“Praise with the timbrel and the dance.” This refers to the church meditating on the resurrection of the dead in the resounding skin. Clement of Alexandria (c. 195, E), 2.248
Outside [of church], they foolishly amuse themselves with impious playing, . . . occupied with flute playing, dancing, intoxication, and all kinds of foolishness. Clement of Alexandria (c. 195, E), 2.290
You are rejecting the law when you wish to please the world. You dance in your houses. Instead of psalms, you sing love songs. Commodianus (c. 240, W), 4.215
The dancing of Herodias was opposed to that holy dancing with which those who have not danced will be reproached when they hear the words, “We piped unto you, and you did not dance.” And on birthdays, when the lawless word reigns over them, they dance so that their movements please that word. Origen (c. 245, E), 9.428
We turn women away from an immoral life . . . and from all mad desires after theaters and dancing. Origen (c. 248, E), 4.486
The fact that David led the dances in the presence of God is no sanction for faithful Christians to occupy seats in the public theater. For David did not twist his limbs about in obscene movements. He did not depict in his dancing the story of Grecian lust. Cyprian (c. 250, W), 5.576
Another crowd of souls is led in their wantonness to abandon themselves to clumsy motions, to dance and sing, and form rings of dancers. Finally, raising their haunches and hips, they float along with a tremulous motion of the loins. Arnobius (c. 305, E), 6.450