SOURCE: "Strange Ritual" (Climax, 1953) by Robert Sheckley

DESCRIPTION: "Akeenobob trotted up to Elder Singer's hut and began dancing the important-message dance, making the appropriate sounds by slapping his tail rhythmically on the ground. Immediately, Elder Singer came to the door, arms folded on his chest, tail coiled on his shoulder in the listening position." ("Strange Ritual" by Robert Sheckley)

NOTES: The Dancers are an alien race that has had contact with humans and other spacefarers. These creatures believe humans and others are gods.  The contact regulations are kept in an ancient tome called The Giant Book of Gods and all procedures have become meaningless ritual dances such as "The Dance of Landing Clearance" or "The Dance of Custom Inspection". This book is five thousand years old. The dancers are led by the conservative Elder Singer. Glat the Younger Singer is a rebel heretic who follows the Ritual of Alhona. The writings of Alhona are only three thousand years old. The major departure in Alhona is the belief that the gods should be given water and food before the eight days of dances. When starving space travelers show up they are subjected to dances instead of the food and water they need. No one has figured out why travelers have been shunning the planet for years.

HISTORY: Once again Sheckley does a great job of suggesting an alien culture without giving any real details about the aliens. we know they have tails, arms and legs but little else.