Ballizein

Ballizein (βαλλίζειν). The Council of Laodicea (can. 53) says, "Christians ought not at marriages βαλλίζειν ἢ ὀρχεῖσθει — to use wanton balls or dancings — but dine or sup gravely, as becometh Christians." Some by the word βαλλίζειν understand playing on cymbals and dancing to them; but the word denotes something more, viz. tossing the hands in a wanton and lascivious manner; and in that sense there was good reason to forbid it. The third Council of Toledo forbids it under the name of ballimathioe (q.v.), which they interpret to be wanton dances joined with lascivious songs. The Council of Agde (can. 39) forbids the clergy to be present at such marriages where obscene love-songs were sung or obscene motions of the body were used in dancing. The like canons occur in the Council of Lerida. See Bingham, Christ. Antiq. bk. 16 ch. 11 § 15; bk. 22, ch. v, § 8. SEE DANCING.