The signification of dance, is predicated of the love of spiritual truth, and signifies its pleasantness or gladness. In olden times gladness of heart was attested not only by musical instruments and songs, but also by dances. For joy of the heart, or interior joy, burst forth in the body into various acts, as into songs, and also into dances. And as in ancient times the gladness which excelled all others were spiritual gladness, that is, were from the affections of spiritual loves, which were those of good and truth, therefore also it was then allowed to add dances to the songs and musical harmonies, and in these ways also to testify joy. It is from this that dances are mentioned in the Word, and by them are signified gladness of the affections of truth or of faith, from good or charity, as in these passages.
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