Wer nicht tanzt zur rechten Zeit: Tanzdarstellungen in deutschen Zehnjungfrauenspielen

Abstract

According to medieval religious tradition, dances are judged as sinful or even linked to mortal sins if they are performed at the wrong time, by the wrong persons, or for evil purposes. This also means that literature or art could use dances to stress evil purposes, poor timing, or sinful personnel. This paper analyses some German religious plays featuring the wise and foolish virgins that use dances as a means to stress the wrong attitude of the foolish virgins: The Thuringer Zehnjungfrauenspiele stress the unprepared state of the virgins, who have a wrong understanding of time, which leads them to a sinful life. In the contrary, the 15th cent. Marburger Weltgerichtsspiel depicts the virgin’s intention to set up their own rules against God’s order, and the vain attempt to flee from death.