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Dance Cards and the floor
simon scott
March 3, 2006, 9:51 p.m. (Message 44464)
I don't think "dance cards" should be thought of as a purely SCD custom. I believe I'm right that they were a custom from across Europe (later taken abroad with many other social customs of course) and used at a time when it would not have been the done thing for a lady to ask a gentleman to dance. Instead she would have a "dance card" on a ribbon at her wrist on which interested gentlemen might sign their name for a dance on the evening program. A delightful custom I think, albeit perhaps no longer fitting our more liberal ways. I don't believe they were carried my men, who presumable had to have a good memory for the number of dances he had booked, and with whom. I suspect that he did not choose as many different partners as some do today. In "taking the floor" I also think that some things have changed. I am not (obviously by what I see written) nearly as convinced as some of you that the floor must be cleared between each dance. I believe that one can engage in conversation and be "socially active", which is part of the evening, while remaining on the danceable part of the floor, without it appearing improper. This seems also to be custom, something that we've all heard, including myself, but not been given any really valid reason for. From a very quick glance through the Manual index I didn't see anything that addressed the matter. (Did I miss a page or paragraph) I certainly don't think that George Meikle, or any other band leader should feel under the slightest pressure to start the next dance, before his time, just because he sees sets forming. The MC, together with the band, should surely set the pace of the evening. Actually "demanding" that the formed sets be cleared seems a little heavy to me. When the floor fills and I am MC, rather than complaining I prefer to say "I see you are all ready for this next wonderful dance 'The Reel of ..whatever). Also, there are very often practical reasons of space etc and those mentioned by Sylvia Miskoe when clearing the floor is not the preferred thing to do. I must admit that I do tend to say "If you are ready and keen to dance, then show it! !" Simon Vancouver
These I believe are still used at some vintage and pilgrimage Balls here in the American South. Usually a lady will reserve the 1st and last dances for her husband or Beau and all other dances would be claimed by admirers. While I'm not sure a lady couldn't ask a man, she could use her charms to ask, pointing out where a particular gent was "saved" a particular dance and pout about it. "Why Charles! My feelings are hurt, you haven't asked me to dance and my dance card is all filled up, but I saved you the Virgina Reel, that's my favorite dance of all! What? I know it's your favorite also! That's why I saved it for you!" Tom Mungall Baton Rouge, La, USA
I was going to add that ladies usually have their "own special" way of asking, on many occasions more affectively than the men. Isn't that life ! ! Simon Vancouver These I believe are still used at some vintage and pilgrimage Balls here in the American South. Usually a lady will reserve the 1st and last dances for her husband or Beau and all other dances would be claimed by admirers. While I'm not sure a lady couldn't ask a man, she could use her charms to ask, pointing out where a particular gent was "saved" a particular dance and pout about it. "Why Charles! My feelings are hurt, you haven't asked me to dance and my dance card is all filled up, but I saved you the Virgina Reel, that's my favorite dance of all! What? I know it's your favorite also! That's why I saved it for you!" Tom Mungall Baton Rouge, La, USA
Simon Scott wrote:- > In "taking the floor" I also think that some things have changed. I am > not (obviously by what I see written) nearly as convinced as some of you > that the floor must be cleared between each dance. I believe that one > can engage in conversation and be "socially active", which is part of > the evening, while remaining on the danceable part of the floor, without > it appearing improper. Whilst I agree that things have changed in SCD'ing, I do not necessarily agree that it is an improvement. I was referring to those dances I play at where some dancers DO NOT leave the floor at all and often just stand there in the same area they have just danced in. At best they may swap partners within that same set of dancers whilst waiting for the band to strike up again. I am sorry, but I do not see anything "socially (attr)active" in that? I thought dancing was supposed to be a social event? I have no problem with people interacting on the dance floor between dances, but feel that it is quite bad mannered to actually line up before the dance has been announced, as well as being discourteous to the majority of other dancers who follow the normal dance etiquette. I often find that whilst MC's fully agree with my concerns they frequently admit to being too frightened to say anything to stop it happening. George Meikle Lothian Scottish Dance Band
My rather historical understanding of dance cards is that they were useful for a) very popular girls organizing their partners in a civilized way, and for less popular girls pretending they were waiting for their partner to appear when in fact they lacked one; and b) making certain of getting a partner whom you know really knows how to, say, tango, for the sole tango on the program, if you're a real tango afficianado (or polka, or waltz, or whatever). I daresay they would cut down on the time needed to find a new partner. Mind you, I am NOT speaking from personal experience. I can report that my great-aunt had a scrap book of dance cards saved from ballroom dances (NOT scd) she'd attended in her youth. As for meeting partners in the middle of the floor...in my dim & distant past I recall being admonished, in ballroom-dance lessons, that dance floors were NEVER to be anything but circumnavigated (in-between dances, that is). Is this concept foreign to SCD? Or just completely passe? Or both? --Jill H., Lyons, NY
In the dim & distant past I have found the Dance Card quite a useful tool. For instance, when attending a dance where a friend also will attend (even one from the same class but going with a different group ) one can arrange to meet on the floor for a certain favourite dance and have a reminder of the assignation. It is those who fill the list before arriving or before the first dance who give them a bad reputation. Those with an excellent memory don't need them but how many of that type of clever-clogs are there? :~) There must be very few indeed who can attend a dance without any 'appointments' and dance every dance they wish. I only know of one but he is a respected teacher and an excellent partner as I have seen from the sidelines on many occasion! As for clearing the floor, that can be a difficult proposition in most dance halls I can think of even the Younger Hall. Given a full hall there is hardly any room on the sides and once one has gone back to the end seats is awkward to (even unlikely one will) fight out of the press of people to get back for the next dance in good time, if at all. The only Ballroom I can think of with that sort of room is The Seymour Hall but that means going through into the sitoutery which again makes things difficult for the keen dancer. So it usually boils down to most prospective 'next dancers' milling around in a mob trying to find a partner on the outskirts of the floor while endeavouring to remain good mannered. As always, it is usually a few who spoil it by being pushy and - er - overconfident(?!).
The same thing happens at contra dances. It's called Center Set Syndrome. Contra dance etiquette does not include clearing the floor between dances. Avid dancers tend to congregate in the center of the hall, rushing to the top of the floor as soon as the caller announces teh next dance. Organizers decry the habit but can't keep it from happening. Sylvia Miskoe, Concord, NH USA
