Dancing has been declared evil on Northern Ireland's gold coast. One of the Reverend Ian Paisley's followers has banned a charity civic ball because he believes that anyone taking to the dance floor is committing a sin.
The ban has caused outrage in North Down - the wealthiest and trendiest part of Northern Ireland.
North Down Mayor Alan Graham has scrapped the black tie and ball gown as part of his mayoral year. As a devout follower of Paisley's Free Presbyterian Church he believes all forms of dancing are 'sinful'. Graham's house sits on the Bangor to Belfast dual carriageway with a hayshed carrying a giant quote from the Bible on the side.
Last year Paisley's church sparked uproar when it issued an edict banning all country and western line-dancing among its members. The Free Presbyterians believe dancing wages 'a war against the soul'.
A spokesman for North Down Borough Council confirmed that the Mayor was not holding a civic ball in May.
'He held a choral recital service on Friday night and he will be holding a charity breakfast in May. But the Mayor will not be holding a charity civic ball this year,' the spokesman said. He declined to give the reasons why the traditional charity ball had been cancelled.
But sources at the council told The Observer that Graham has taken his church's edict to heart and does not want North Down to have a civic ball this year.
The teetotal Free Presbyterian Mayor is also opposed to the drinking of alcohol.
One council source said: 'The civic ball is always hosted by the Mayor and is normally held around April or May. It is a fantastic night with prizes and auctions for charity. But there is plenty of drink at it and lots of dancing.'
The MP for the area Lady Sylvia Hermon called on Graham to reverse his decision.
'I know Alan Graham and work with him on many committees and functions in North Down. I find him delightful and witty to be with. So I am personally disappointed that he has taken this line. There is a lot of money raised for charity at this ball. I am calling on Alan to reverse his position and let the ball go ahead,' the Ulster Unionist Party MP said.
It is not the first time that Graham has pulled out of public events because of his born-again Christian beliefs. At Christmas he refused to attend a carol service being held in St Comgall's Catholic Church in Bangor. Free Presbyterians believe the Pope is the anti-Christ and that Catholics are doomed to hell. It was the first time that a mayor of North Down had not attended a Christmas carol service in 25 years.
In May 2001, the Democratic Unionist Party and the Free Presbyterian Church were caught up in a row after Paisley's followers were warned to stop line-dancing and other forms of dancing.
Paisley's edict thundered: 'The dancing of the world, hugging the other sex, set to music, is sensual and clearly caters to the lust of the flesh. Line dancing is as sinful as any other type of dancing, with its sexual gestures and touchings. It is sensual, not a crucifying of lust, but an excitement of lust. It is a war against the soul.'
But not everyone in Paisley's other empire - the DUP - takes his ban on line dancing and music seriously. Peter Robinson, Paisley's deputy, was seen dancing with the singer Sandy Kelly at a special tribute night to Country and Western legend Patsy Kline.