By GORDIE LITTLE, Small Talk
It all began simply.
My friend Jack, with whom I exchange daily e-mails, mentioned that he and his wife, Chris, had just seen a wonderful old movie from 1944, entitled "Meet Me in St. Louis." They described it as a "classic" that they go back to time and time again.
Starring Judy Garland, the film is set in the first few years of the 20th century and, during a holiday dancing scene, my friend noticed "how brilliantly they used dance cards in that part of the film."
I mentioned it to the young receptionist in a local doctor's office and was thrilled to find that she not only knows the movie but also enjoys that scene.
It's one of those cases where something tangible as a dance card becomes a regular part of our daily conversation. It's possible you have said something like, "Boy, that wasn't even on my dance card," meaning that it wasn't part of your plan. It's also possible that you haven't given much thought to the original meaning. Or you've never heard of the term at all.
Ladies carried dance cards at balls and dances to record who their partners would be.
COURTING ETIQUETTE
But of course, I had to know more, and set off to find some history connected with the device. It was fascinating. I found dance cards as far back as the early 19th century in ballrooms when etiquette was so important. When a private dance was scheduled, dance cards would be sent as invitations. Etiquette prescribed what information was to be included, when they were sent and how soon they must be returned.
The host of the dance had to have a committee, complete with "floor managers," and the card had to be signed by the secretary. After such private affairs, the dance cards were kept as souvenirs, and there are extensive dance card collections. I've seen many, and they are a wonderful part of history.
Early versions often included lists of the dances to be performed along with places to pencil in the names of the partners. Part of the courting etiquette in those days involved having a man's name on a woman's dance card, either placed there by the female or signed by the gentleman himself.
I was surprised to learn that fancy dance cards were made of many materials besides paper. Among them were bone, wood, silver, ivory and an early form of plastic called celluloid. Some were relatively simple and made of a single sheet of paper folded in half. Others were hand-decorated and elaborate. I suppose you could call the fanciest dance cards "booklets," as they included so much information. In some cases, the dance cards were actually worn on the lady's wrist throughout the evening of the ball.
The kinds of dances often dictated the number of dance partners a lady might have, and the dance card acted as a reminder of what and who was next on the schedule. Some of the dance cards I have seen included a small pencil attached with a cord.
Dance cards continued to be used well into the 20th century here in America, and it's interesting to note how the names of popular dances evolved through the years. You might have heard of the fox-trot, but are you familiar with the black bottom, the Charleston or the varsity drag?
TWO LEFT FEET
Being from a straight-laced and strict Protestant family, I was taught that dancing was portrayed as "evil" and "from the devil" when I was very young. When students were instructed in the Virginia reel in third grade, it was deeply concerning for my parents.
I did square dance in high school, but never learned to round dance until I moved to Plattsburgh in 1961. Kaye loves to do the jitterbug, but I have two left feet and they lack the necessary coordination. We still enjoy moving slowing around our living room or kitchen to an Ann Murray song.
I have been pleased to watch some of the best tap dancers during my lifetime and checked the Guinness World Records book for the champion of champions. It belongs to a man named Roy Castle, who tapped 24 times per second for a total of 1,440 in a minute back in 1973. Wow!!
How many modern dances can you name? Here are a few more with some that became real fads: swing dancing, mambo, merengue, rhumba or rumba, samba, chicken dance, twist, mashed potato, locomotion, monster mash, the jerk, hustle, moonwalk, break dance, walk like an Egyptian, electric slide, bump-and-grind and the ever-popular macarena.
I finally learned how to do the waltz and even the cha-cha, but I'm glad the Internet social sites hadn't yet been invented. I would hate to see my feeble efforts immortalized in that fashion.
My dance card is full these days, and I love every minute of it.
Have a great day, keep dancing, and please, drive carefully.
Gordie Little was for many years a well-known radio personality in the North Country and now hosts the "Our Little Corner" television program for Home Town Cable. Anyone with comments for him may send them to the newspaper or e-mail him at gordandk@aol.com.
