[Question:]{.underline} Ought I to allow my children to learn ballet dancing?
[Answer:]{.underline} The question of dancing is a delicate and emotional one, for in itself it is indifferent, as a legitimate human activity, neither good nor bad. The goodness or evil of the action is consequently going to depend upon the circumstances that surround it. These circumstances will determine how close is the occasion of sin, and how grievous the sin that might be committed. Against these dangers of scandal or occasions of sin must be balanced the possible good to be gained by those involved in the dance. This is what Fr. Prummer, in his Manual of Moral Theology has to say on the question: “Although they are in themselves something indifferent, they are accustomed more often to produce grave scandal and to be the proximate occasions of sinning mortally. Indeed, it is never permitted to hold dances in which something external is done which is clearly immodest, on account of the nudity or of the gestures. A greater reason is required, the more proximate is the occasion of sinning” (I, §615). He concludes that “many modern dances, such as the Tango, Jazz, Shimmy, are accustomed to greatly incite sexual passion and are consequently illicit” (II, §697).
The question of ballet is not so clear cut as modern dancing. For it is a legitimate art form, one which is closely associated with classical music, one which can certainly bring many benefits to children, by teaching them many physical skills, coordination, gracefulness, a sense of beauty, the understanding of good music, and the respect that is due to the human body.
However, this being said, ballet is manifestly a very sensual form of art, and one which is very focused on the human body. The attire required to participate is certainly very immodest, tight fitting and revealing. If it is true that a professional performance may not be an occasion of sin, on account of the expertise of the performance, it is nevertheless the case that the frequenting of the ballet environment, the practices, the immodesty of the attire, the mixing of the sexes that is so much a part of the performances, all contribute to lower the soul to the level of the sensuality. It is consequently an art form that does not readily lift the soul to higher things, as does a less fleshly art form, such as music or poetry. Although this may not be a danger for little children, as soon as they hit puberty it will become one. There is a further danger, for both children and adults. It is an art form that promotes vanity, since all eyes are attentive to the physical appearance and performance. Few are those who could practice this art form without being consumed by vanity.
Ballet is consequently a very worldly, if legitimate, art form, and one which is, in the long term a danger to the soul. It is not always a sin, since it is not always an occasion of sin or scandal to others or to oneself. However, it can very easily become such an occasion of sin. The benefits to children are not commensurate with the dangers to which they will be exposed as teenagers. Consequently, traditional Catholics would be well advised to avoid ballet, and to encourage their children to develop an interest in the beauty and gracefulness of other art forms that do not endanger the soul from immodesty, impurity and vanity so much as ballet can.
Answered by Father Peter Scott, SSPX.