More on the Humiliating "Aveirah Tantz"

 

From EMAILIM BATORAH 

Origin of the Mitzvah Tanz                                      עבירה טאנץ Five hundred years ago, the Minhag in Poland was for the wedding guests, especially the תלמידי חכמים and חשובים to dance holding hands with the כלה. The היתר for this practice was given that it was done כדי לחבבה על בעלה, to increase her husband’s affection for her, and also  - for the כבוד of her father. There was no concern for the guests having illicit thoughts, being it wasn't done as דרך חיבה (affection) and also because they were dancing in public, while others observed them. The מהרש"ל   and others opposed this מנהג. They tried to abolish it. They held this to be a מצוה הבא בעבירה. (Aveirah dance)  holding hands of an אשת איש The ב"ח wrote that in his region,( Galicia) this Minhag was still practiced. He didn't condemn it.  However, he did condemn this practice in those areas where there was no such Minhag. Some would hold hands with the כלה, but would have a kerchief separating their hands so as not to have skin touching skin. The תורת חיים writes that holding hands is אסור even when a kerchief is used between the hands.                                        מצוה טאנץ At a later date, dancing with the כלה not holding hands was introduced. The כלה would hold on to one corner of a kerchief* and the guest to the other corner of the kerchief. Thus, what was once considered an Aveirah Tanz became the Mitzvah Tanz. שו"ע אהע"ז כ"א:ה פתחי תשובה אהע"ז ס"ה:ב * Chassidim,  replaced the kerchief with a gartel— ** BTW The כוונות while performing the מצוה טאנץ should be לחבבה על בעלה & כבוד אביה