Can mature adults sing and dance?

[Jack3]

I have a friend who is cheerful, sings while bathing, might dance while ironing his clothes, etc. But when it comes to his real duties, he is very responsible and serious. Now, someone told him his singing etc make him childish. I would like to tell him he's alright. Are there, like, great philosophers or kings or something who wrote on the meaning of maturity, that might be of help here?

[peregrinator]

I don't know about any authorities but I'm in my 50s and sing all the time, no one has ever suggested that I was childish.

[gherkin]

We have non-dancing Protestants over here in the US, but I'm not actually sure what their arguments are. I don't think they're childishness-based, though. I thought it was more that dancing tends to lead to temptations of various sorts.

It sort of sounds like you're not familiar with this idea that dancing is childish. That implies it's not a standard part of your culture. But if it's not part of the culture, then the person who asserted it is kind of out on his own. Where did his thought come from? What's the rationale? Apart from having that, why should your friend be concerned? Everyone gets an opinion. I hate cabbage. It doesn't mean you have to.

[Doom]

We have non-dancing Protestants over here in the US, but I'm not actually sure what their arguments are. I don't think they're childishness-based, though. I thought it was more that dancing tends to lead to temptations of various sorts.

It sort of sounds like you're not familiar with this idea that dancing is childish. That implies it's not a standard part of your culture. But if it's not part of the culture, then the person who asserted it is kind of out on his own. Where did his thought come from? What's the rationale? Apart from having that, why should your friend be concerned? Everyone gets an opinion. I hate cabbage. It doesn't mean you have to.

Of course, I am sure you are familiar with the old joke, why don't Baptists (or Methodists or whatever group might be opposed to dancing) have sex standing up? Because they are worried it might lead to dancing.

I would need to look up the history, but I feel pretty certain that the opposition to dancing originated during the First Great Awakening of the 1730's among Methodists and other strict "holiness" sects because it was widely associated with immoral behavior, drunkenness, fornication and the like. They were also concerned about "sexy" dance moves designed to encourage sexual arousal, which they can do, which is why stripping, whether it is done by male or female strippers, is usually done as part of a dance.

[Obi-Wan Kenobi]

* all right

[Tired]

I don't have any references or examples. But I'm confused at the proposition? Didn't adults in the Bible sing and dance both? Does his singing and dancing in anyway detract from the glory of God or cause scandal? It sure doesn't seem so.

[Jack3]

I don't know about any authorities

I'm thinking of things like "Pope Benedict had a teddy bear"

[Kage_ar]

As there are innumerable professional singers and dancers of all ages, as well as a bajillion non-professionals who sing and dance, this seems a strange comment.

A side note, I was trying to do vocalizations known as "beat boxing" last night, my son came around the corner because he thought the dog was gagging/throwing up. Maybe I am too old to learn new musical styles?????

[gherkin]

Everyone is too old to beat box.

[Kage_ar]

Heightist

[Obi-Wan Kenobi]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QDKLglEP5Y

[Kage_ar]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QDKLglEP5Y

There was a pop-up blocking the part of the screen with the title... and my sound was down - actually thought this might be a scene from Chosen with Jesus and their version of Zaccheus.

[Obi-Wan Kenobi]

It is the song of your people!

[Kage_ar]

It is the song of your people!

https://youtu.be/7nhdNoYwv1o?si=EzW4KzFrbSK5ZZn6&t=64

Of your people

[Obi-Wan Kenobi]

I’ll take it. Such a beautiful voice!

[Riverboat]

The real question is: Should all adults be allowed to sing with a microphone?

[Signum Crucis]

Late to the party, but I'm a senior, and I sang in a band from my late fifties to mid-sixties. I even did a little dancing. Dancing is good for balance, agility, flexibility, and generates a feeling of well-being. If singing and dancing is childish, I'm fine with that. It's better than being old, grumpy, and joyless.