aristocracy ottisTscottishscottistScscottiste stepsstept pluspius spanish church dances the english country dance european folkfoik dances scotchscotjh reelsreeis longways dance court balletbailet irish jigs 11 circular choralchorai contredanseContredanse the minuet a square for eight plus german landlerlandier polish polka round for eight the quadrille austrian waltz round for As many 7 boundmound cotil ionlon r1raAs will polka quadrille T I1 mescolanzeMescolanze jaballadbaliad dance waltzwaitz quadrille

progressive squaresres mazurka quadrille j the great QuadrillequadrillesquadrilleaA W I1 dances of mexican court singing quadrilles and old california new appalachian mountain dance england country dance A FB big set 1 1 quadrille 1 1 contra contra circlecircie mixers circlecircie mixers r running set play party play party western square dance eastern square dance todays square dance

figure 1 family tree of square dance 112 13 america was settled by people who broke away from many various countries and religions throughout europe walter terry states this as the reason why in american folk dance one can find patterns rhythms and steps which stem from almost every place in europe 13371132371 the settlers of new england the datlanticmidatlanticmidmid atlantic colonies and the coastal regions of the south were all europeans and they brought with them many attitudes and customs from their homelandshomelands there was a constant flow of traffic back and forth columnists journalists per- formers and publications utheithe new world made life very different distance and the danger of the ocean journey tended to reduce com- municationmunication and prevented vogues in the arts from being recognized as rapidly in america as theywerethey were throughout europe the north american continent was an untamed and difficult homeland survival was the primary concerconcernng r one had to plant crops cut down forests clear fields build shelters and protect oneself against the changeable weather hunger disease and indians who surrounded the colonies in such a situation itwasetwasit was difficult to justify arsementsar sements and public entertainment on the other hand there was no royalty to view dance theater or other arts as a means orof amusing themselves or enhancing their pres- tige during the seventeenth century there was widespread condemnation of idleness and casual amusements dulles 14 points ououtt that in puritan new england where the stern rule of calvinism prevailed tl the tradition was that life should be wholly devoted to work there was no place for amusements in such a society 205 thithez puritans came to the new world to set up a society based on the calvinistic interpretation of the bible they believed they were a chosen people the early government of massachusetts was a theocracy funded by puritan ministers who believed that the bible was the disclosed word of god its meaning and intention on every subject had been made plain and explicit to them through their training but not all colonists in new england were puritans others resisted the puritan domi- nance but these few were often punished or banished typically massachusetts and connecticut remained a strict and pious puritan stronghold dice cards quoits bowls ninepins or any other unlawful game in house yard garden or backside 206 were banned the theater was completely prohibited in a number of colonies the methodist episcopal church prohibited plapiaplayy iin the strong- est terms 36136 1 2 and connecticut served fifteen lashes on the bare back of anyone foolish enough to set up and practice common plays interludes or other crafty science 206 just as there were ordinances against gambling drama and certain forms of music so there were laws against dancing in particular the early puritans 15 forbade mixed dancing between men and women dancing in taverns maypole dancing which they saw as an expression of paganism or dancing accompanied by feasting and drinking f 3918 in 1684 a group of puritan ministers in boston is- sued a tract against the evil of dancing entitled an arrow against profane and promiscuous Dancdancinginge drawn out of the quiver of the scriptures 2930 they condemned hixtmixt or promiscuous dancing 3920 but indicated that dance could be a means of teaching due boysepoyse and composure of body 3920 if a parent wished to have his children learn to dance he should send them to a grave person who will teach them decency of behavior and each sex by themselves 3021 in the late seventeenth century dancing masters appeared in new england towns and peoplepeoples of reknownbeknown began to host balls the ministers themselves sanctioned dancing schools provided that they were conducted properly while the country dances allowed both men and women to dance together in sets or formations they did not involve couple dancing since the schools taught good manners and vere desired by thekhe more influential community leaders ththeyy were accepted by the evangelists as wellweliwelli in other colonies attitudes were less restrictive than in new england in new amsterdam the dutch settlers traditionally danced on special holiday occasions dancing was also encouraged at public agricultural fairs

furtheburthefurther1 to the south members of the ruling class 16 in virginia had much closer ties with england and were of a higher social class than the new england puritans they had both wealth and leisure because of the nature of the land they settled with its large plantations worked by indentured servants or slaves thus southerners were more inclined toward aristocratic forms of amusementandamusement and able to indulge their inclinations from the late eighteenth to the early nineteenth centuries theaters were built throughout the east the leading centers of drama and dance were new york and phila- delphia throughout the country an increasing number of balls and assemblies were held particularly in the larger cities it is probable that the colonists performed country dances jigs and cotillions populapopularpopula33 during this period and others such as the traditional minuet cou- rante galliard rigadoon and gavotte these later dances were similar to those found in the english court dancing especially in the southern colonies had gradually become a part of the varied and colorful colonial social lifeilfelife1lifee history tells us that george washington and thomas jefferson were doitbuttbothdothh known as enthusiastic dancers who fre- ququentlyintlyantly attended dances and the theater washington irving in his book life of george waswashingtonhin on told how the young ladies of maryland rode to the assembly at annapolis in scarlet ridinghabitsriding habits thrown over their satin ball dresses kerchiefs drawn about the great masses of their puffed and pomaded hair and after dancing through 17 the night rode home again in the shadowy dawn 2057 the young john quincy adams in newburyport describes going to a dancing hall with his friends during the 1780s1780 and dancing continually from seven pm to three or four in the morning by the time of the american revolution dance as a recreation was popular in the colonies the predominant attitude toward dance however among religiousthinkingreligious thinking people of a puritan origin remained the same to live anelsonelsones rdligionreligion one must refrain from recreational and play activities including dance it was amidst these nineteenth century influences that the church of jesus christ of latterlatterdayday saints was organized under the leadership of joseph smith jr in fayette county new york aprapriliai1 616 1830 chapter iliIII111

PROCEDURE

the purpose of this study was to compile a history of dance in the church of jesus christ of latter day saints from 1830 to 1940 the following subproblemssub problems were investigated 1 what was the history of dance in the church of jesus christ of latterlatterdayday saints 2 what was the philosophy of dance in the LDS church 3 what were the sources and usage of dance forms music and attire in dance within the LDS church 4 what was the contribution of the LLDSDS church towardsthetowards the preservation of folk dances in america the following comprise the burcesourcessourcess of information used for this study 1 documents 2 newspapers and magazines 3 books and publications

4 photographs and pictures 5 LDS official reports 6 LDS books and publications 7 interviews these sources came from two main libraries which 18 19 are the LDS church historians library located in salt lake city utah and the brigham young university library located in provo utah it was believed that the library technique which involved researching documents reports and historical records would produce the vital data and primary sources pertinent to this study and additional valuable ormationformationinfinformationormationmatlon the material gathered was arranged in chronological order pertinent data were presented and discussed in an orderly sequence and catalogued according to major areas of concern as ffollows 1 historical 2 choreography 3 music 4 costuming chapter IV

HISTORY OF MORMON DANCE

the religious heritage of young america was as important in the development of nineteenthnineteenthcenturycentury ideas for the betterment of man as were the liberties so recently won during the revolutionary war with great britain it had long been contended by protestant ministers that the dis- covery and colonization of north america were providential events 5911 it was amidst this influence that the mormon church was organized under the leadership of joseph smith at fayette county new york in 1830 from that date the church grew rapidly but because of the conflict with out- siders the mormons began migrating westward the saints were obliged to make great sacrifices of their property many sold their large and small productive farms for little or no campencompencompensationsationbation the first settlement was in the northeastern part of ohio called the western reserve it extended one hundred twenty miles and covered over three million six hundred thousand acres when the church moved to ohio in 1831 its members settled in a village within this strip of land called kirtland two references were found which related to dance 20 21 in the mormon church while the saints lived in kirtland the ffirst was taken from the diary of helen mar kimball quoting brigham young in january 1845 the traditions of our forefathers which we all inherited a portion of were such that dancing was once thought among the unpardonable sins in the early days of kirtland I1 remember that the ones guilty of indulging in so gross a sin as dancing were considered worthy of being disfellowshipdisfellowshippedped they like tltietlethee sects of the day had received their training from the old school where to sing a song or to laugh or run upon the sabbath day was too much for the san- ctity of those who believed in burning men women and children as witches etc 40224 the second reference is taken from the minutes of a kirtland high council meeting on sunday october 22 1837 the church in kirtland disfellowshipdisfellowshippedped twentytwotwenty two brethbrethrenren and sisters until they make satisfaction for uniting with the world in a dance the thursday previous 50519 it was evident that dancing was a part of the culture of ohio however at first the mormon church leaders apparently did not encourage this form of recreation during those days when the church was struggling for existence many lacked understanding relative to spiritual manifestations it seemed that joseph smith was the only one who could hold the church together among the scores of apostates that troubled the saints in kirtl- and was a man by the name of leman copley copley owned most of the landlarid settled by the lesvillecolesvilleCo branch upon his excommunication he demanded that the church move off his land immediately because of this incident joseph 22 smith prayed to the lord for guidance and received a revelation that the saints should move to missouri 44tl82182 the township of independence Jcicksonjackson count-countyy missouri was appointed as the place of settlement by the prophet joseph smith independence in 1831 was a small frontier town the outfitting place for trappers and hunt- ers and a rendezvous for many rough characters of the west thatr type of settler presented a sharp contrast to

the nevNLNLVV england people who were now searching for a new zion in that land the old settlers were generally un- schooled and ignorant of the ways of a more advanced civi- lizalizationtion jackson county was in the northwest corner of the state and extended along the south bank of the missouri river for a distance of about forty miles available records do not include any reference to dance or any other form of recreation it is only to be assumed that the struggles of the mormons in homesteading the new land of missouri left no time for any recreation from every human appearance in the fall of 1837 the church was rapidly approaching dissolution apostasy had rocked the organization to the very center even some of its great leaders had left the fold it was inevitable that persecution would follow all the old causes of disquiet were then intensified by numbers especially in missouri many counties would not allow the mormon seset-t tlers and they were overflowing jackson county into all of northwestern missouri in a few years they might 23 conceivablyconceivabl v dominate the state even the finest citizens became alarmed and in that alarm all the wild and lawless elements of the frontier found an opportunity to plunder and ravage the renewed persecution began at gallatin davies county it was election day august 6 1838 A group of mormon men appeared at the polls to vote A much larger group led by colonel william P peniston a candidate for the state legislature sought to prepreventvent them from casting theirballotstheir ballots A bitter fight ensued in which some heads were cracked the saints gained the upper hand and penis tons men withdrew to take up arms this was the beginning of the end for the saints in missouri 4379 it was in january 1839 that the mormons became satisfied that they could expect no justice at the hands of the mismlsmissourisouri legislature there was but one course now open for the Morcormonsmormonsmons and that was to make their escape with the utmost expedition 50248- 249 led by elders young and kimball who had been delegated by the prophet joseph smith from his priprisonI1 son cell in liberty to manage church affairs in his absence twelve to fifteen thousand saints homeless and poverty stricken left for illinois during the winter and early spring of 1838 and 1839 they had witnessed one of the most flour- ishing counties in missouri reduced to desolation by plun- dering mobs and themselves left to the mercy of murderers and robbers thepheI1 mormon exiles fled toward quincy adams county 24 illinois the largest town on the upper mississippi located approximately one hundred fifty miles east of farpar west missouri the quincy citizens received the saints kindly and the democratic association of the state resolved that the strangers recently arrived here from the state of missouri known by the name of the latter day saints are entitled to our sympathy and kindest regard and that we recommend to the citizens of quincy to extend all the kindness in their power to bestow on the persons who are in affliction 55268 these cordial sympathetic feelings extending throughout the state were demonstrated especially well by its leading citizens and can be attributed not only to their indignation at the disgraceful treatment the saints received in missouri but also to their desire for new settlers to help keep the state from bankruptcy when the saints arrived in illinois in 1839 the state was eleven million dollars in debt and the greatest hope for freeing the state from public bankruptcy and private ruin was to have a continued influx of new settlers one estraderesteaderhomesteaderhomesteader envisioned illinois as destined to be a great state great in her p- olitical and moral influence as well as in her physical re- sources it is to be made thus through foreign influence the influence of immigration 81201218120 121 on may 1 1839 the prophet joseph smith and his committee purchased one hundred thirtyfivethirty five acres of swampland fromfrontfroni hugh white for five thousand dollars and fortysevenforty seven acres of improved land from galland for nine thousand dollars this was the first land purchase in commerce illinois 25 it was little short of miraculous that a group of impoverished exiles drained a wooded malarial swamp and built wide streets crossing at right angles lined with homes of stone and brick even with the uneven and slop- ing surface at the big bend in the river straight streets stretched in every direction from the swamps of commerce rose the city beautiful called nauvoo by the prophet it was destined to be a great metropolis in illinois the preplannedpre planned city nauvoo became an area of interest to many along with other thithlthingsngs recreation was encouraged and dancing became a desirable part of the life of the saints in illinois here at least the people found time and energy for festivities and leaders began to favor and participate with the saints in dancing nauvoo became a social center it was easily accessible to settlements up and down the river and great celebrations held on the fourth of july and other holidays attracted people for many miles excursion boats from warsaw and even from st louis were cormoncommoncogmon the vessels docking at nauvoo amidst much laughter and gaietygayety dances were held on such occasions usually lasting until the early hours of the following morning the beauty of the city and the hospitality of its people became known far and wide 5160 individuals of the city frequently opened their hors to dancing and entertainment joseph smith was among thethekthem first to do so by opening the mansion house to many people for a nights lodging or a place of enter- taintainmentment soon after the mansion house was completed weekly dancadanc3dancingng parties were featured a few hundred young couples taking advantage of the opportunity of the 26 social program sponsored by the church 40160 on christmas day 1843 joseph smith recorded these lines in his diary 2 A large party supped at my house and spent the evening in music dancing etc in a most cheerful and friendly manner 4015916040159 160 the most outstanding building of the city was the temple built as a center for mormon rites and worship for a short time before the completion of the temple the saints enjoyed social activity as well as worship services there so grateful were the saints to have the temple opened for them that their thanksgiving was expressed in music and dancing at the close of the devotional activities of the day 0 one day a hundred or more couples might spend the day in ththe temple remaining far into thetheinightthe1nightinight to participate in the recreational program which was conducted at the close of the days worship 402930402930.4029304029 30 cecil mcgavin describes the celebrations held in the nauvoo templaintempleintempletempieTempleinin his book the mormon pioneers the labors of the day in the nauvoo temple having been brought to a close at 830 it was thought proper to have a little season of recreation accordingly hans C hanson was invited to produce his violin which he did and played several lively airs accompanied by elisha everett ochisonhison his flute among others some very good lively dancing tunes this was too much for the gravity of brother joseph young who indulged in dancing a hornpipe andarldarid soon joinedjoalned by several others and before the dance was over several french fours were indulged in the first was opened by president brigham young and sister whitney and elder heber C kimball and partner the spirit of dancing increased until the wholewhoiewholes floor was covered with dancers 4029304029 30 this activity did not become a permanent practice however before the saints left nauvoo presipreslpresidentI1 dentdentbrighambrigham young advised that the dance and merriment in the temple 27 should cease lest they be carried away by the spirit of levity 4030 and forget to worship and honor god when the mormons provided for dancing in their com- munitiesmuni ties at a time when other religious institutions and the state frowned upon such action one would be apt to assume that they were a carefree bold and liberal people this is not entirely so in spite of the current superstitions surrounding dance the mormons sponsored and encouraged it as an athletic exercise they also referred to ancient scripture where it is evidenced that dance was a part of worship and religious celebrations for these reasons the saints favored dancing but also concurred with certain re- strictstrictionsions established by church leaders dance was designed to glorify and praise god an editorial in the nauvoo times and seasonseasonss 1844 appendix A discusses this mormon attitude toward dance andtheand the mostbasicmost basic limitation that there is a time to dance but that time is not at e- leven or twelve oclock at night nor at one two three or four oclock in the morning 40160 on june 27 184411844 joseph smith was assassinated a- long with his brother hyrum by a mob of missourians while tibtiv y were being held in carthage jail brigham young became the new leader of the church young had been serving as president of the twelve apostles under his direction the saints prepared for the trek westward across the great plains brigham young was confronted with many problemproblemss concerning the mormon mass migration and colonization 28

in theL he october 1844 issue of the times and seasons brigham young warned the saints not to mingle in the vain amusements and sins of the world they had much work to do instead

D D and so far at least as the luembersmembers of the church area e concerned we would advise that balls dances and other vain and useless amusements be neither countenanced nor patronized they have been borne with in some instances heretofore for the sake of peace and good will but it is not now a time for dancing or frolics but a time of mourning ar of humiliation and prayer andaridarld to have music feasting and merriment all amusement in which saints and sinners are mingled tends to corruption and has a baneful influence in religious society 6066867060668 670 in february of 1846 three years after the martyrd- om of joseph smith the saints left nauvoo and began their trek westward after crossing the frozen mississippi river they camped at sugar creek for about a month these winter days were filled with preparations for their early spring journey westward many evenings were spent in relaxation and entertainment after the days labors it was not uncommon to find that dance was a frequent pastime tullidge records how dance augmented the evenings activities by the following thus inin the song and the dance the saints praised bhekhe lord when the night was fine and supper which consisted of the most primitive fare was over some of the men would clear away the snow while others boboree large logs to the camp fires in antici- pation of litrthelatr jubilee of the evening soon in a sheltered place the blazing fire would roar and fifty couplescouplesl old and young would join in the merriest spirit to the music of the band or the rival revelry of the solitary fiddle As they jour- neyed along too strangers constantly visited their camps and ctcreatc reat was the wonderment to see the order 29 unity and good feeling that prevailed in the midst of the people by the camp fires they would linger listening to the music and song and they fain had taken part in the merriment had not those scenes been as sacred worship in the exodus of a godfearinggod fearing people the hymn and the prayer were never forgotten at the close of the dance but the dance and the song kept the momonmormon pilgrims cheerful and healthy in mind 6216249249 william pitts brass band camped with the first company of pioneers at sugar creek on this occasion and for many years following they served as an encouragement and enlightenment to the saints during their first encampment the nights were filfilledwithfilled with music and entertainment the band playedledwithevery evening pausing for solo numbers on the violin flute dotherandotheranand other instruments in the light of the burning logs french fours would form a cotillion and dance until bedtime it was impossible to keep warm without exercise so old and young alike made merry in the dance many of the young couples learning the danish waltz quadrilles or the popular round dances in the ampitheatreampitheatre of snow 4051 the people from settlements near sugar creek would gather to witness the mormons evening festivities they were favorably impressed and often invited the mormons to entertainatentertain at lovaniovanlowaniowan community activities admission was charged and all receipts were given to the Morcormonsmormonsmons in march of 1846 the saints moved westward in organized groups ffromrom sugar creek As they trudged through the wilderness they often sang songs governor ford of iowa made the following statement the more polished portion of mormons were a merry set of fellows fond of music and dancing dress and gay assembliesassemblyassembl fes they had their regular dancing parties of gentlemen and ladies and were by no means exclusive 30 in admittingadmit lingcing anyone to them 4057 the Mormomormorismormojisjis progressed slowly atnt times they would stop just long enough to make a semipermanentsemi permanent settlement and raise some food then they travelled on by june they had reached the missouri river here they stopped once again for food and also built a ferry to cross the river at council bluffs they completed final enrollment for the united states governments request for volunteers in the war against mexico on the afternoon before the departure of the volunteers a dance was held instead of a sentimental gathering the saints organized a farewell ball A festive arbor of brush was constructed and the people gathered underneath to participate in a large variety of dances colonel thomas L kane was present at the time and described the event appendix B realizing they could not reach their destination before winter the saints crossed the missouri river and set up permanent camp they named the place winter quarters A few days after the new settlement was founded across the missouri the pioneers celebrated by dancing and sinsingingg nung4 A large bowery was erected in the camp providing such cool refreshing shade that the dancing commenced at noon on a hot july day young and old made merry in the dance until evening when they retired for dinner after which the band called them back into the bowery where they danced until ten oclock at ightnightri 40139 while staying at winter quarters on the west bank of the missouri river near council bluffs iowa the prophet brigham young received a revelation from the lord 31 concerning the saints and their stay at winter quarters the revelation is recorded in the book of doctrine and covenants section 136 within this revelation was given the following statement if thou art merry praise the lord with singing with music with dancing and with a prayer of praise and thanksgiving 15255 this statement might possibly be considered the basis for the mormon philosophy of recreation at another time brigham young said this in reference to dancing I1 want it distinctly understood that fiddling and dancing are no part of our worship thethequestionquestion may be asked what are they for then I1 answer that my body may keep pace with my mind my mind labors like a man logging all the time and this is the reason I1 am fond of these pastimes they give me the privilege to throw everything off forthawhile and shake myself thattythatmythat my body may exercise and my mind rest what for to get strength and be renewed and quickened and enlivened and animated so that my mind will not wear out 41950 describing the festive spirit of the mormons at winter quarters helen mar whitney wrote we could furnish our own music and we oftenoften danced by the ightlight1 of the moon which was then shining upon us in its glory like a bright candelierhandelierhanzhanjhandelierjhandelierdeller 01394071390 139 at the first public dance in winter quarters the celebration hosted a cotillion band riding through town in a carriage president young had invited several outside guests andaridarld wished to show them that the saints could participate in 1 nce without becoming wicked foolish vain and giddy 4040sj58158 and so they gathered to praise the 32 lord through dance after prayer and a few opening remarks the dance began during the winter months hiram gates conducted a dancing school for four hundred students classes were held most of the day and included instructions in the everpopularever popular square dance as well as the latest new dance steps sometimes dancing parties were sponsored by the bishops on behalf of the poor admission was charged by collecting parcels of food from the participants and re- distributing them to the needy in november 1846 the church began to organize their recreational activities dance was becoming a large part of the festivities and it was necessary to organize a special committee to handle such events A recreation committee was first established to draw up regulations governing amusements communicantsexcommunicantsEx were prohibited from joining in churchchurchsponsoredsponsored activities and similar restrictions were placed on those who abused theair privileges by violating the recreational rules the list of regulations included the following 1 persons in good standing in the church could participate freely in any activities as well as their respectable nonmembernon member friends 2 if a person had malice or evilev 1.1 in his heart he was not to join in dance until such matters had been attended to 33 3 all dances were to be presided over by a church authority 4 participants were to freely give tithes and offerings to the poor that all members might have cause to rejoice 5 those persons engaging in dances not under church jurisdiction were in danger of excommunication on april 5 1847 the mormons began moving west again toward the mountains As the pioneers were crossing the plapiaplainsins the sadness and dreariness of their condition was dispelled by their great faith and perhaps by the various forms of amusements introduced by their leaders clarissa young spencerspencer a daughter of brigham young told of how her father looked after the morale and social welfare of his people by encouraging evening recreation one of fathers most outstanding qualifications as a leader was the manner in which he looked after the morale and social welfare of his people along with guiding them in their spiritual needs on the great treltrektrep across the plains when everyone but the most feeble walked a great part of the way the saints would be gathered around the campfire for evening entertainment if the weather was at all favorable then songs would be sung music played by the fiddlersfiddfiddlerylers and the men and women would forget the weariness of wadingwalkingwaiking fifteenfiftzfietz c 1 n miles or so over the trackless desert while they joined in dancing the quadrille was his way of keeping up morale before such a worditwas ever coined 58162 the festive spirit of dance remained the same for the saints butdotdutthe conditions and surroundings for recreation were limited by their travels no faifalfacyscy balls these but the joyous mingling10 of sturdy yeoyeomanrybanryuanry the happy reunion of christ made 34

Litliw brothers and sisters 9 in the inocentinnocent pastime of the dance llliancebrilliancebrallianceLl liance and elegance were perhaps wanting dress suits andanilantlanti evening gowns were unknown but modesty sweetness good cheer were there and for a little whittwhileI1 at least these exexilesI1iesles were able to shake off the worrying cares of life 41949 recreation however was not so allallimportantimportant that itlt was freed from restrictions the saints were always instructed by their leaders to keep the sabbath day holy they wereweme to abstain from fishing hunting and all forms of leierlerlev ty and there was to be no music dancing or light mindedness on sunday these amusements could help bright- en up other days but they were not to interfere with worship and rest on the sabbath on most weekday evenings everyone was ready for fun and many an hour was spent in dancing mr rice describes a danceatdanceardance at the end of a days activity one thousand miles from civilizationC 4 the quadrilles the reels of long ago danced with many an enthusiastic fling are started out on the bare ground with the clear sky overhead and the friendly glow of the campfire all about the dancers enter into the spirit of it as only mormon dancers can the young the middle aged even the old all catch the contagion of it the fiddler plays with might and main the caller shouts until he is hoarse the dust rises in a cloud from the parched ground but still they dance AP961629 616261 62 on july 24 1847 after a matchless journey across the great plains and rocky mountains the main body of the mormol s led by brighamB ighani young passed through the wasatch mountain gorge into migrationimmigrationemmigrationeimnigrationEm canyon here at last ri residentriresident young declared this is the place 5260 to the mormons this was the day of all daysdaysybaysy a day 35 which commemorated the turning point in their history this was the placeplaca where a banished and afflicted people could rest ffromrom persecutions build a permanent home and worship god as they chose upon arriving in the salt lake valley the settlers primary concern was to prepare for the coming winter the following year the saints made increased efforts to provide not only for themselves but also for the new members coming from iropedroperope and the eastern united states the first groups arrived in covered wagons but by 1856 in order to cut down the expense of the journey handcarts were used as well as covered wagons according to kate carter the handcart companies often enjoyed song and dance during their travels the following is one of her examples and thus thiss company of godlovinggod loving people turned their faces towardthithl the west ononon on they pushed foot sore and wearygladweary gladgiad when the shades of evening announced the well earned rest when evening came carts were drawn together their scanty meal partaken of and an evening of song and sometimes dancing ensued 0 98283982 83 another description by carter gives an interesting account of the arrival of the first and second handcart companiesompanie0s into the salt lake valletonvaiValvalleyvaileyleyonvalleyonon september 26 1856 upon their arrival in the valley they were met by president young hebeheberr C kimball and a party of people who had come to welcome them to the valley these people were accompanied by captain pitts brass band and a company of lancers under the direction of colonel clawsonCJ awson the two companies were escorted to the city and the people turned out lengenen masselmasse to greet them 973 74 thus the mormon population in the west continued

f 36 to grow as new saints made the trek acrosstheacross the plains with themi they brctightbrought many forms of recreation which helped to divert their attention from thebhebliebile struggles of daily life many pioneers arrived in the salt lake valley singing and dancing in expression of their joy and gratitude to the lord

THE colonization PERIOD 184718851847 1885

the mountain valleys newly inherited by the mor mons turned out to be largely desert the struggle for cultivation and civilization seemed doubly hard isolated from thethem rest of the world the people were forced to provide for themselves under these conditions dance continued to be a favorite relaxationrelaxationalal actieactivactivityity not only because of the physiological value but because it rested and enlightened their spirits gave them a chance to visit with friends and helped to make the future look brighter from salt lake city colonization branched out in all directions with it went dance and recreation just as it had come vithwith meune saints across the plains levi edgar ycangacangyc ang pointed out a parallelism between dance on the plains and dance during the colonization period the pioneers crossed the plains to the tune of a brass band music and the dance played a conspicuous part in the amusements of the people while on the plains and whenever a settlement was made in any re- mote part of utah the people naturally did something to relieve the strain of their hard work in the fields and on the roads there were no drones in the pioneer 37 camps everybody worked and in turn cooperated in creating some kind of amusement for all many kinds of recreation diverted their minds from the daily routine and thus their cares were dulled and momentarily forgotten the favorite form of amusement was dancing even around the campfirescamp fires on the plains the people gathered for their dances and to the tune of the violin or accordion and the organ they danced the quadrille and minuet when colonizers went out from salt lake city to build a settlement on a stream some kind of musical instrument was as a rule carried along and when the first camp was made at a place to be permanently located the people danced and praised god in song 69328 in the history of mormon settlements it is not uncommon to find the practice of building structures which could be used for community church school and also social events these buildings the meetinghouse or schoolhouse served just as often for dances and entertainment as for worship and study statements from some historical sketches indicate this practice 1firbirstfairstpirstst school in long vallevalievailevalleyvailey2yay the first school iinn I1ufcalufnalJE caicahF was openedpenesoonpene soon after tthelealarrivalival of the pioneers and was held in an old military tent shaped like an indian wigwam likewise the muddy pioneers who entered this valley in march 1871 started that same year to build a school house at mt carmel which also served for meeting house social gatherings and dances 10121 wasatch countzcountycou ty A townsite was surveyed as soon as possible and they began building log cabins to prepare for the i4via nteranter these cabins were built in a fort shape to protect the settlers from possible indian attacks in the center of the fort a meeting house was built which also served as a church school house dance hall and theater 274 enitlifieldseitlsmitl ifield the pioneers had recreation and fun as well as work and trouble the women had gatherings to go pick service berries which they dried for winter ruitfruitf and there were woolpickingwool picking socials also perhaps aleateheile best of all were the cotillion parties held in the meetinghouse where the good old square dances were enjoyed for several hours sometimes until morning 232823 28 38 As populationpopu atlon became more centralized special buildings were erected for entertainment naturally salt

lake city the center for incoming saints3 and the church was the first to build such a place during their first year in the salt lake valley 184718481847184811847 184811848 the mormons built a place for social gatherings entitled the old bowery it was constructed of posts slabs and green boughs in 1850 a new amusement resort the bath house was built near a warm springs north of salt lake city the building was used almost exclusively for dancing many saints enjoyed the dances and balls held at the bath house and printed invitations to the activities were sometimes sent appendix C however because of its great distance from the city the bath house was soon abandoned shortly afterward a new social center social hall was dedicateddedicatedbated in salt lake city on january 1 1853 the building was only capable of holding three hundred people so it was often crowded to overflowing but in spite of this difficulty the spirit and enthusiasm of the people in the recreational activities held there made it a place of distinction iolfolcol sociasociats socialsls meetings plays dances ban quiqu s and other recreation dominico ballo a former bandmaster at west point academy estabbestab ishadishcdisihed and directed the first social hall orchestra which entertained at many balls at the dance each family or couple would furnish candles for light contributions for payments to the orchestra and their own 39 foodfood at intermission time special guests usually invited by brigham young were exceptions to this practice carvalhoCarvaihoalho while in utah as artist for colonel fremontsFremonfsnes expedition was a special guest at one of these balls his description is a classic of the many dances held at social hall at the appointed hour I1 made my appearance chaperoned by governor young who gave me a general introduction A larger collection of fairer and more be mtifulbciutiful women I1 never saw in one room all of them were dressed in white muslin some with pink and others with blue sashes flowers were the only ornaments in the hair the utmost order and strictest decorum prevailed polkas and waltzing were not danced country dances cotillionsquadrillescotillionscotillions quadrilles etc were bermipermipermittedttedeted at the invitation of governor young I1 opened the ball with one of his wives the governor with a beautiful partner stood vis a vis an old fashioned cotillion was danced with much grace by the ladies and the governor aquittedacquitted himself very well on the light fantastic toe

41 later I1 partook of a fine entertainment at the governors table there must have been at least two hundred ladies present and about one hundred gentlemen I1 returned to my quartersmcquartersmyquarters at twelve oclock most favorably impressed with the exhibition of public society among the mormons 53404153 40 41 dancing in moderation and with good intent was sanctioned and encouraged by the church ladersradersleaders brigham young preached from the pulpit in favor of play and recreation there was one stipulation however participants in recreation must do so with the proper spirit many leaders were ajareabeareareare that dancing could easily lead to undesirable action and with that supposition they objected to it others defended dance by advocating its desirable aspects 40 the ffollowingollowing statements by brigham young indicate his favorable attitude toward dance those who cannot serve god with a pure heart in the dance should not dance if yyouou wish to dance dance and you are just as much prepared for a prayer meeting after dancing as ever you were if you are saints if you desire to ask god for anything you are as well prepared to do so in the dance as in any other place if you are saints 41951 young considered dancing to be a means of renewing the body and thereby a constant improvement of the mind 1 I want it distinctly understood he stressed that fiddling and dancing are no part of our worship the question may be asked what are they for then I1 answer that my body may keep pace with my mind my mind labors like a man logging all the time and this is the reason why I1 am fond of these pastimestheypastimes they give me a privilege to throw everything ofofff and shake myself that my body may exercise and my mind rest what forfor to get strength and be renewed and quickened and enlivened and animated so that myraynay mind may not wear out 2938438529384 385 to this LDS church leader the only way to im- prove ones mind was to live in accordance with the principles and commandments of god anything contrary to this or which deviated from moderation and balance in living was frowned upon dance during this period was also regulated in accordance with this philosophy in 1856 orsonororeonson pratt delivered a discourse in the tabernacle advising the saints to take inventory of how they were living heilelielle expressed the opinion that few members were attending conference and other church meetings many found the sabbath to be a good time for temporal work 41 or amusementamuse1mentament instead pratt felt there was an urgent need for the people toputto put aside their engagements in frivolous recreational pastimes and educate their minds and spirits instead orson pratts feelings are veilveliwellweliweil summarized in his closing remarks it is well enough to occasionally exercise our- selves in the dance for it was not prohibited in ancient days and it is predicted that the old and young should enjoy themselves in the dance in modern times but I1 am not aware that this had reference to using all our time in dancing 187218 172 in spite of such differing opinions dance continued in importance and popularity between 1850 and 1890 dancing occupied two important positions in the lives of the mormonsettlersmormon settlers first it was a favorite recreational activity and second it was deemed necessary by the people to make any celebration complete examples of how well dance ingrained itself into the culture of the mormons can be ffound in appendix D celebrations on holidays and speciaspecial1 occasions were welcomed because they gave the people an opportunity for relaxation and play tullidge indicatedindicated this in his des- criptioncription of the tenth anniversary celebration of the saints arrival in the great salt lake valley on the appointed day the saints traveled up the big cottonwood canyon to the camp grounds at cottonwood lake on the 24th of july 1857 there were probably gathered at the lake about two thousanshousanthousandd persons men women and childreninchildren in the fullest enjoyment of social freedom some were fishing in thelakeththe lake others strolli- ng among the trees climbing theelakehigh peaks pitching quoits playing cricket engaging in gymnastic 42 exercises picpie nnicking and gliding through the bower iesles that were prepared for the mazy dance it was a day of feasting joy and amusement for the silver haired veteran and the tottering child 62158- 159 another welcomed holiday celebration was held at thanksgiving when the saints honored the seagulls for saving their crops from the grasshoppers parley P pratt in a letter to his brother orson wrote about the festivities in 1848 on the tenth of august last we met to the number of several hundreds under a large awning to celebrate our first harvest in the great basin we had a feast which consisted almost of every variety of food all produced in the valley we had prayer and thanksgiving music and dancing and firing of cannon 69332 other mormon communities celebrated for the same reason that year with dancing an anticanticipatedA pated part of the activities the following is an excerpt from the account of the celebration at springvilleSpringville utah in the afternoon everyone danced on the ground under the bowery where the surface was packed down hard thus sped the merry hours to the strains of sweet music and the tripping of nimble feet the evening hours were passed in witnessing a dramatic performance given under the bowery by the home dramatic company 3033 other signifsignificantsigniaicarticant examples of celebrations can be found in appendix D many dance descriptions refer to community celebrations therefore their connection with the churchurchh may be questioned however in this basically homogenous eareariearl mormon society a separation of community and church activities was impossible almost without ex- ceptionception the mormon church was the influence that 43 encouraged and sponsored school systemsystemssystemsysy business growth and most recreational activities in 1869 brigham young became very concerned about his daughters accepting questionable new ideas brought in by non cormonsmormons in response to this concern he organized the retrenchment association designed to actively streng- then the young ladies in the church in his initial instructions to them he said I1 have long had it in my mind to organize the young ladies of zion into an ociationsociationassociationassociaoclation so that they might assist the older members of thithe church their fathers and mothers in propagating teaching and practicing the principles I1 have been so long teaching 0 we are about to organize a retrenchment association which I1 want you all to join and I1 want you to vote to retrench in your dress in your tables in your speech wherein you have been guilty of silly extravagant speeches and lightlightmindednessmindedness and thought 46461616 the retrenchment association was so successful with president youngs daughters that it was adopted as a ward organization for all young women the following year certain dance forms were also excluded by this organization in 1875 a similar association was organized for the young men brigham youngs instructions concerning the purposes and activities of the young benlmenlmenss association paralleled those of the retrenchment association they were later renamed the young mens mutual improvement association and the young ladies mutual improvement asso- ciationciation young ladies mutual improvement association was later changed to young womens mutual improvement association the aims of these new organizations were more 44 clearly stated by the following the aim of the M I1 A is therefore not only first to impress the youth with a testimony of the gospel of jesus christchristy but second to aid them in obtaining all true knowledge to teach the young people to preside over public assemblies to express them selves before the public to enable them to study and practice civil vocational social scientific and educational affairs and also to train them in all that pertains to religious moral physical and intelleintellec-antellec tual advancement 4216174216 17 it was hoped that achievement of these aims would be rearealized1sized6ized through worship service study and recreation dance was establishedreestablishedre as a part of the recreational program of these organizations but during the latter nineteenth century when round dances were becoming popular it was the subject of much controversy the united states expansionhadexpansion had now reached the west coast and the mormons were no longer an isolated people they had to either reject the round dances and other current american influences or make an adjustment to permit them this struggle for acceptance was an important development in the history of dance in the church

transition PERIOD 188519201885 1920 gradually with the influx of new converts and some nonmembersnon members into utah the responsibility for recreation became too great for the church as it walswaswaks then organized and changes needed to be made church recreation was then delegated entirely to auxiliary organizations the YMMIA and YWMIA 45 some LDS church leaders also felt a broader recreational program should be offered to divert attention to activities other than the waltz and round dances dancing was good but only a part of the large and varied program of recreation this attitude was expressed in january 1884 in a deseret evening news editorial by charles W penrose

0 recreation is as necessary as food to the fullfulifilful111lil1.11vii health and wellwellbeingbeing of humanity if this is not proviprovidedded for the young they will seek it for themselves innocent fun is one of the essentials mormonism sees no harm in any amusement in which law is riotnot violated and prudence is not oversteppedoveroverstepoversteppedosteppedpedepedO music dancing the drama and other entertainments are encouraged rather than forbidden among the latter day saints but it is needful that all these amusements should be under proper regulations this is particularly the case in reference to dancing parties we trust that intellectual recreational will be encouraged in all the settlements so that instruction and culture may be combined with amusement 32132383 nevertheless dancing continued to increase in popularity many young people began attending public dances not sponsored by the mormon church round dances were in vogue at these dances and challenged the values of youth everywhere joseph PF smith was now the president of the church at this time he became very concerned about the mormon youth in response he sent out specific instructions regarding all amusements the character and variety of our amusements have so much to do with the welfare and character of our young people that they should be guarded with the utmost jealousy for the preservation of the morals and 46 stamina of eletheuieole youth of zion in the ffirstrst place they should not be excessive and young people should be disdiscouradiscouragedcouraged from giving theartheAnthemselvesselves up to the spirit and frivolityfrivolityof of excessive mirth no latterlatterdayday saints needs to be told that two or three dances a week for his children are out of all sense of reason too frequent dances are not only injurious to stability of character but they are highly detrimental to good health and wherever possible other amusements than the ball room should be introduceintroducedntd into the lives of 0ourur young people they should be trained to appreciate more and more amusements of a social and intellectual character in the second place our amusements should be co- sistensistentkntant with our religious spirit of fraternity and is devoid of our supplication for divine protection our dancing should be as far as possible under the supervision of some church organization and we should be scrupulously careful to open the dance by prprayerayer 5381 the introduction of the round dances in public places was probably partly responsible for such advice the Mornmormonsionslons had certainly waltzed before this controversy for there is record of the danish waltz and round dances on the plains round dances however had not been permitted at the balls before the late nineteenth century as it was thought that they encouraged too close body contact the Mornmormonsionslons desiredesiredcl to maintain high spiritual standards in their recreation sosiospo the church did not sponsor round

I1jances theathen young people sought public dance halls to learn and practice these new dances which aroused much concern the attitudes toward round dances were often the topic of discussion an editorial in an 1887 contributor reflects the feelings of many mormon adults the general 47 position of the people was against round dancing and many desires were expressed to remove it as a feature in any social gathering the editorial continues to explain that it will be preceivedpreceived that round dancing is not objectionable to the latterlatterdayday saints alone but there are those of the world who see in it opportun- ities for the vicious to satiate their evil desires at the expense of the innocent rtherhe waltz has been called the dance of death and indeed the manner in which it is conducted the disgusting familiarity which some dancers presume that it authorizes and the moral laxity which submits to its abuse are the most prominent reasons given by our people as well as the world for the pressionsupressionsusuppression of the round dancing habit 16115 advice given by the general authorities to all church members at this time was to refrain from round dancing some members strictly obeyed this counsel others who did not see any harm in round dances would join in them at times pressure from the youth remained strong however for the church to adopt round dances young people wanted to dance these new and interesting dances because of their novelty and popularity not because of any suggestive sexual or immoral practices the waltz was first accepted and used in the waltz quadrille the twosteptwo step was intro deeddjed in the same way later permission to dance these dances as couples was given but the limit for an evening was two dances by 1910 the waltz and twosteptwo step were favorably accepted by the mutual improvement association in an attempt to keep round dances respectable some wards raised the standards of dances by improving 48 dance hall facilities howard driggs described a new conununcommunityity amusement hall at ephriam utah which was completed about 1912 itlt was a threestorythree story building with the bottom floor used for stores and commercial purposes upstairs was a large room for recreation it had a good floor and was metricallysymetricallysymmetricallysy designed welllightedwell lighted and clean C J christensen president of the contracting company I1 described the upper story as

it s 10 a temple of amusement dedicated to the social uplift of our community we know that our young people will have amusement he continued it is right and proper they should and we concluded to provide for them a building that should be pure and sanitary and so well lighted that there should be no dark corners in it day or night it is the policy of our company to conduct our amusement hall with the spirit of holiness our aim is to govern the balls and socials given in it as if every boy and girl dancing there were our own children 1916 mr driggs describes one dance he attended there the dancedan- e began with a humble prayer music was good and everyone entered into the spirit of jollity but there was no ragtime nor hoodlumism some people wished for more of the good old social dances the plain quadrille the lancers the rage and the waltz quadrille would have broken the waltz and twosteptwo step monotony and added greatly to the social spirit of the occasion but perhaps the young people here as elsewhere do not know these dances they should be taught we urge in our physical culture classes the demand is coming even from the young for them the dance is one of our chief danger spots control your dances and you will control in a large mea- sure the things that make for immorality the day has come when our dances should be run on a higher standard than the moneymakingmoney making basis when all things sensuous whether of music or actions or of darkness should be banished therefrom the day has come when 49 parents should get back into the social companionship of their children in the dance 0 0 190191717 divided opinions toward the types of dances per- missible at gatherings continued the young people wanted the waltz and foxtrot the adults wanted square dances it seems that a combination of the new round dances and increasing participation in the waltz and twosteptwo step caused many leaders concern by 1913 however the polka and the schottische were added to the waltz and twosteptwo step as acceptable forms of round dances elder david 0 mckay was another church leader concerned about the overindulgenceover indulgence of the saints in dance and amusement along with other church authorities he noted with concern the introduction of the new round and rag dances and more particularly those figures and movements which go under such names as the texas tommy the bunny hug the grizzly bear sic the turkey trot elder mckay forcefully pointed out the evils of this class of dancesdancesp many of which had their origin in questionable places and nearly all of which lack in dignity refinement and real grace and appeal most to the sensual rather than to the better and higher emotions 67291 in spite of these warnings the conditions were not improving as the leaders anticipated it was not that tltt authorities opposed dancing for many scriptural and historical occasions involved the use of the dance as indicated by mckays article from the beginning music and the dance have had an important place in things ceremonial and in things social and artistic the graceful dance ever has been a source of innocent enjoyment and unalloyed pleasure resulting in the cultivation of ease polish 50 refinement gracefulness courtesy and chivalry and it has ever been recognized by the divine for david praised the lord in the dance and miriam the sister of moses sang and danced to the lord after the deliverance 6729267 292 but even these religious occasions did not sanction the sexes joining together in dance dance was an artistic expression conducted by one sex alone in this way it was assured that dancing would retain its high standards of refined and clean expression in the communities of the saints dance was taking its place as the chief amusement again the leaders stressed the admonitions of brigham young that dance be conducted properly before the lord the following statement seems to reflect a modern attitude of church leaders toward dance this philosophy has been a universal reflec- tion of church attitudes toward dance from its beginning to the present day though dancing is no part of our religious creed our heavenly fatherbather is not displeased with it provided it is conducted properly those who attend a dance should be as particular in thoughts of purity and true sociability as they would be in attending a religious meeting the lords approval and blessing should be invoked on every gathering of the latterlatterdayday saints and especially so on a dancing party see to it that all of yearyour dances are opened and dismissed with draverpraverprayer 67-672930293 it was believed that the frequency with which young people danced the new dances could easily lead to roots of pernicious habits these habits can do much to destroy substantial pleasures of life and it was a constant concern that dance could easily become such a habit 51 the leaders of the mormon church were in a difficultdifdlfficultscult position they were aware that social dancing was gaining momentum throughout the country and could become a source of much trouble and evil on the other hand they believed that dancing had a place in the recreation and pleasant pastimes of the people to meet this problem the church leaders requested the general boards of the auxiliary organ- izaizatizationizationstionionslonsc to carefully and unitedly set up basic standards for allaliail social activities in thithlthiss way they hoped to maintain proper dancing as a part of the recreational program committees drew up a approved by the set of instructions t the first presidency and general boards in 19191717 these were submitted to the stake and ward authorities and organi- zationalzational leaders with a request for adoption these instructions for dance can be found in appmdixappendix E these guidelines were brought before the members of the church and even studied in some churchurchh classes the leaders made every effort to bring about the acceptance of suggested recreational standards in 1918 the central theme for the advanced senior sunday classes concerned elim- inating contributions to crime the sixth lesson was on publicpoblicpublic dancing appendix F the generally expressed feeling of the leaders was hesitant toward modernized ball room dancing they elteitfeltfeitf it to be a perversion of the true emotional and interpretive expressions available in proper dance the art of dance was being demoraldedeamoraldemoralizedmoralmorai 4 zed by public dance hall atmospheres dance 52 standards always recommended that the dance be held in a clean and welllightedwell lighted hall good music be provided open and close with prayer and have older people present the latter two recommendations were made with the idea that prayer would help remindparticipantsremind participants that the evenings entertainment must be clean and uplifting for a proper spirit to abide there the presence of older people was designed to help the young be more courteous to others and watchful of their own behavior church authorities also felt it necessary to share the responsibility of social activities within the wards formerly the bishop of each ward was assigned the responsibility of directing and providing recreational activities for the members now each ward member was made personally responsible to support and become involved in recreation everyone was welcome to give his best efforts in developing high ideals in dance and other forms of approved amusements the instructions also called for appointment of a social committee comprised of both men and women in each ward their assignment was to continually direct and supervise the ward recreational activities

organizational DANCE 192019401920 1940 by 1922 the social committee had become extensive enough to necessitate further delegation of responsibilities in october of that year the first presidency dissolved the 53 social committee and assigned the responsibility of regu- lating recreationrecreationsrecreationarecreationaoaOa activities to the mutual improvement associations the first official assignment was sent out in march of 1923 march 8 1923 to presidents of stakes dear brethren we recently advised you that the general boards of the young mens and young ladies mutual improvement associations had been given the supervision of recreational work in the church and thaithatthalthab the social committees be retained until further plans were projected by these boards the further plans for carrying forward this work through their organizations are herewith enclosed and have been adopted by the mutual boards with our approval while this releases the present stake and ward social committees from supervising recreational work in the church any members of those committees who are especially qualified for this work should be retained under the plan the mutual boards have adopted we suggest that once a month you could with profit have a meeting with the presiding officers of the stake auxiliary boards and the bishopric a similar meeting with the presiding officers of their ward auxiliaries providing an opportunity to correlate theirbheirbhear work keep harmony among their organizations and a closer cooperation between the presiding authorities in stakes and wardwardsc aandnd the presiding officers of the auxiliary organ- izatizationsions your brethren heber J grant charles W penrose A W ivinsivinsyivinsky first presidency 4213 further action by the first presidency recommended that the mutual improvement associations and the primary association assume exclusive conduct of church recreational activities recreation for the specific use of raising 54

ffunds wai-I1 sto be eliminated the church budget system was to be utilized to cover any activity expenses A community activity committee was also set up in the MMIAIA it was designed to sponsor all tvtypesdespes of church approved recreation dancing was one phase of this recrea- tionaltional program and a member of each stake and ward was appointed as dance director and instructor to aid these dance directors in their new appointments instructions for dance ikadersleaders were sent out by the general boards of the MIA in a 1923 improvement era appendix F all dancing parties were to be conducted by a dance director and carried out in line with MIA dance instructions these instructions covered all phases of the activity including before the party at the party and after chethebhe party in many wards it was becoming a regular practice to have a dance after MIA classes church leaders recommended having dances and pointed out the suggested duties of the directors but they did not advocate or encourage these additional dances after MIA the dancesdaniestdancest however became so prevalent that they caused great concern to gener 1 board members As a consequence a brief article was published in the mutual work section of the december 1927 improvement erzieralera 1170 the articlearticie referred to a recent meeting of the genralgeneral boards where action was taken to dis courage dances afteraeter MIA the leaders felt there were enough availableavailable activities to preclude the necessity for extra dances theghe dances did not seem to add to the 55 recreational and educational programs but rather interfered with the school studies of the participants and kept the young people out too late for these reasons dances after MIA were discontinued but this ruling did not apply to occasional afternoon or evening dance gatherings the mutual improvement association gave serious thought to organizing a new recreational program better suited to the needs of the youth by 1928 the results of their plans were published in the form of the MIA hand- book which was to be used as the official guide for the leisure time program of the churchchurch of jesus chrischrlschristt of latterlylatterlatterdayday saints 4616 here the idea that man has definite basic urges and needs for selfselfexpressionexpression was acknowledged these needs must be satisfied if he is to be happy and successful the seven basic urges distinguished by the committee were 1 the socsocialiallai urge 2 the rhythmic urge 3 the dramatic urge 4 the linguistic urge 5 the physical urge 6 the environmental urge and 7 the constructive urge 4659 dance programs were designed to fulfill the objectives problems and programs of the rhythmic urge the objectives of the rhythmic urge were to develop an appreciatappreciateappreciationilongon of music song and dance and develop the abilities to produce inspirational music and artistic dance forms from the beginning the dance programs based on this philosophy had several problems first the community apparently was not interested in musical advancements 56 secondly the inanamanagementgement and physical conditions of the dance halls were often below church standards As an approach to improvement of thesecondition conditionsfa the leaders began to organize communitvcommunity orchestras and bands and employ pro fessionalsessionalfessional dance instructors therher aim of the MIA was to give members an opportunity to realize expression of the basic urges in an approved yearly program along with ththisis pdogramrogramprogram the MIA set up a fiveyearfive year plan for a recreational survey of all wards by this they hoped to construct a more effective program which would fulfill future needs discovered by the survey in the meantime the MIA recreational program was divided into four main categories 1 friday night yearroundyear round programs 2 special ward events 3 contest work and 4 mutual evening classwork the general authorities in their suggestions for quorums of priesthood and MIA said friday afternoon and evening is to be devoted to a year round program of recreation under the MIA 11 469146191 many of these friday nights were devoted to dancing under tthehe supervision of the dance committees attitudesAtt 4 tudesaudes toward dance were continually becoming more favorable dance was considered one of the primary and essential arts for expression of the human person havelock ellis considered dance to be the loftiestloftiest the most moving the most beautiful of the arts because it is no mere trans- lation or abstraction from life it is life itself 46166 57 social dance and its rhythmic impulses were showing tremendous influence in the recreational life of the latter day saints they believed it to be a normal and natural expression that offered great development in good manners refinement grace poise and wholesome social contacts recognition however was given to the ease with which these fine social and aesthetic qualities could be perverted careful attention was directed toward the conduct of dancing parties in carrying forth the new dance programs of this period recommendations showed concern with two elements sociability and culture meetings were held monthly to study dance problems and adopt new projects and standards for each stake to increase fellowship between wards dances would combine two or three wards together for occasional activities special attention was given to hostesses reception committees escorts and chaperones mixer dances were used to encourage a general mingling of the group almost half of the twelve special recreational ventsevents of the year were dances some of these included a va ntineentine party and sweetheart dance a costume ball and an ice carnival dance favorite dances included the

brokenheartedbroken hearted fox11leux ux trot lindyslandysLindys aeroplane waltswaltzwaitz and let me call you sweetheart 4619221546192 215 in 1928 the general board committee presented ideas to be used in specialwardspecial ward activities seven of the twelve 58 suggested activities include dance these dances were often held on special occasions outlined by the committee one activity was the ward reunion A dance was recommended because of the large and varied crowd which attended during the evenings program several special floor show features were presented at various intervals examples were step dancing ballet chorus work or aesthetic dancing the dances usually began with a tune such as we wont get home till morning 46104 andano followedwithfollowfollowededwithwith several mixers such as turkey in the straw 4616646166 or comincominacomin1 through the rye 46166 at the end of the dance the crowd would assemble and sing a familiar song and then close with prayer another ward dance was held at the pioneers day celebration dance steps included the waltz fofoxx trot quadrille polka and virginia reel otherdariceother dancedarice activities were held at the ward carnival and the gold and green ball 46104 125 besides these suggested activities the M men and gleaner departments sponsored an annual harvest ball this vas the big social activity of the year for these organizations the event was held on a friday night in late november preparations were made early in the month with a special demonstration of the aesthetic and cultural value of modern dance and the charm of good mannersannerspm in the ball room the harvest bailballbali itself was to be an evening of beauty and refinement headdresses were worn by the gleaner girls 59 similar to that used by ruth of old bound tightly around the forehead pinned at the back of the neck and falling softly over the shoulders 462402414624046 242402412410241 about 1928 a program of contest work was instigated in the MIA it was designed to add new strength by allow- ing original material and ideas to be brought out by the members competition was meant to help church dance progress more rapidly toward a polishedandpolished and refined program rules and regulations were to be consistently adhered to and it was felt that everyone who entered would benefit 6066867060668 670 dancing was one of the contest activities the gold and green cotillion began in 1928 and was open to all members who wished to enter judges decdecisionsisionsinions were based on the following points 1 proper execution of dance figures and steps 2 position poise carriage grace 3 rhythmkeepingrhythm keeping in step with the music 4698 to determine churchwidechurch wide winners four tryouts were conducted as well as a grand finale the contests were held n wardsbardsywardsy stakes districts and then divisions the divi sic winners would come to salt lake city for the grand finale held at the saltairsultair resort almost all the dances used in the contescontestscon testscs were choreographed by W 0 robinson who served asac dance director for the general board As part of the regular MIA program one night a month was set aside for dancing drama and music during 60 this time the dancing activities included mixer dances being instructed about proper dance techniques and learning the suggested dances for the year in the wintertime special dance instruction periods were sometimes held afterafter MMIAIA for the explorers and juniors at june conference in 1936 the first presidency charged the MIA to create higher ideals among young people in terms of recreation and particularly dance they appealed for a return to former ideals such as respectable dancing within the church and the chivalry of young men toward young women in an attempt to answer this request the MIA published a dance manual in 1939 the manual included directions and suggestions for the years dance program the main feature was dance instruction with ivelvefivef basic factors stressed in the teaching program 1 rhythm consciousness 2 position 3 poise 4 relaxrelaxationrelaxafionrelaxacionaelonaCion and 5 knowledge of step fundamentals and variations 4233- 34 it was hoped that efficiency in dance fundamentals would raise standards by teaching the standard dance forms first it was also believed that new variations could then be learned more quickly this philosophy stemmedsternstennmed from the idea that all dances were attemptattempts to transfer the elements of rhythm and music into interpretive body movements by familiarity with local dance attitudes and a background of basic steps one could easily add variations to fit any occasion this 61 eelingfeelingi was expxesed by the general board in the following excerpt from the danceance manualmanucalmanujalManUjaijal iftf one has the fundamentals of the dance forms waltwaltzwaitz tango fox trot wellweliweilviell groundedgroundgroundedygroundedlyedy one can easily pick up these popularpcdular variations adopt them be in the popular style tularof the moment and at the same time maintain the fundamental grace and beauty of art values in dancing 4233344233 34 there were four official MIA dances aloha oe fox trot tiietiyethe gleam waltz the gold and green pricelpricercapriceCa andzindaind th senoritaserlSeriorita mia tango 4236 each of these represented a definite style of dance the fox trot waltz group and tango which was added in 1939 0 directions for the dancesweredances were given in detail 0oncence these official dances were lelleiarnedlearned other techniques wereweraworewora taught during the instruction periods variations loto10 the basic fox trot were the walk or promenade the glide the two step the hesitation the promenade turn the stationary pivot the progressive pivot and the two stepstop additions ioto the basic waltz were the hesitation canter and trot the tango figures included the prominadeprominpromenadeade crusade cortecorter habanerahabanerohabanero and the meda luna often dance committeesr4011jttees lutcatlinedcatoatatlinatiinapiinlinedd the suggested dances according to age girogroupsudsups the more difficult dances were planned for adult activltiesactivitiesactxvlfcies aiaitaltand1 d easier variations for youth programs another pipurposerposerapose of the dance jlanualmanual was to supply material to supplement the contest programs the contest program brought out an undesirable feature of dance by en- couragingcouraging only those who desired to enter the competition 62 thus much time was spent in polishing the few while the majority who needed instruction most did not dance at all contest dances were discontinuediscontinueddiscontinuedanddandand the dances were re served for floor shows or other special occasions in 193919401939 1940 additional demonstration floor show dances were arranged by W 0 robinson and dedicated to the gold and green balls at this point in LDS church history dance and recreation had reached the apex of their development from 1940 on dance continued in importance until the present day with other church organizations adding support to the programs previously established

OTHER PROGRAMS INVOLVING DANCE

the MIA was not the only organization in the mormon church which provided dance programs almost every auxiliary in the LDS church held social gatherings once or twice a year which included dancing in 1878 the first presidency organized the primary association for children under age twelve the primary would meet together once a week for a spiritual lesson and some type of recreational activity these activities often included dance along with rest exercises physical education or recreational games high school seminaries and university institutes of religion were established for the purpose of teaching mormon doctrine in connection with this goal a limited 63 recreational program for the members was donconductedducted period- ically often involving dance along with the institutes of religion a national social and honorary fraternity was established in 1938 it was entitled lambda delta sigma and chapters were organized for both men and women on many college and university cam- puses throughout the united states one purpose of the fraternityfraternitywas was to provide monthly recreational activities for the student members special dances during the school year were the highlights of this program dance instruction at brigham young university provo utah was started in 191019111910 1911 with the introduction of an interpretive dance class since then the dance cur- riculum of that university has expanded to a current program including social tap modern ballet and folk dancing

DANCE FORMS AND MUSIC

historically dance within the LDS church had the same beginnings as the other dances of north america dance forms from almost every country in europeuropee were found within t e heritage of the LDS church many LDS dances can be ttracedaced to our english forebears who carried their enjoyment for dance across the ocean to america people from other lands also emigrated to america and brought with them their native dance forms the dance descriptions presented in this section were those commonly used inln mormon folk dance 64 the first dance forms acceptable to the religious groups of the time were the playpartyplay party games these involved a group of people meeting together to sing songs these were often unaccompanied familiar tunes which included the singing of dance directions many of these songs became the beginning forms of square dancing where the dominant formation was a circle gradually the playpartyplay party games became dances they began witvithwitawithA simple walking steps to music and in a short time captured the grace and variations of dance movements A good example of these walking dances was the contra dance the contra dances originated in france and were thzkhzthenn carried to the southern colonial settlements in america the southerners enjoyed and patronized dance when the nor- thern new england puritans were making every effort to for- bid it most contra dances can be performed to any stirring musical selection with a good strong beatinbeat in 24 44 or 68 meter the oldest form of progression in the contra dances involved the head couple leading the dance and alter- nating with others until each had taken their turn today thlthsohsth L s dance form is much the same but involves several coup- leless moving together usually every other couple the following is a typical example of a contra dance form I1 couples 111 4 and 7 are active A down the outside and back 8 measures 1 couple 1 separates the man turning to the lefleftleyt and the lady to the right to walk down the outs4outsideide of the set for 6 65 counts and turn on the ath7th and ath8th counts to ffaceace up the set and walk back 8 counts B down the center and back cast off 8 measures 1 the two join inside hands with the lady on the lefleftt of the man and walk down the center for 6 counts to turn toward each other on the ath7th and ath8th counts and face up the set with the lady on the right of the man with 8 counts they move back up to place and cast offoff with the couple below C swing lady on right 8 measures D forward six and fall back six 4 measures 1 with hands joined in lines of three ladies 2 1 and 3 face men 2 1 and 3 and the two lines move toward each other 4 counts and back away 4 counts E swiswingng 4 measures 1 man 1 and lady 1 either turn each other with the right hand for 8 counts or take closed position and swing with the buzz step for these 4 measures I1II11 dance may be repeated another dance form which became popopularPular during this period walswaswaks the virginia reel like the contradancescontra dances the virginia reereel1 was first done as a line dance with a set of six couples but then modified to allow an unlimited number of participants unlike the present dance form where every couple is active in the original dance only the head couple was active A basic virginia reel dance description includinclude d I1 form six couples in a set ladies on one side men on the other facing each other A head lady and end man forward and back 8 counts B iadloadneadnoadilad ad man and end lady orwardfforward and back 8 counts C head lady and end man righrightbright elbow swing 8 counts D head man and end lady rightrightelbowelbow swing 8 counts 66 E head lady and end man left elbow swing 8 counts F head man and end lady left elbow swing 8 counts G head lady and end man twohandtwo hand swing 8 counts H head man and end lady two hand swing 8 counts I161 head lady and end man do si do 8 counts J head man and end lady do si do 8 counts II11 head couples reel down the set 48 measures A head couples chasse back to the head of the set ililiiIII111 head man turns left and walks down the outside of set other men follow head lady turns to the right and walks down outside of set other ladies follow A head couple reaches end of set meetsm and forms an arch other couples pass through arch and walk up the center to the head of the set IV repeat until all couples have been the head couple an appropriate musical selection for this dance is found in figure 2 the early american quadrille dance originated from many european dances but the french are usually given credit for its development the quadrille was a special favorite of brigham young and many of the other saints it was danced in nauvoo on the trek across the plains and alsoaiso in the salt lake valley the quadrille was done in ets of four coppiccoupiccoupicsocouplutoicsoiuso3.3 similar to the american square dance un imeLKCke the western square dance however the head couple was number one the opposite couple number two the side couple to tlethetlletile righlhighlrighu number three and the side couple to the left number four an example of a quadrille in 1847 was escribeddescribedjescribedescribed by tletl e centennial dance program of the MIA 67

A L 001 awqw 42 p o0 0 0 oelwel00l it rr dultdull AM ft

figure 2 irish washerwoman 68 plain quadrille figure 1 first four forward and back 4.4 measures half right and left 4.4 measures side four forward and back 4.4 measures .4 40 W Is 4 half right and left 0 0 0 measures 4.4 Alleallemendeallemandemende left 0 4 0 0 0 measures turn partners 4.4 measures forward all 4.4 measures circle all half way round 4.4 measures grand right and left half way round 4.4 measures turn partners 0 10 0 0 9 0 0 0 0 4measures4 measures 4 continue grand right and left 0 0 measures .4 turn partners Is 0 41 0 0 10 0 0 0 0 4 measures 48 measures

repeat withwiath6th side four leading 0 48 measures figure II11

4.4 balance all 0 0 0 0 0 A measures swing partners 0 0 A4 measures 4.4 Alleallemendeallemandemende left 0 0 0 0 0 A measures .4 turn partners 0 0 0 0 0 Is 0 Is 4 measures first couple lead to the right .4 10 IV 4 circle four 0 0 0 0 0 0 4measuresmeasures leave the lady there and go on to the next couple and circle threetthree4 measures take that lady with you on to the 4.4 next and circle four 0 A measures leave the lady there and gentleman .4 returns to place 0 0 ID 0 0 A4 measures forward and back six and cross over 6.6 measures forward and back two and cross over 066.6 measures forward and back six and cross over 6.6 measures forward and back two and cross over 066.6 measures all forward and back swing partners to place 6 measures 64 measures 4516 17o17017 the entire dance can be repeated from the beginning as desired thetioie music recommended by the MIA for this dance was turreyturkey inln the straw 52389 as found in figure

anotheanocheanotherl favoriteleavrEavorite pioneer dance was the polka the true origin of the polka is uncertain but it has been an 69

4 0i r TH

figure 3 turkey in the straw 70 important dance form for countries all over the world and continued in popularity until the present day the basic polka consists of a hopstepclosestephop step close step pattern similar to a twosteptwo step with a hop the polka can be performed with couples and in a single or double circle to any basic polka music or melody in 24 or 44 rhythm the walt2fwaltzwaitz a round dance of french and german origin was one of the most controversial dance forms of its time during the early stages of its popularity the mormons oppopposedasedosed it due to the close body contact it encourageditencouraged after several years of discussion however the church accepted the waltz and other round dances as a part of their dance program one of the oldest known waltzes in america is the rye wawaltzwaitzitz 5271 the dance was performed as follows I1 closed waltz position in line of dance A step left footifootafoot to side count 1 draw right foot just behind left heel toe lightly touching the floor slightly bend both knees count two step right foot to side count three draw left foot back of right heel slightly bend both knees count four 2 measures B step left foot to side and close right foot to left count one and step left again and cioseclosebiose right to left count two and again step left to side count three dot right toe back of left heel count four 2 measures C repeat the above four measures in reverse thathe t ISis begin by stepping right foot to slieside 4 measures II11 waltz twelve measures originally the dance allowed couples to perform the second sequence of the rye waltz as they desired later the 71 MIA developed a standard routine for the last twelve measures music for this dance is shown in figure 4 the schottische another round dance originated in poland and was first known as the german polka it was introduced in america shortly after the polka and found its place in mormon dance along with the waltz this round dance involves couples arranged in a circle or separately in its usual form dancers stand side by side the mans right hand around the ladys waist and the ladys left hand on the mans right shoulder the dance begins with the outside foot the mans left foot and the womans right and moves with three steps followed by a hop as they swing their inside foot up and forward the stepsP are then repeated in reverse the dancers resume closed dance position and take four stephopsstep hops to execute a completecomp liete pivot these sequences are repeated with dancers moving around the floor until the music stops another variation was done with a hop in place of the forward kick A musical selection similar to that found in figure 5 may have been one of the tunes used to dance the schottische in the early days of the cnurchchurchcliurchcilCliurch another polish round dance the varsouvienne was also popular among the Morcormonsmormonsmons this dance resembles the waltz in form mood and music but served as a greater challenge in grace and ability for the saints than most other dance forms the varsouvienne begins with couples standing side by side the man slightly behind the lady 72

af 12

1 t I1 CT yaa yaaafeehahgyss11 uyafeE1 1l p A

AM T

figure 4 rye waltz 73

figure 5 schottische 74 with the lady on the right side the man holds the ladys left hand in his left shoulder high and reaches across her back to hold her right hand at the same height the dancers move in step with each other performing a sweep pointsteppoint step movement around the floor this basic step involves a sweep of the right foot back over the left instep dipping with the left knee slightly in the execution of the motimotlmotisimotioimotiormosioroi on the next count they point their right foot out to right front and again touch the floor with the toe next the left foot steps behind the right and the entire sequence as1sis repeated in the opposite direction the third time the dancers again sweep back with the right foot point with the right and step with the left then instead of stepping close behind the right foot with the left they step to the left side with the left foot and close the right behind the left on the next count the left foot is pointed with the foetoe touching the floor out in front and to the left of the right foot from here the dancers move in a sweep of the left foot over the instep of the right on the next count they step to the left with the left foot and dovealove in a grapegrapevinevincending with a sweep of the right foot ov the left instep at the same time the partners change positions with the lady moving in front of the man to the left side r s then done moving to the right the dance may tlnihenheahen repeated from the beginning as often as desired A deralderaijaral9jcralc ra L outline of these steps is defined by lloyd shaw 75 sweep point step sweep point step sweep point step cross point sweep point step sweep point step sweesweepp point step cross f point if sweep point step cross point sweep point step cross point sweep point F step cross point I1 sweep point step cross point 5286 music for this dance is found in figure 6 the previous selections have described several of the basic dance forms however many variations of these were found throughout the church and AmerLamericaca from the beginning of thetwentieththe twentieth century the mormons became more receptive to the outside influence of new dance forms these they combined with their own 0original dances to es- tablish a large and varied dance repertoizerepertoirepertoizelreire several of the official original dances were choreographed by W 0 robinson and included the aloha oe fox trot gleam waltz gold and green caprice and senorita mia tango 45 thesethedsease included variations of the previous waltz square dance and new tango forms from 1940 to the present day the church of jesus ihristIhchristkhristrist of latterlatterdayday saints has continually progressed in th development and use of dance forms many of these are represented each year in the MIA recreational programs to encoulenchulencourageage and prepreserveerve the past and present dances within the church 76

cijmj jrjlim igragr y g jrjhnz 1 1 13 fi a ly jf jr i t hNhn1 sefcbeheeefcEE fc

I1 A 73

j r r jfjfejiejiz e j

figure 6 varsouvienne 77

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figure 6 continued 78

COSTUMING AND DANCE ATTIRE

before the mormons fled to the rocky mountains they followed the current fashions of the time and places where they lived unlike the shakers quakers or amish religious groups the church of jesus christ of latterlatterdayday saints made no restrictions concerning styless iesres or types of clothing for their members other than they should be modest and in hoodqoodgood taste it is assumed atthethattiethattheththat the clothing style of each period was the accepted attire for dance the costume section was written with this in mind showing the typical styles of each period many converts to the LDS church were accustomed to the finest and most fashionable clothing for both men and women from 1835 to 1845 the general characteristics of fashion for women were fullfulllengthlength skirts gathered at the waist slender fitted bodices attached at the waist or high waistline and small collars set snug against the neck sleeves wwerere dropped just off the shoulder gathered and connected to a wristband variations of this description are found in figures 7 and 8 mensmems fashions during this period revolved around frock coats tailored to the waistline with a cutcutawayaway and tails or comp3compacompletecompleteete flair skirt coat sleeves were generally straight fitting and lapels wide trimmed in velvet pants were also straight legged full and cut to cover most of the shoe moderately high collars satin neckties seamed 79

figure 7 womans costume 183018351830 1835 80

figure 8 womanwomansIs costume 183518451835 1845 81 or ruffled front shirts and vests were common during this period examples of these costumes are found in figures 9 and 10 modifications of the frock coat fashions continued in popularity until the end of the nineteenth century in 1847 the mormons were forced to leave their eastern homes and begin their trek westward across the Pplainslains luggage space for clothing was limited and many trimmings and accessories had to be left behind although the saintssaintcsaintaS attempted to carry with them current wardrobe fashions such as the hoop skirts they soon found them un- suitable fforor the new western environment surplus goods had to be discarded to lighten the load in overcrowded wagonswagons extra clothing was first to go the experience was a turning point toward the individuaindividualizationindividualizindividualizelizatlon of mormon fashions as the people were forced to develop a practical costume tradition of their own this is the main reason for the simplicity of pioneer fashions an overall description of pioneer dress for women contains several changes from previous fashions skirts were similar but gathered more at the waist making the d ess fuller to allow greater ease and freedom of movement the bodicejodiceI1 was closely fitted and tapered down to the waist some dresses dropped the waistline to a V shape iinn the front an exampIeexampleample of this style is found in figures 11 and 12 accessories and ornaments were scarce but the most frequently used forms were aprons and bonnets shown in 82

10 10 irlirhieh ok

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figure 9 mans costume 183018351830 1835 83

figure 10 mans costume 183518451835 1845 84

figure 11 womans costume 184618691846 1869 85

figure 12 womans costume 184618691846 1869 86 figure 12 shoes were narrow with low heels and high tops buttoning up the side low slippers without heels were worn with evening wear once the saints were established in the salt lake valley long white cotton stockings were always a part of pioneer costume pioneer dress for men was a typical example of the simplicity of the styles during this period frock coats were available but worn only during the winter months or on special occasions other evening wear accessories were limited the everyday apparel for men consisted of a long sleeved shirt pants boots and sometimes vests there were two styles of shirts worn a shirt buttoning down the front with a turned down collar and long sleeves as in figure 14 and a yoke shirt with sleeves slightly gathered at the shoulder shown in figure 13 pants were also varied in styling but the most familiar were referred to as the barn door trousetrousersns 65336 these pants buttoned across the front with five buttons to form a drop panel this was similar to the back of a small boys sleepers see figure 13 or an example vests in a variety of colors were often wor A during this time period as in figure 1414y along with felt hats and heavy leather boots because the mormons were isolated from urban centers it was very difficult to find materials patterns and accessories the pioneer woman had only occasional access to published fashion magazines and literature due to the 87

A 4011 9

0 a 0 0 faf6

figure 13 mans costume 184618691846 1869 88

figure 14 mans costume 184618691846 1869 89 great demanddemandy rturningreturningreturningrr missionariesmissionariesfonariesionxonariesarlesamies usuallyu brought their wives and families information about the latest styles colors materials and probably dresses or accessories from europe and the eastern united states the mormon woman adapted herself to fashion as she did to herheehex new environment those things which were practical and established in her style of dress were respected for their usefulness but she held an eager delight for things new and becoming the historian tullidge observed that the mormon ladies were attired in rich and becoming stumescostumesclocdoceo 62106 at a ball given for brigham young in april 1854 these dresses were made of white muslin some with pink and others with blue sashes 62109 in 1869 the railroad in utah was completed and brought with it many current eastern ideas to the salt lake valley the transcontinental railway not only marked the end of utahs isolation but also emphasized the national recovery following the four years of civil war markets opened up businesses flourished and americaandamerica and utah enjoyed an era of peaceful prosperity 65238 the rail jad was a great ciaialiailcli 11 in bringing themormonsthe mormons up to date with the latest stvlessavlesstyles and fashions for both men and women long awaited materials trimmings and accessories could now be enjoyed the mormons did not immediately abandon their pioneer styles however and the transition period after the advent of the railroad shows a combination of old and new 90 the most important modification of the pioneer styles was the addition of lace velvet ruffles and other trimmings and accessories the skirts lost some of their fullness except for evening and formal attire newnewt alterations included a draped skirt which extended from the hips to the knee the skirt was drawn up at the side leaving the front long and the back full similar to a bustle as shown in figures 15 and 16 A second addition was a single ruffle or layer of ruffles at the bottom of the dress as in figure 17 bodices were generally tightly fitted to the waist sleeves were no longer dropped at the shoulder but were tightly fitted with or without cuffs see figures 16 and 17 for examples tailored jackets were sometimes worn over the bodice and extended beyond the waistline as illus- trated in figure 15 within a short time the mormons had adapted almost entirely to the current fashions stylesstyless in salt lake city were no longer far behind the latest mode of philadephialadelphiaPhilaphiladephiaphiladelphialadephia or new york 65238 from this time on the mormons continually kept abreast of the latest fashions and attire

contributions OF THE LDS CHURCH

in 1846 the church of jesus christ of latterlatterdayday saints was the only large group of people in america that encouraged and promoted recreational dancedanceddancey dance has long eendeen a vital part of mormon life dorothy shaw acknowledged this idea by sayingbayinghaying no group did a better job of carrying

q 91

figure 15 womans costume 186918711869 1871 92

figure 16 womans costume 186918711869 1871 93

figure 17 womanwomansIs costume 186918711869 1871 94 the best of americananieranterican culture across the continent than the cormonsmormonsMormormonsymonsmonsy and they hung onto it long and well 511451s1451214 the mormon church has been noted for its pioneer dances and the standards they instigated to preserve the original dance forms the mormons did not however limit their repertoire to one particular type of dance as was the common practice in appalachia or new england the saints worked together in organizations or communities to enjoy and foster many dance styles the mormons have been vital to the dreserpreservationvation of numerous folk dances for many years the mormon culture was isolated in the rocky mountmountainsains because of this and other factorsfactors the american people failed to recognize the progress of the saints in dance until about 1938 in that year the mormons were invited to be the key participants in the fifth national folk Fstivalfestival held in washington D C people from all areas of the country came to witness and enjoy the activities of the festival ever since that time the mormons have been widely acclaimed for their contributions to dance in america audiences wlwhichich totaled 6000 listeners cheered the mormon pioneer representation which climaxed the recent ifthfifth national folk festival held in constitution hall washington D C following a handcart up the main aisle over a hundred descendants of thebhe original pioneers in costume sang come come ye saints as the concluding feature this is the first occasion of mormon participation at this festival the virginia reel a pioneer dance was performed by three sets on the stage 14415 95 this was but the beginning of american recognition of mormon achievements and contributions to native folk dance the LDS people served as an invaluable reference to the dances they carried across the plains for this and future generations the important idea is this even today the mormon church is continuing its tradition of encouraging and promoting dance interest among its members chapter 5

SUMMARY conclusions AND recommendations

SUMMARY

statement of the problem the purpose of this study was to compile a history of dance in the church of jesus christ of latterlatterdayday saints from 1830 to 1940 subsubproblemsproblems 1 what was the history of dance in the church of jesus christ of latterlatterdayday saints 2 what was the philosophy ofdanceof dance in the LDS church 3 what were the dance forms music and attire in dance within the LDS church 4 what was the contribution of the LDS church towards the preservation of folk dances in america this study was accomplished by a search of historical materials found in the LDS church historians library sallsalesaicsalcsalusaiu lake city utah and the brigham young university library provo utah including documents newspapers magazines books and publications photphotographotogramphotographsographsephs and pictures LDS official reports and LDS books and publications the findings of this study indicated the following 96 97

1 dance has continually been an important and desirable part of the mormon heritage from the spontaneous dances of early mormon groups on the plains has developed a highly integrated church dance program of today 2 the attitude and philosophy of church leaders toward dance was encouraging yet restrictive enough to maintain high standards of participation and conduct the leaders felt a continuing responsibility to provide for the physical as well as the spiritual needs of their people 3 although the mormons wereworeweroworo often isolated social- ly and geographically they continued to preserve current american dance forms attire and music as well as contri- buting their own influence 4 the mormon people were highly instrumental in carryingamericancarrying american folk dance and culture across the continent as well as preserving it until the present day conclusions

it seemed only appropriate in the development of a new society such as the mormons that the leaders turned neir attentions lo10zo dance and recreation dance has and wiilwill continue to be a part of american culture symbolic of the effectiveness of the LDS church dance program were the more current annual dance festivals which brought together thousands of mormon youth from allaila111.1liii areas of the world the LL S church has certainly added strength and character to our recreational heritage as described by 98

elmer D mitchell of therne university of michigan in thechebhe finalfinaifilial sense the church has a definite and most important relationship to the recreational life of the codincomincommunityunity inasmuch as it can set standards whichwillwhich willwiil largely determine the type of recreation that its followers will seek the church should assume much more responsibilityrespolaatapibiahiahllitytty than it already has in elevating the recreational life of the community there is a reciprocal relationship between recreation and morals one of the most significant contributions to recreation in thekhebhe church fifafif3fleafieldad1d has been made by thechurchthe church of jesus christ of latterlatterdayday saints the mentions have given aggressive leadership to the promotion of play have conductedresearchconducted research and published valuable literature for recreational leaders 438

recommendatrecommendationsRECOMMEND AT tonsIONS

basederased on tafthfthe findings and conclusions of this study the following recommendations were made 1 A similar study should be conducted from 1940 until the present day 220 A more extensive study of dancedancle forms should be conducted from unpublished materials to expand the currently available dancedaneedande repertoire bibliography

99 bibliography

1 after mutual dances improvement era volume 3 december 1927 2 andersenanderson edward EL ed YMMIA hdhoqk saltsait lake city young mens mutuattmprovement association of the LDS church 1925 3 anonymous newel knightsxnightss journal scraps of tioqrbiographyachyaphy y faithfaithpromotingpromoting series volume 10 salt lake city juvenile instructor office 1887 4 barrett ivan J josephjos smith and the restoration provo young house 197319730 5 barrettbarrett william E the restoredrestored church tenth ed salt lake city deseret news presstpreastpress 1961iggie19610 6 boucher francois 200002 00j years of fashion new york harry N abrams inct7ttinc nyxg 7 brigham young university personal correspondence between dr ernest L wilkinson president and mr norman lloyd april 16 1969 8 buley roscoe C the old northwest pioneer period 181518401815 1840 volume 2 indianapolis insishaaiseaaisha3 ana historical society 1950 9 carter kate B heart throbs of the west volume 1 salt lake city daughters of the utah pioneers 1939 10 heart throbs of tthe west volume 2 salt lakelabe city daughters of utah pioneers 1940

11 cassinS scott jack costumecostume and fashion inanxn color 1760 1920 london blandblantforatpressford press uffltdtttlTP 1 12 cheney sheldon three thousand years of drama acting and Stagestagecrafstagecraftcraft new yoryoriyortk tut5ftu3t6r pukitshingPuKITi u1y1 1 s7shIngsa ng co 1929 egcft

13 chujoy anatole and P W manchester the dance Ency new york encyclopencyclopediaclop1 ediaedla simon and schuster 1967 100 101 14 the church moves on mormon group featured in fifth D c&C tl national folk festival washington ca F improvementlm avemovem ent era volume 41 may 1938 15 the church of jesus christ of latterlatterdayday saints the doctrine and covenants salt lar-lakee city LDS church 1964t1964 16 the contributor salt lake city volume 8 january 78 87 17 the 30aocojributor3ontributor salt lake city volume 16 august 1895189510 18 deseret news salt lake city volume 5 february 10 r3ra 19 driggs howard R A higher standard for dances the juvenilejuvenilellelie instructorlipsIJQS tructruetor volume 48 january 1913 20 dulles foster thea A nistorhistory of recreationecreatiqn new york appletoncenturyappleton century crofts TTSTS1965 21 forsgren lydia walwaiwalderwaiderderden history off box ejdereldereider countcounty salt lake city daughters of utah pioneers 1937 22 hinkley helen the mountainsmounta are mine new york the guard preslstncpress inc 7 t9t619467194 67 23 the elistolzofhistory of smithfield smithfield utah the city 192719270 24 instructions on social work improvementmt era volume 20 april 1917 Is 25 inventory of the county archives of utah historical recordsrecords survey number 20 sanpete county t9tl ID ab2b2 6 inventory of the county archives of utah historical recorlsrecordsRecor LS surveyZ number 24 uintah county 1919tct 27 inventory of the county archives of utah historical records survasuryeyeyey number 26 wasatch county 1938 28 inventory of the county archives of utah historical chefchyrrecordschyfCHsurdyjsurvyjYf number 2929p weber county IISTCT 29 jennings J B backward glance at dancing improvement era volume 39 june 1936 30 johnson don carlos A brief gijtqryhisto of0 springvilleSpringville utauteutahh springvilleSpringville utah william F gibson 1900 102 31 journal history of the church historical archives unpub1is1unpublishedld microfilm copy LDS church histor- iansian library salt lake city april 20 1839 32 journal history of the church historical archives unpublished microfilm copy LDS church histor- ianslans library salt lake city january 2 1884 33 kennedy douglas eansennslandiswandis dancesdences london B bell & sons ltd 1950kllb008 334A kirsteinkirstein lincoln A short flisaflisjto2rar ofjlassxcclassic theatritheatrega Ecalcai j0011danclilgDanc LiLg new ekreeryorkyoekrkr GPG P putnams e6easons9tatg119 815415 35 kraus richard hiliali1 tor01xieXIL0 yleyiethey18 dancedancea new jersey prentice hall inc1969inc 1969

36 lehman H C and paul A whitty PI1 sychologysychpsychologyology of plavplay activitiesactivitie s new york A S barnebarness co 1927 37 lovett benjamin B good morning dearborn michigan mr & mrs henry fortfoetfordfoed tsiitaii 38 lucian a greek writer 162165162 165 AD taken from a note- book of charles brown 1971 390i39 marks joseph E america learns to dance new york exposition press t9l51957 40 mcgavin E cecil the mormon pioneers salt lake L city stevens and wellsweilswelisweills incinc 1941947 7 41 merrill A M dancing improvement era volume 2 mayoctobermay october 1908

42 mutual improvement association dancedan mamajmamaymanual 193919401939 1940J salt lake city general boards of the MIA ofot the LDS church 1939 43 dance suaisualament2ment 1942431942 43 salt lake city generaldcueeeilet9a21dcirdsJ C ards of thetiletnie MIA of the LDS church 1942 44 dance sueelemeilt9a344supplement 1943441943 44 salt lake city general bearisboarisboards of the MIA of the LDS church 1943 45 ojluireoneOJlurrehundred years of dancing salt lake city luIregeneral boards of the MIA of the LDS church 1946 103 46 mutual improvement associations official guide for the leisuretimeleisure time Recreationalandrecreationaland recreational Pprogramdogramrogram of the ldjsldesLDS churchChurclicil sayfsayet lake city general boards of MIA 1928 47 nelson larelle no dance Programprogramsprogramsrsr improvement era volume 40 1937 48 primus pearl out of africa the danceD ance hashas mamany faces ed walter screll new york the world publishingpuelpublishingashing company 1951 49 rice clayton S the mormon way salt lake city clayton S rice 1929 50 roberts B H documented history of the church volume 2 salt lake city deseret news press 194801948 51 shaw dorothy the stostory of quaresquare dancing los angeles simon and schuster 1965 52 shaw lloyd cowboy dances caldwell idaho the caxton printers ltd 1945 53 skidmore rex A mormon recreation in theory and practice unpublished phd dissertation university of pennsylvania 1941 54 smith G A the rise progresspro ress and travels of the church of jesus christch ist of0 latterlatterdayday saintsS ad2d ed salt lake city deseret news office 1872 55 smith joseph hihistorystprsopr of the churcchuocchurchh of jesus christ of latterlatterdayday saints volume 4 ed 7 bab7B H roberts saltjjberaiillake city the church of jesus christ of latterlatterdayisatter day saints 1964 A56 smith joseph F the dance craze 18 juvenile instructor volume 49 may 1914 57 smith lucy W social work improvement era volume 19 august 1916 58 spencer C Y oneaggqgg who jyebygwas valiantvallant caldwell idaho the caxton printersjq jygltdjLEd 1940 59 sweet william warren the storystoey of religion in ameri ca new york harper & brotbrotherer 19391931 6t960 timestlmesalmes and seasons nauvoo volumevolumesvolume5 5 number 17 0Octoborchobor 1 1844 104 61 tolman bethboth and ralph page the countrycountey dance book weston vermont s the countrymancountrymartpresspress tncanc T 7 62 tullidge edward W hihistorystory of salt loaaloazlakeLo AJ salt lake city star printingprin co77t8c0ca 01 8loajlaiz6T

63 utah centennial commission source book s basic 4 on MUS g Page parades materials music dramajramaaramadrama artazabazjb pci3ntxageantrypageantryantry a foryorjbhetahthe utah centecentenacentennCentennnniviieattataaytat7 salsaisaltsaitt laklitkee city utahuleahureah centennial commission 184719471847 1947 111 gaston A new 64 vuilliervulvuiiiialialllller hishistotgrofpancingEL of dancingr york D appleton and co 1897 65 walkup fairfax proudfit utah pioneer dress 1847- 1875 unpublished MA thesis university of utah 1947 66 websterWeb sterrsterg D and A merriam websters seventh newM colcoicollegiatelegiateleggate dictionaryD ictiotionarynary sprinaprinsprcpringfingairirilir mas sachusettsmassachusetts GOG & C merriam co 1967 67 woolley edwin G jr improper dancing juvenile instructor volume 48 may 1913 68 workers of writers program of the work projects admi- nistration for the state of utah provo pioneer mormon city Portlandportland oregon biffbinfbinfor3sorti and hortrrrsrrs1942 69 young levi edgar the foundfoundinging of utah new york charles scribner Is s6iis7sons 1923 70 young mens mutual improvement association of the LLDSDS church personal correspondence between charles E Mitkitchenemitchenemitchenerchener general secretary and the writer october 19 1972 APPENDIX A discussion OF MORMON ATTITUDE TOWARD DANCE

105 106 tameseaorlstimes and seasonsseazons nauvoo 1844 as quoted in the mormon pilonepioneersers by cecil E mcgavin pages 160161160 161 we have always considered that there existed on the minds of the religious communitycoirffnunity a great deal of un- necessarynecessaryassary superstition in relation to dancing but perhaps this feeling is engendered more through other associations and evils connected with it than from the thing itself there certainly can be no harm in dancing in and of itself as an abstract principle but like all other athletic exercises it has a tendency to invigorate the system to promote health gymnastic exercises were considered as necessary in former days as any other part of tuition and in glandgiandenglandI1sn and other parts of europe they have been revived of late and are considered beneficial and even in america in the east we have accounts of gymnastic exercises being introduced and practiced even by the ladies wre- stling running climbing dancing or any thing that has a tendency to circulate the blood is not injurious butmustbut must rather be considered beneficial to the human system if pursued in moderation therefthereforecherefore looking at dancing merely as an athletic exercise or as something having a tendency to add to the grace and dignity of man by enabling him to have a more easy andgracefuland graceful attitudeattiattltadetude certainly no one could object to so much then for dancing as a science it we find by referring to the scriptures that dancing was not only tolerated but practiced as a religiousreligiouseligiouslous riterite3 in olden times it is very evident that dancing was alwaalwaysys used as a part of the service of jgodjgod andand not as an idlerecreationidleidie recreation and that it was generally practiced to celebrate some signal of victory some remarkable deliverance or on some particular days of religious festivity or rejoicing this then is the kind of dancing spoken of in the scriptures and if we are asked what our views are concerning dandanciradancirgdancingcira we can only answer that they are just such as thetho scriptures set forth and when we can see uchsuch a dance we shall join in it heartily we do not consider that the dancing that is now practiced is of that kind we never heard gods name praised nor his glory exalted in anhofanyofany of them nor do we think that there is the least desire to glorify god in the dancing of thethea present day so far then as the dancing that is now practiced is concerned we do not believe that it is a scriptural dancing or the thing that was practiced in former days and that it has not a tendency to glorify god or to benefit mankind As an abstract principle as we stated before we have no objections to it but when it leads people into bad company and causes them to keep timelywtimelyurtimelystimelyur hours it has a tendency to enervate and weaken the system and lead to profligateprof 1 igateagate and intemperate habits and so far as it does this so far it is injurious to society and corrupting to the morals of youth solomon says that there is a time to dance but that time is not at eleven or twelve clockoclock0 I1 at ightnightn nor at one two three or ffourour oiclomiclooclockk in the morning

107 APPENDIX B

COLONEL THOMAS L KANES description OF A DANCE AT WINTER QUARTERS 84718471

108 109

colonel thomas L kane quoted by kate carter in heart throbs of the westwost page 337 there was not sentimental affectation at their leaveleavetakingtaking the afternoon before was appropriated to a farewell ball and a more merry dancing rout I1 have never seen though the company went without refresh- ments and their ballballroomroom was of the most primitive it was the custom whenever the large camps rested for a few days together to make great arbors or bowerieswoweriesboweries as they called them of poles and brush and wattling as places of shelter fforor their meetings of devotion or conference in one of these where the ground had been trodden firm and hard by the worshipers of the popular father taylors precinct was gathered now the mirth and beauty of the mormon israel if anything told the mormonmormonss had been bred to other lives it was the appearance of the women as they assembled here before their flight they had sold their watches and trinkets as the most available re- source for raising ready money and hence liketheirlikeilke their partners who wore waistcoats cut with useless watch pockets they although their ears were pierced and bore the loopmarksloop marks of rejected pendantspendpennantsants were without earrings finger rings chains or brooches except such ornaments however they lacked nothing most becoming the attire of decorous maidens the neatly darned white stockings and clean bright petticoat the artistically clear starched collar and chemisette the something faded only becaasbecausbecausee too well washed lawn or gingham gown that fitted modishly to the waist of its pretty wearer these if any of them spoke of poverty spoke of a povertyapoverty that had known its better days 9 in the hishiehistory of salt lake cizclycity edward tullidge continues colonel kanes statement pages 313231 32 with the rest attended the elders of the church r thinchin call including nearly all the chiefs of the high council with their wives and childchildrenren they the bravest and most trouble worn seemed the most anxious of any to throw ofofforff the burden of heavy thoughts their leading off the dance in a great double cotillion was the signal that badettebadethebade the festivity commence to the canto of debonnairdebondebonnairenair violins the cheerofcheer of horns the jingle of sleigh bells and the jovial snoring of the tambourinestambouridestambour ines they did dance none of your minuets or other mortuary possessions of gentiles in etiquette tight shoes and pinching gloves but the spirited and scientscientifscientificif I-c dispidisplaysay sy of our venerated and merrmerryY grand- parents who werewore not above following the fiddlefiddieriddleriddie to the lively fox chase french fours copenhagen jigs virginia reels and the like forgotten figures execu- ted with the spirit of people too happy to be slow or bashfulbashfulahful or constrained light hearts lithe figures and light feet had it their own way from an early hour till after the sun had dipped behind the sharp skyline of the omaha hills silence was then called and a wellcultivatedwell cultivated mezzosopranomezzo soprano voice belonging to a young lady with fair face and dark eyes sang

110 APPENDIX C SAMPLE BALL invitation SALT LAKE CITY 1851

illililillii111 111212

I1 found inin georgeCi eorge D pyperbpylzierpypersts book the romancence of an

0 11 1 M 001 d Pplajfhouse1 avh0use y pagpagl 4433

GOG S L city dec 1051 the company of mr kinsey and lady is respectfully soisolsolisollsoilL i ted to attend a grand military ball given by professor ballo at the bath house on friday the 12th of dec 18511.851 4 P MSM I1 at oclock BALL MANAGERS lilliainwilliamwilliainWilliainlain staines doctor andrews NB admittanceadialadlai ttanczstancz for gentleman and lady three dollars scheme professor ballosbailosballots military band will be in attendance and wil J open the ballbali withwithswaths govcrnoigovernoigovernor yoitngsyouaysyoways grand marcmarchh by D ballo

pre identjeeni I1 preuulenjdeni kimballsKunbalsbais grand marchmarche 0 do president chardslrijrichards1chardchardel sl grand march 0 0 do governorr young s grand quickstep do during the repast glandgrand march froiafromfeora the opera of tancreda

1 D loarlovrlove not 0 0 arranged by ballo 1T C iro I raouldrnouldnou id like tofro marry 0 do jiee on I1 e oceanoceanss wave do Ddesertesert wa I1itt-ez do ac&c racrc APPENDIX D

EXAMPLES OF HOW DANCE INGRAINED ITSELF

INTO MORMON CULTURE

113 114 seeee lbliographybibliographyb for cited references springvilleSpringville utah levi curtis secured the assembly roomsroroonisboonisonis fortor cotillion parties whwhichich were held weekly during the winter levi curtis and james obanion were the fiddlersfiddfiddlerylers old and young would gather for dancing everybody came early andreturnedand returned about the midnight hour the bed rooms opening from the hailhallhali were generally full of babies snugly tucked away while the mothers enjoyed the dance often supper was served in the spacious dininghalldining hallhail attached to the johnson home everything was done to make the gatherings de- lightful these parties were pleasant and animated spectacles the huge fire places at either end of the hall were piled high with dry cedar fagotsfagons the flames from which seemingly endowed with the spirit of the dance leaped and danced up the chimneys with a roar that laughed the winter blasts to scorn enough admission was charged to defray the expense of music and lights tickets were paid for in any kind of produce that the fiddlers could be induced to take I1 usually a couple of two bushel sacks could be seen sit- ting near the door into which the dancers deposited their contributions and some brought candles with which to light up the man with the candle commanded entrance to any of the social functions no matter how small the event and it is even whispered that two have been ad- mitted with one candle 30

0 0 the boys and girls would also hadeanhavean occasional dance in some large room procured for the aus- picious occasion A large room at edward hallshalisha11slis home a front room at widow humphreys and the little adobe school house in the fort row were among the popular resorts half a dozen boys would furnish a candle each others a peck of wheat each and others produce such as any one of the three village fiddlersfiddfiddlerylers benjamin blanchard william smith or levi curticurtiscurtis could be induced to take in payment for their services and all was ready for the dance early candlelight was the usual hour for commencement and midnight for closing it did not take the boys and girls as long to prepare fforsoreoror a ball then as now they had not so many nice clothes to put on the boys often had to borrow their mothers shoes which whetwhen well blackened with soot from the underside of the stove lid made a dancing shoe not to be despised then with their linsey shirts tucked into their homemadehome made jeans pants and with well buttebutteredred locks they were ready for the ballroom the first couple to arrive lighted their candle and put it in the woodenbracketwooden bracket and so on until all had arrived the fiddlers came and then the dance began in real ear- nest and continued til midnight when goodbyesgood byes were said and made home 48 all for 3047483047AO 115 provo realizing the hardships underwhichunder which the settler lived the mormon church encouraged such amuse ments as dancing and theatricals an early day party is thus described the largest room in the place was a log building intended to serve as a meeting house fort and school house and in this the merrymakers metmeto As it was to be 0 0 a stylish party two fiddlers were engaged instead of one each gentleman who wished to dance must bring two candles as an entrance fee unfortunately when the time to light up arrived it was discovered that no one had brought a candle stick however some produced jack knives which being stuck into the logs and partly closed would hold a candle very well others rushed home and brought big potatoes which were quickly transformed into candlesticks by slicing one side for a base and making a hole in the other 1 and a shingle judiciously stuck between the logs here and there answered admirablyadmirablyas as a bracket

the musicians 0 0 are seated upon a table at one end of the room the caller beside him the company seated on quilt covered boards the room being big enough for three sets the men lead their partners to the floor violent skill brings copious moisture to the brow which the few lucky to possess handkerchiefs remove by their use others not so favoredfavolfavox ed used their shirt sleeves for the same purpose to wear a coat at such a time would badly interfere with this convention besides this many of the boys didnt have any but instead wore flannel over shirts with anchors moons or flowers stamped upon them ancand embroidered pockets in front they wore also a red silksiiks i sash around the waist and calcicalcineresneres pantaloons madeilk spanish fashion altogether boys so dressed prespresentedentedanted quite a dashing appearance at about ten oclock the lunch was served cake that is dark in color because it was sweetened with homemadehome made molasses made from corn stalks beets melons or parsnipsparsnips each of which willwitwil L akeiakelakeaakeL a passable syrup smaller fruit cakes made of dried service berries rather hard and tasteless but the best they had and good enough sugar was almost unknown raisins and spices entirely so being six months from the source of supply by ox teams here too are custard pies and crisp brown nutcakesnutcakes 68 willowwallow creek mrs bithiah wells told about one of the rirstbirstyirs busticPuubtic dances in willow creek which was held new years eve 1853 lyman wells had just furnished a log room twenty feet long which had a board floor fas- tened down with pegs the flooring hadbeenhad been sawed at an 116 ogden mill and so was extra smooth mrs wells said they enjoyed ttiietiletlleliejiejle dance so much that the memory of it was still clear in her mind sixtasixtv seven years later 21 admittance to the dances was paid for generally in kind squash cabbages potatoes and other vegetables were taken at the door and often the gay young man paid for his ticket and that of hhisis partner with a piece of meat or a skin of some furfurbearingbearing animal the dancehallsdance halls were lighted in early days with homemadehome made candles or tallow tips 69330

celebration on 185118 51 ee imp and imm dancing christmas lebrateelebratirm i the merriment continutcontinuaconTIconfixconfihnuT13 unanttiunttiE i 1 10TO 30T0 0octockoclockrc ock pmp m benediction pronounced by father morley ri10332I

christmasC arihri simagtmag ofojjls521852 captain ballos band played lively tunes all the above apostles made speeches they wanted to see schools established where higher education could be taught as well as the A B Cs wherewharewhetrEl the fine men and women of the future could be trained to carry on the work meeting adjourned till 3 oclock when dancing commenced all were invited tickets to the dance cost 50 cents elder woodruff led the cotillion in one wing of the building elder F D richards in the other the speeches were all in the cause of higher education at 12 oclock they closed with prayer the 14th ward celebration became annualannuzll 10333

new fearlsyearlsyear sjdajsudajdaldax 1 8531853 one new years day 1853 the old social hall was dedicated and formally opened not with a dramatic performance but with a social and a ball the program consisted of speeches and vocal and instrumental numbers after the program picnic was served and then the evening was climaxed by a grand ball 10345 the new year of 1853 was danced in with extra cere- mony more candles were furnished and another fiddler william smith procured all the good clothes were brought out for the occasion some who were mere lads at that time wearing their first breeches can kememremem ber among the merry makermakerss who were full of frolic and sprightly papers e to cut the pigeons wing and did the fancy steps george mckenzie bowed and smiled at his partner and proctor humphrey swung gemcm fair gem because he liked em 0O the old ladies sat and 117 looked on nodding their approval while the old gentlemen sat in the chimney corners and told stories of the days when they were young 3017183017 18

ah2hjilzajlii4 1853 tlethetie dayy was very warm likeilke all days in the valley of late the social hall was filled in the evening and hundreds retired for the want of seats the school houses in the 14th ward were filled with prayers and music and dancing and speeches and reports from other school houses in the city 6933333469333 334

fall laala51856 6celebracelebratiu the bi Is birthbirthjaybirthdayfazfayjay e the day wasas spent in reminiscences of their early travels songs and music and the late afternoon in dancing A melodeionmelodeion was brought to springvilleSpringville by a family named hawley and sold to bishop johnson it was a superior instrument and waswa s useduponuseduseduponupon this occasion 3036373036 37

julyZ 24124 1857 next day the long train wended its way up to the beautiful valley at the head of the canyon where tents were pitched under the spreading bran- ches of the towering pines the next day will never be forgotten by those present there was a battery of artillery that kept the echoes ringing from daybreak until 8 pm A fine program was carried out while dancing swinging and feasting was kept up until the tweewee hours of the 25th it was upon this occasion that A 0 smoot and porter rockwell rode into camp sunburned and travel stained and imparted the startling news that johnsons army was on the way to utah 3044

1821892 on the 22th sic of june the johnsons held a reunion to commemorate the 88th birthday of aaron johnson all the first who had come to springvilleSpringville to make their hcasacas were invited in addition to the members of the family there being over 320 persons resent that day the johnsons with their friends held the city hall and grounds and with program of music speechesandspeeches and songs feasting and dancing a profitable and pleasant day was spent 3092

jubilee daday 1900 the exercises of the day con- cludaludcluded withWIth a most enjoyable ball at the reynolds hall and a concertcloncdoncwon atcert the meeting house altogether the day was voted a complete success 301041053010430 104105.104105104 105 118

first celebration at boxb5lejereldereider f joiyj2iyju 24 j8441844 after theuluukultiojljldanner was servservedserved77 the bowery raswas cleared and all enjoyed themselves dancing until chore timetime11 in the evening they took picnic and held a dance in the long log school house located just outside of fort limits the hall was lighted with candles placed in rows on the window ledges both young and old were in attendance they danced to the strains of violins played by owen jones george F hamson and hyrum hendricks they felt rich in seclusion loveiovelover and union there was no class distinction then 31182

ogdensoadogd enjbenj s firstfijsjchrjstmaseChristchristmasesmasess the day was usually spent at home and mother prepared a good dinner for us very often the sunday school gave a dance for the children in the afternoon and the day ended with a dance in the evening for the grownupsgrown ups though we did not have very much we were happy and a spirit of love and peace prevailed thesocialthe social parties given by the association YMMIA at the county court house one on christmas andtheand the other on new years eve were well attendedattenattendedydedy and both passed off in a very orderly pleasingPlEtpietasing and highly enjoyable manner the music under the leadership of professor fowler john fowler was mocmostt elcexcexcellentellenteilent the floorfloormanagermanager and attendant committees were very gen- tletlemanlymanly and courteous the company that assembled was very select and the utmost vivacity and spirit prevailed during the entire evening both parties closed at 12 oclock midnight sharp 10341

thankthanksgivinginqing davday on thanksgiving there was usually a dance for children in the afternoon sponsored by the sunday schools A dance at night concluded the days festivitiesfestivitiesles 10 18

0oldoidd timeime indindependencep2 iencebence dazdavday in manti was everybodyeverybodys s day evervbodylsmeetingevelrybody s meeting everybodyeverybodysit s dance and all were there homes were deserted business houses closed and the entire citizenry mingled in celebration the dance closed at twelve everyone went home and to bed the day had been long it had been satisfying it had been sufficient those who have not taken part in a rural fourth of july celebration in utah have missed something not to be found elsewhere 10350 APPENDIX E organizational RULES OF THE SOCIAL COMMITTEE

119 120 article found in the improvement era vol 20 april 1917 pages 548552548 552 instructions ON SOCIAL WORK

social committees 1 organization in stakes and wards social committees composed of men and women shall be appointed by presidents of stakes and bishops of wards to take charge of all social activities the members of these committees should be selected with a view to their particular fitness for social work it being suggested for the consideration of the authorities in the appointment of stake and ward committees that it might be well to have the auxiliary organizations represented on such committees these committees should act in harmony with the priesthood and carry out their wishes all social gatherings should be under their direct supervision 2 meetings and order of business all committees having social work in charge shall have definite times of meetings 0 the following order of business for these meetings is suggested a prayer b roll call c reports of work previously assigned d consideration of general regulatory suggestions received e consideration of local social problems and determination upon definite ways and means of their solution f definite assignments of members of the committee to the execution and supervision of the plans agreed upon g benediction

priesthood approval and public sentiment all decisions reached by the social committeecommittees should be approved by the presiding authorities in the stakes and wards the cooperation of all priesthood and auxiliary organizations and of all other helpful sources should be earnestly sought the decisions should then be brought before the general pupublickdlickadlic with a view to creating sentiment in their favor it must always be understood that no plan of action can be successful uniunlessess supported by the 121 public sentilentsentimentsentsenfcirentilent therefore opportunity must be sought to present the work of the committee in the public gatherings with a view to enlisting support

instruction of dancidancingng and ballroom management 1 the hall the committee shall see that the hall is clean comfortable well lighted and ventilated where possible separate cloak rooms for ladies and gentlemen should be provided 2 time of opening and closing all parties should begin not later than 8308-030 and close not later than 1130 pm the frequent practice of playing the home sweet home medley should be dispensed with 303 prayers all parties should be opened and closed by brief appropriate prayers 4 director of the dance A competent man who is tactful and has influence among the young people shall be selected by the committee as director of the dance if not already a member of the committee he shall be made a member during the dance the director shall have supervision of the hall orchestra and program and shall be the constituted judge as to what is proper and improper in dancing and depodeportmentrtmentrement when deemed advisable he may be compensated for his service such compensation to be charged as part of the expense of the dance where conditions require the director of the dance should have such assistantsassistantc as may be necessary it is suggested that these assistants be young men congenial with the youngaeoyoungpeoyoung peoplepeopie and familiar with dances and dancing 5 duties of director among thedutiestheoutiesthe duties of the director are these a to consult with the musicians prior to the eveningeven 4 g otOL the dance upon the fitness of the music for the dances determined upon and arrange that only proper music shall be played high class music is conducive to good deportment and refined dancing great care should be exercised iiini the choice of music for the dance and the orchestra should not be permitted to play objectionable selections b to be on hand promptly in order that the dance may begin at the appointed time also to see that the musicians and reception committee are present on time 122 c to follow the program preserving the iden titycity of the dance dances should be announced by placard program or otherwise allowance should be made for some variety in methods of dancing pro idedaidedvidedv1 the different interpretations are similar enough not to be objectionable d to insist upon correct position e to exclude tactfully but courageously undesirable persons and to see that the use of tobacco liquor and bad language is not permitted in or about the building f to see that all present receive proper in- troductions great care should be exercised in introducing young people to strangers no young man or young woman should be introduced unless the person making the introduction can stand sponsor for his or her worthiness much harm has resulted from indiscriminate introductionintroductionsintroductionsoso 6 patrons and chaperones patrons and chaperones lend tone and an atmosphere of conservatism much to be desired and also add an element of real safety young people should be instructed that chaperonage is rather for protection than for restraint social committees should make it their special duty to see that bishops and other leadinadeadinaleading members of the priesthood as well as parents receive personal invitations to and are encouraged to attend the dances of the young people arrangements should be made to insure the attendance at each dance of at least three parent Coucouplesplies free of chchrchargerirge frequent changes in the per- sonnelbonnel of patrons are desirable attention to these details will solvesolvemanymany of the problems connected with social life 7 children under age boys and girls under four- teen years of age unaccompanied by parents should be discouraged from attending evening parties 8 escorts young ladies may attend without gentlemen escorescorlsescortsLs if properly chaperoned but should not accept company home other than that with which they amejamesame 9 partners young men should bring partners and their comincidomincicoming without should be strongly discouraged if not forbidden ioeloe10010 positions dancers should take such free and open positions as will permit them to execute the dance gracefully presenting a pleasing appearance most of the recent criticism of dancing is occasioned by the improper positions assumed in the modern dance any 123 position which encroaches in the slightest degree upon modesty and rerefinement4 inementonement should not be permitted the accompanying cuts illustrate good position 11 square dance square and line dances give variety and develop ththethaa spirit of sociability many have the idea that these dances are to be engaged in with much noise and stamping and at a whirlwind rate this is not so As much grace and dignity are required in square as in round dances 12 no special dances approved the church authorities do not express approval of any particular dance they expect all dances to be characterized by modesty and refrefinementininementonementement 13 special attention in putting the foregoing instructions into effect special emphasis should be laid upon the following a organization of committees b appointment of director of the dance c chaperonage d proper position contiguous stakes may unite in formulating plans for carrying out these regulations and for perfecting other details to suit local conditionsconditdonditionslons the general board of relief society the general board deseret sunday school union the general board YMMIA the general board YLMIAY the general board primaryLMIAassociations sic the general board religion classes the general churcchuocchurchh board of education approved by the first presidency of the church of jesus christ of latterlatterdayday saints 24 APPENDIX F

LESSON ON PUBLIC DANCINGDANCINGF 1918

124 125 article found in the inprovementimprovementisroviient era vol 21 october 1918 on pages logi1091109110921092

lesson vipublicVI public dancing so early in the worlds history was dancing introduced that it is conceded to be the most ancient art known early dances embraced the great events in savage life the drama of courtship the funeral dance con- secrationsecration of labor celebration of the harvest etc it was also associated with the religreligiousiLOUs riritestes of the people every nation had its interpretative dance of the day americas lack of a national dance and the proper fostering of this art is probably due to the attitude of the pilgrim fathers which absolutely prohibited dancing since the early nineties dancing has become part of the public school system and has long been recognized as an educating factor in the life of the child it adds a suppleness lightness and ease to the body which gives it greater power of EMpressionexpression ball room dancing although pleasing doesdodsdogs not give expression to the emotions as does interpretative and folk dancing it is also easily perverted as we have seen in the dances of the past few years when all sorts of grotesque and ridiculous dances have been introduced into the ball room public dancindancdane ing a contracontribution to crime A prominent social worker in saltsaitsaitsalt laketake city says 1 I consider the public dance hall one of the greatest factors in the ruination of young men and women some of the objectionable features of dancing are 1 the promiscuous association of the sexes 22. the almighty dollar is the certain badge of respectability the dancer who has the price is welcome although he may be the vilest wretch in the land money is placed ahead of character or reputation 3 the dancer takes liberties with the dance and with his partner he would not take among acquaintances license is taken from the actions of others and also from the attitude of the management it is a strange but true saying when in rome do as rome does 126 4 conventionality and social custom are usually laid aside because the dancer is not known how often this is taken advantage of over the telephone in the railway coach away from home people often present another side of their nature entirely foreign to the one they show to their family and friends so at these public dances people do evil things under the cloak of not being known 5 detention homes reformatories and prisons have their proportion of those who began their downward career at the dance oh the pity of the cry which comes from many of these unfortunatestheyunfortunates they began visiting such places in innocence totally ignorant of how soon they would be caught in the toils of vice forceforces s marshaledymarshamarsha1edshadedledyiedyby thithlthiss evil musimusic painting dancdancingtaredancInglngareTare allali11 arts which lend themselvesjhemselvesthemsejlves toIQ diedleJIQ high- est emotional enjqmentjjiieyenj9yinenta22 t eyareare elevating and refindrefin ingtxeyey dittitlelieTiT11 1lElie soul with exquisite pleasure but these arts are often perverted for they lend themselves quite as readily to gratifying the baser nature in man bad music suggestive and yulgarjmqygmepvulgar movements the apdybpdy suggetjeI1 ofthejqdy close positionposiposl ionlon iimpropermaropemprope lothingclothing unlighted rooms late hours use of tobacco and the use of liquor all debase and demoralize the art and these evils are frequently the accompaniment of the public dance hall forces to be masjialedmarshalemarsdalemarshaleshaie agaiastnst this evil our pioneer fathers set the fashion for dancingancfiigtr almost daily their long tedious journey was ended with an hour or so of dancing president young said

ss thothosa41e who cannot srvearveve god xjlth a pure heart glnJLBin ail dance should notnptjclancjgdanc if you wish to dance dance and you are just as much prepared for a prayer meeting after dancing as you ever were if you are saints if you desire to ask god for anything juujouuu are as well prepared to do so in a dance as in any other place if you are saints rs 1 this standard which our pioneer leadersetleader1 setet is the one the latterlatterdayday saints recrecognizenize and strive to con- form to A clean well lighted tastefully decorateddcoratjajballhaliballhail supervisorqrvjsorss jpoff ddancesances good jnutc7icv opqpopeninging and clocioclosingsing with prayer presence of older people are among the necessitinecessitiesnecessitynecessitiosos of a well conducted dance cleanliness adds comfort and a good spirit bright light makes one more careful of his deportment and bearing how many 127 sins are committed under cover of darkness decoration adds comfort harmtharm and tone prayerP r reminds one that the pleasure of the evening must be clean and upliftupliftingingyng that the good spirit will be in the dance if it is properly conducted presence of older people helps the young to be more courteous to others and watchful of their own behavior the fact that amusement halls havehaven become a ward necessity shows that communities realize the need of a place for dancing and other amusements this however is only the first step in supplying the need let there be a ward committee in every ward let every ward member support that committee and feel heishelshe is personally responsible to a degree for the social activities in his ward there is a disposition of the faithful ward member to uphold the bishop in every religious activity of the ward but to leleaveave severely alone the amusements and social welfare of the ward either being satisfied without social intercourse or seeking it elsewhere if a bishop attended to his religious duties alone how long could a ward be held together the bishop and the ward officers are the pivots abouarouaroundnd which all religious social and temporal activities rotate they are nec- essarilyessarily interested in all three activities if they are not the ward is not balanced so with each individual member it is part of his ward duty to participate in the amusements and gigiveve his1 9 bestabdit efeffortsforts totojblietl developing bdi of hesthighest ideals1 in dancindancingandgand all other ilegitimate64iE imate formsoffform0rmsofs Q aamusementmdsemenI

questions and discussion 1 discuss the test of a nations civilization is measured by the use of its leisureleisureoleisured 11 2 how can dancing be improved in your community 3 discusdiscuss v emediesrremedies for untimely automobile rides and for patronizing refreshment booths after the dance 4 what should be the attitude of the individual towards stake and ward amusements 5 point out the remedy for promiscuous dancing 6 what can be done to keep unchaperonedunchclperoned girls from the public dance APPENDIX G instructions FOR DANCE DIRECTORS 1923

128 129 article found in the imimprovementvementrorovementmovement era vol 27 december 1923 pages 172189172 189

DANCE DIRECTOR IN EVERY WARD the general boards of MIA have adopted the following in relation to stake and ward dancing parties all dancing parties are to be conducted by a director who has been instructed in all the MIA dancing standards the mutual improvement executive officers in the various stakes and wards will transmit this information through the committee on recreation of the stakes and wards to all concerned THE DANCE DIRECTOR

BEFORE THE PARTY 1 should know the type of dancing partyitsparty its particular needs 2 should cooperate with committee in selecting music 3 see to the condition of the hall in regard to light- ing cleanliness heating ventilation seating water toilets etc cooperate with janitor 4 should have a definite understanding and full cooperation with the group giving the party 5 should make personal preparation look right feel right do right 6 should cooperate with parents and ward leaders and occasionally invite them as guests also encourage chaperonage 7 should meet with other dance directors and cooperate in bettering conditions

AT THE PARTY 1 should meet committee early and check on details and have definite understanding as to their cooperation 2 do little personal dancing 3 see that everybody has a good timemuchtime much is to be done while the dance is going on 4 maintain proper environment about the building cooperate when necessary with peace officers 5 should be the constituted judge as to what is proper and improper in dancing and deportment be constantly on the alert to prevent difficulties which may arise 6 do private personal work with both crude and cul- tured AFTER THE PARTYt 1 adoptdp businesslikebusinessn likeilkea mmethodid in papayingng forr musicmssmus is and other helpheipp 2 cooperatep a withv chaperonesap n andalidaledaxed bidid allaliaila a heartya goodnightcodngcoding 3 make careful review of the eveningsnn eventsit and makea notationn va n of constructivec i future prgrprogramm tto bec approved by committeei a remember yyou area not onlyn directingd in a dancen yuyou are traininga ningnangnxng rmen and womenrc n two yearsa latera r further ddetailsal werer toutlinedlind by the MIT

130 APPENDIX H definitions OF DANCE TERMS

131 132 lli1310allemande lef1 t give lefleftt hand to corner and cir cle once around

allemande rights give right hand to partner circlecircie once around

bow acknowledge the person indicated

buzz step on the right foot keep weight over it touch the left toe behind the right the right pivots in place use left as a pusher

cast offoff in contra dances this means to go on to the next couple

chasjgehasse 1 step to the side and close

irclexjrclje four two couples join hands and circle left circle ealeameight four couples join hands and circle left circcirclecirciebircie AAleftlert circle moves to the left

circlecircieC ircarc ie rightrlghtrxght circle moves to the right

closecoose bringing feet together

corner the person nearest you who is not your partner

dpdo si do facing partner walk forward passing 133 right shouldersshoulshouldersydersy passpassingng behind them back to back pass by the lefleftt shoulder backing to place

dopasdocopaspas 0o opposite of the do si do

elbow swing two dancers grip designated forearms or elbows to walk around each other

forward all everyone moves forward

forward and back move forward and then back

grand riqhtrightrihtaht and left partners face join right hands walk past each other give left handhaind to the next right to the next continue until they meet their partner

grapevine this may be started by stepping to right with right or moving to right by crossing left over right step right to right step left in front of right step right to right bring left behind right head the firstarstfirst or head couple

home politipositios itionaitionon the place in the set where you started the dance

honor bow to the person indicated

arlarileft Ahand swing11 partners hold leftleetle et hands and swing once arounda11

pass through two couples face drop hands and 134 pass opposite right shoulders

promenade partners right hand in right hand over left iina n leftfacingleftlefty facing right walking around the circle

bightpight hand swing partners hold right hands and swiswingng once around

side the side couple i two hand swinswing partners hold both hands and swing once around VITA

NAME karl E wesson PLACE OF BIRTH tempetempo arizona undergraduate AND GRADUATE preparation undergraduate major business education minors art and drama graduate major recreation education with emphasis in dance and related areas

DEGREES AWARDED graduate diploma from school of cosmetology 1964 clells AA degree mesa community college 1969 BA degree arizona state university 1971 MA degree brigham young university 1975

AREAS OF SPECIAL INTEREST recreation education dance drama motion picture production professional experience counselor coed summer camp in the white mountains of arizona cosmetologist 196419651964 1965 196719721967 1972 high school business education teacher 1971 teaching assistant folk and social dance brigham young university 197219741972 1974 production assistant at brigham young university motion picture studio 1972 to present professional AND HONORARY organizations sigma gamma chi mens honorary mesa community college master M man award LDS church american hairdresser association CHURCH POSITIONS missionary rarotonganRorororotongantongan and new zealand missions 196519671965 1967 135 136 ward dance director YMMIA president vicevicepresidentpresident of the LDSSA at ASU counselor BYU branch presidency DANCE IN THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF ATTERDAYATTERLATTERDAYLATTER1 DAY SAINTS 1830 1940

karl E wesson department of recreation education MA degree april 1975

ABSTRACT in this study the investigator pursued the history of dance in the church of jesus christ of latterlatterdayday saints from 1830 to 1940 in the nineteenth century the mormon philosophy of recreational dance was radically different from that of other christian churches the membership of the early mormon church was drawn from puritan new england and other areas where churches opposed play and particularly dancing mormon leaders encouraged dancing as a relief from the tribulations of a hard days work recreational dance zlpedhelpedh to boost the spirits of the people and keep morale high dance was never free from restrictions however es- peciallypecially those pertaining to worship and rest on the sabbath

from the scattered and spontaneospontaneousuc 1 dances chara- cteristicteristic of early mormon groups traveling west to salt lake city has grown a well organized and highly integrated dance program of today dance has truly developed into a vital part of the expansive recreational activity of the LDS church COMMITTEE APPROVAL tyc gilZIL ifaoiaf- darkclark T thorstensonla committee chairman

almaaimalmaima heaton committee member s aff williamJIL am arijri37 hafhafenenrffdepartment chachairman1 kman