Sir

The idea that dancing rids the body of nervous emotion was an old one even in 1953, as pointed out in '50 years ago' (Nature 422, 673; 2003).

Alfred Wallace, arguing against Darwin's notion of sexual selection in his book Darwinism (MacMillan, London & New York; 1889), suggested that “the act of singing [by male birds] is evidently a pleasurable one and probably serves as an outlet for superabundant nervous energy and excitement, just as dancing, singing and field sports do for men”.

A man of impeccable manners, Wallace — although not conceding a role for dance in the life of birds — concluded that “singing... may well have originated merely as... an invitation from the male to the female”.

I await with nervous anticipation my invitation to Nature's next party.