Hunger and sex drive were the main urges that provoked the evolution of Homo sapiens, but apparently modern society feels satisfied enough to start fighting those urges. Defeating hunger in some third-world countries is much needed and often considered noble. What about sex?

Jamaican authorities have recently made international news after officially outlawing a new dance – “daggering.” The Jamaican prime minister named the hot dancehall hit filthy, and the island’s Broadcasting Commission has banned it from the airwaves due to its mimicry of sexual positions, with lyrics going even farther. From now on, any DJ or VJ will be fined if he breaks the new law. The dancing population has divided into two armies – the daggers and their critics. Daggering has become the most discussed issue in the press and on the streets of the popular Caribbean paradise.

Jamaican slang uses the word “daggering” to refer to having sex in aggressive manner. Some locals call it “dry sex” on the dance floor and insist that this activity was commonly practiced in Jamaican clubs long before it was banned. While some believe that banning the dance was long overdue, there are others who think the new law is somewhat hypocritical, as controversial songs from other genres have remain untouched. One of the parents interviewed by the Jamaica Star called it a double standard. Why, for example, has society done nothing about the so-called carnival song “Two Sapodilla and A Nine-Inch Banana,” she asked.

I never heard the banana song, but its name certainly suggests it might have daggering roots of its own. And it somehow made my fingers start dancing on the keyboard. Swaying my way through social history, I’ve learned of a number of dances that have been outlawed over the centuries.

Let’s start with the ancient Middle East. In the times before Islam and Christianity, when the Mother Goddess was worshipped and sex was sacred, the belly dance (called by its real name Raks Sharqi – Oriental Dance) was already forbidden, to the eyes of men at least. In the matriarchal society of those times, Raks Sharqi was performed by women for women only, and it was kept so for a long time. Middle Eastern men instead had to enjoy a secret dance performed in coffee houses by other young men in long, unrevealing robes, with a scarf tied around the hips.

Ages passed and 19th century Raks Sharqi moves became socialized and so common that some sexual spice had to be added to it. In 1893, the promoter of an Egyptian music and dance group at the Chicago World's Fair became concerned because nobody was interested in seeing his dancing show. Somehow he came up with the idea to rename the performers “belly dancers.” The re-titled dance show stirred so much controversy that it immediately turned into a media sensation. The show sold out and lines stretched around the block, with thousands eager to witness the outrageous act of belly dancing. The new wave of dancing belly popularity finally led to its banning in Egypt in 1950s.

After a popular uprising ensued, the government repealed the ban with one condition -- that dancers no longer show their stomachs. Are they still so serious about it? I asked my Egyptian consultant. “You must be kidding, man!” answered Ahmed, and he dropped me a couple real Egyptian belly dancing links. I have to admit, I’ve seen some stomach there, guys!

Next goes tango, which modern daggers probably consider one of the more puritan dances they can think of. And once again I have to draw you a picture of men enjoying other men dancing! According to tango enthusiast and writer Sergio Suppa, the history of the modern tango in Europe starts with men dancing together to learn tango moves. The reason? A social ban to the risky dance in the times when it came to Europe and social dancing was performed standing opposite one another. Contact between partners was limited to touching the hands only at certain moments. Gentleman couldn’t even think about holding his hand at a decent lady’s back while dancing. (The morally aware people then would probably call that daggering!) Also, the original lyrics to the tango, says Sergio Suppa, were outright references to sex. In fact, the name of the most famous Argentinean tango (which is still popular among dancers), “El Choclo,” means “corncob,” and was originally a phallic reference. (Remember the nine-inch banana song from Jamaica?)

If you want more “dirty dancing” I have waltz waiting its turn in my story. This high-society habit was strongly criticized on moral grounds while struggling for its place on the dance floor. Religious leaders almost unanimously regarded it as vulgar and sinful. Continental court circles held out obstinately against the waltz. When in July of 1816 the waltz was finally included in a ball given by the Prince Regent in the very capital of strict morals, London, a blistering editorial in The Times a few days later stated: "We remarked with pain that the indecent foreign dance called the Waltz was introduced at the English court.”

Now imagine this editorial: "We remarked with pain that the indecent Jamaican dance called the Dagger was introduced at the court.” Could it happen in the future? In a couple of years? Centuries?

Who knows? As for me, I may not be for “dry sex,” but I am for diversity. And if you are too, you might be interested to take a peek at this new “dancing activity,” whether to smile or to hit the stop button angrily: