Neu morem in Salium sit requies pedum. Danza estatica nella religione romana?

For Cicero the summa vis of rythms and sounds, together with poetry and singing, is capable of influencing the mood; this most intense force was not neglected by the Romans as well since the most ancient times, as shown by the verses of the Salians, the priests who danced armed and sang hymns in honour of Mars.

Dionysius of Halicarnassus compares the Salians to the  Curetes: but if the latter experienced a sort of trance during their armed dances, did it happen to the Salians as well? For sure the ritual that they performed could raise intense emotions; on the other hand, much concentration was needed because of the great difficulty of both the choreographies and the Carmen Saliare.

Notwithstanding their negative about it, nevertheless it is possibile to recognise occasions in which it was possible for the Romans to dance without reproach, even if always with gravitas and without furor or losing control: this would have been judged with utmost severity by Roman culture.