Dancing A Family Affair

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31676, 11 May 1968, Page 2

Dancing A Family Affair

Country dancing can be a happy pastime for the whole family. The Christchurch Couqtry Dance Club, which is affiliated to the English Folk Dance and Song Society (London), has members of all ages. The club has mainly English country dancing, although its programme includes some Scottish and some Continental dances. The steps are those English country people danced in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, the secretary of the club (Miss W. B. Moon) uid yesterday. “There is nothing intricate in the steps, which are based on natural movement, such as RE-ELECTED Mrs N. A. Cameron was reelected diocesan president of the Catholic Women's League at the annual conference in Christchurch. The next diocesan conference in Christchurch will be held at Maryknoll on March 26 and 27 next year. Delegates elected to attend the national conference on October 16 and 17 are Mrs P. Matheson, of Waimate, and Mn V. Hickman, of Greymouth.

running and skipping. Anyone can do them.” The club, which meets for socials at the Young Women’s Christian Association every Saturday evening from May to October, has hundreds of dances to choose from for its programme. Twelve or more dances are held at the socials. Simple dances are interspersed with more difficult ones which have been revived or are taught to new members. Some of the dances were In square formation and Miss Moon thought lancers and auadrilles were evolved from iese. Others were round or longways and most were danced by six, eight, twelve, or more persons.

The club has a big collection of records, all obtained from England, as each dance has its own music. Occasionally, Morris dancing and sword dancing are done. These are more strenuous than country dancing and are not social dances. Mrs Moon said they were still done in England, but mainly for display. Many of the English dances bad the same formations as Scottish country dances but were less difficult and less precise, she said. The Christchurch Country Dance Club was formed about 1930 by an English teacher, Miss Gladys Ferguson (now Mrs Lockwood), who is a life member.

There had been country dancing done in Christchurch for some years before that, but the Christchurch club is thought to have been the first of its kind in New Zealand. Miss Moon said members were aged from 15 to over 60. The club welcomes younger children but they must be under the care of an older member.

Whole families have joined and there are children and grandchildren of former members attending. At least one member joined the club for medical reasons and is still benefiting from the activity, Miss Moon said. Many members join, on arrival at Christchurch from England. LAWN PARTIES

The club has just started again after its summer break, during which it held lawn parties at the homes of members to keep the club together. Last year there were about 30 members but there have been as many as 60. The weekly socials last about two hours and a half and members take turns of putting on the programme. Sometimes, the club gives public demonstrations, for which costumes are worn. The women wear white blouses and brightly coloured full skirts.

Miss Moon knew of only one similar club which is in Timaru. It is also affiliated to the English Folk Dance and

Song Society and combines with the Christchurch club twice a year for a social.