Miss Milligan et al

Paterson

Feb. 27, 1995, 11:34 p.m. (Message 1117)

I have to agree with all those who say that we owe a great deal to Miss 
Milligan, but she was only one of many, definitely the most prominent, of 
those who toiled in their labour of love to preserve "the traditional social 
dancing" of Scotland.

Mrs Ysabel Stewart was the first person to start collecting the old dances 
for the Girl Guides, having danced many of them as a young girl.  She did an 
enormous amount of the routine leg work.  You can read all about her in a 
book which was published a few years ago - it is called Mrs Stewart of 
Fasnacloich and is available from TACBOOKS, 599 Dickinson Ave, Ottawa, Ont 
K1V 2J2.   I believe Fasnacloich is in Argyll - but I would have to go home 
and refresh my memory to be absolutely certain.

Miss Allie Anderson was another who was in the forefront - she was a teacher 
at James Gillespie's School for Girls in Edinburgh.

A lot of good work has also been done over the years by the Imperial Society 
of Teachers of Dance - SCD division, one of the prime movers there was Jack 
McConnachie - many who learnt to dance in the London area did so under this 
Society's banner.

We must also remember that this is a living tradition and without all the 
teachers, dancers, administrators and so on that are currently devoting a 
lot of time and effort to this 'the darling diversion' it would die 
regardless of all the work that has gone before.    So let's give all those 
dedicated folk who have gone their due, but let's also encourage all those 
who are still dedicating a lot of time and effort to the dance.    Always 
dance to the best of your ability, encourage those who are new to SCD and 
above all keep the social spirit alive and well.   This was also of prime 
importance to Miss Milligan.

The last ones, on my list, but by no means the least, are the musicians - 
without them we would look pretty silly prancing about the room and the 
tradition would definitely die without their input and guidance.   They also 
need encouragement and support from the dancers, it is all a two way street, 
you only get out of anything what you put into it - but great music can lift 
the spirits and soothe the aching muscles so that your feet don't touch the 
floor!  Thanks, I enjoy reading your contributions.

Lastly, the reason everyone from  Mrs Stewart and Miss Milligan right down 
to you and I got involved in the first place was to dance - keep it in mind. 


Irene Paterson