Dancing On A Saturday Night
By Jabo
@jaboUK (64361)
United Kingdom
January 1, 2017 12:37pm CST
When I was young in the1950s/60s the big event of the week was the Saturday night dance. Sometimes it would be in a proper dance hall (our local one was called the Palais), wiith a live band, but more often than not it was in the church hall. and we danced to records. We called this a 'Social'.
We girls would sit together eyeing up the boys and they'd do the same to us. Then when the music started we waited for a boy to come and ask us to dance. Even if it was a nerdy boy, it was better than not being asked at all.
We did proper dances - waltz, foxtrot, quickstep etc, and it was pretty much the only chance we had to get up close and personal with young men. Many a romance was started on the dance floor.
Are you old enough to remember these dances? Ballroom dancing has gained a bit more popularity with reality TV shows, but I don't suppose many young people today would know how to dance properly. They don't know what they're missing.
40 people like this
37 responses
@arthurchappell (45002)
• Preston, England
2 Jan 17
my parents used to enter dance contests. My dad actually won prizes at some
4 people like this
@arthurchappell (45002)
• Preston, England
2 Jan 17
alas not, my dancing is risible @jaboUK
3 people like this
@jaboUK (64361)
• United Kingdom
2 Jan 17
@arthurchappell Really? Didn't it rub off on you?
2 people like this
@MarshaMusselman (38723)
• Midland, Michigan
6 Jan 17
@arthurchappell I doubt that to be true, Arthur. But, many of us felt that way at one time or another. I had to look that word up as I've never seen it before.
2 people like this
@jaboUK (64361)
• United Kingdom
1 Jan 17
@TheInvisibleMan Is my title a movie? I don't go to movies so didn't know.
1 person likes this
@TheInvisibleMan (17603)
•
1 Jan 17
@jaboUK No. I just remember ths story.
The original title is "Staying Alive".
1 person likes this
@jaboUK (64361)
• United Kingdom
1 Jan 17
@TheInvisibleMan Oh yes, I've heard it in that song.
1 person likes this
@DWDavis (25807)
• Pikeville, North Carolina
1 Jan 17
I wish dances like that were still taking place. What we call dances at the middle school these days are anything but. When I was in junior high, boys and girls used to dance together. Now, the only dancing is line dancing, if they even do that, and I have yet to see any couples dancing.
2 people like this
@DWDavis (25807)
• Pikeville, North Carolina
1 Jan 17
@jaboUK I still remember my first slow dance with a girl. Her name was Melanie. She was about a head taller than me. We danced several dances, but after than dance nothing developed between us. There was another girl at the dance I danced with, named Toni, who became my girlfriend for a while until her family moved away later in the school year.
2 people like this
@MALUSE (69390)
• Germany
2 Jan 17
@jaboUK @LadyDuck My classmates and I went to a dance school and took a course when we were 16/17 years old. We learnt all the classical dance styles. Indeed, young people who frequent discos today don't know how to foxtrot, waltz, tango or rumba. Yet, dance schools still exist. Serious dancers go there. Some of them take part in dance competitions.
2 people like this
@VivaLaDani13 (60681)
• Perth, Australia
4 Apr 17
@jaboUK oh how lovely! Although I don't remember how they go but we did all those dances when I was in grade 7 ( if I remember correctly ). I think I was the only one who enjoyed it lol I have an old soul. I love music and dances from before my time.
Those dances are way more elegant than the people who grind up against each other in clubs. 
2 people like this
@VivaLaDani13 (60681)
• Perth, Australia
5 Apr 17
@Daljinder Me too! 
I don't know...it's just trashy to me.
I don't know...it's just trashy to me.2 people like this
@Daljinder (23233)
• Bangalore, India
4 Apr 17
@VivaLaDani13 Oh I just cringe even watching the grinding on a video, let alone watch it in person. 
2 people like this
@Daljinder (23233)
• Bangalore, India
14 Jan 17
lol No such dances allowed in schools or otherwise. Married or not. Couple or not.
2 people like this
@jaboUK (64361)
• United Kingdom
14 Jan 17
@Daljinder We didn't have dances in school - I went to an all girls' school. So you never danced in a man's arms ever?
2 people like this
@jaboUK (64361)
• United Kingdom
14 Jan 17
@Daljinder Oh my - would you have been the victim of a so-called 'honour killing'? 
2 people like this
@suziecat7 (3350)
• Asheville, North Carolina
1 Jan 17
I was a big dancer when I was young. I took ballroom dancing classes and would go to a hall of Friday nights that was dedicated to that sort of dancing. Of course, disco and rock too. But my favorite memories of dancing fun was when I lived out west and learned the two-step.
2 people like this
@suziecat7 (3350)
• Asheville, North Carolina
1 Jan 17
@jaboUK - It's a line dance though couples can also do the two-step. I learned while I was living in Texas and had some great times.
1 person likes this
@jaboUK (64361)
• United Kingdom
1 Jan 17
@suziecat7 I'm not sure what a two-step is - is it a sort of tap dance?
2 people like this
@allknowing (130292)
• India
2 Jan 17
None of what you have mentioned happened here but there was no dearth when it came to romantic songs. We got satisfied just singing them. This was my favourite which I still sing.
1 person likes this
@allknowing (130292)
• India
2 Jan 17
@jaboUK Tony Brent was an Anglo Indian born in India but was UK based. May be this link will help you
I liked most of his songs. Remember Cindy oh Cindy?
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search Tony Brent Birth name Reginald Hogan Bretagne Born (1927-08-26)26 August 1927 Byculla, Bombay, India Died 19 June 1993(1993-06-19) (aged 65) Sydney, Australia Genres Traditional pop music Oc
2 people like this
@jaboUK (64361)
• United Kingdom
2 Jan 17
@allknowing I'm not familiar with that singer, but I like the song.
1 person likes this
@jaboUK (64361)
• United Kingdom
2 Jan 17
@allknowing Oh yes, I do remember Cindy.
2 people like this
@Orson_Kart (6166)
• United Kingdom
7 Jan 17
I am not saying you're old, but this is more my parents era than mine. However, I do like watching Strictly Come Dancing. Less so since the Russian left the show. 
1 person likes this
@Orson_Kart (6166)
• United Kingdom
7 Jan 17
Fancy a bit of Wang Chung? I thought so:
Music video by Wang Chung performing Dance Hall Days. (C) 1984 Geffen Records
1 person likes this
I often think of myself as old, but I am 20 years younger than you. @jaboUK (64361)
• United Kingdom
7 Jan 17
@Orson_Kart I enjoyed that video, thanks, and yes I think I qualify as old at 77.
1 person likes this
@rebelann (111430)
• El Paso, Texas
1 Jan 17
I remember my school hosting what was called sock hops. Usually they'd have a local band play music by groups like the Beatles or the Everly Brothers and such. It was fun but as far as classical dance we didn't have anything like that as far as I know.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (326675)
• Rockingham, Australia
8 Jan 17
My experience was much the same although we didn't have too many dances in the town. Our school had 3 or 4 a year and these were anticipated with much enjoyment and a bit of anxiety. We were lucky enough to have dancing lessons at school when we were about 13 or 14 so that was a great help.
1 person likes this
@responsiveme (22926)
• India
2 Jan 17
That wasn't the usual scene for us while growing up. Nowadays though there is a band and a DJ at parties but its all moving and shaking and not the dances you mentioned.
1 person likes this
@jaboUK (64361)
• United Kingdom
3 Jan 17
@responsiveme As you say, each culture has its own traditions, but I think you missed a lot of fun with the dancing.
1 person likes this
@jaboUK (64361)
• United Kingdom
2 Jan 17
@responsiveme You didn't have any sort of social getherings where there was dancing when you were young?
1 person likes this
@responsiveme (22926)
• India
3 Jan 17
@jaboUK No ,the dancing socials that you have described were not a part of my growing up. The whole concept of a 'dance where boy meets girl as a part of the culture of a society was not there. The norm was 'arranged marriages' . Love matches were usually uncommon and mostly always opposition from families...different religion, caste, language....ha ha. Now no longer, its the other way around.
Group dancing ..Indian dances are a part of festivals and wedding celebrations.
Nowadays of course everybody shakes a leg at parties....We did for the new year party we attended to a medley of songs ....Western and Indian.
I know I would have loved to waltz.
1 person likes this
@SIMPLYD (90722)
• Philippines
5 Jan 17
My mother said they also have that . It would be nice to attend one . I think it would be shameful if no one asked you to dance though . 
Anyway , in my time it was already the Disco houses . My friends and i during Fridays and Saturday would go discoing . We have a very enjoyable time dancing on those disco houses . Our allowances were saved just so we could go to the disco houses on those free days .
Now , they too are not popular anymore . So the young ones are indeed losing the enjoyment of dancing like that .
Anyway , in my time it was already the Disco houses . My friends and i during Fridays and Saturday would go discoing . We have a very enjoyable time dancing on those disco houses . Our allowances were saved just so we could go to the disco houses on those free days .
Now , they too are not popular anymore . So the young ones are indeed losing the enjoyment of dancing like that .1 person likes this
@Tampa_girl7 (49274)
• United States
2 Jan 17
We had school dances in the 70's when the Hustle and the Bump dances were in style.
1 person likes this
@jaboUK (64361)
• United Kingdom
2 Jan 17
@Tampa_girl7 I must admit to not knowing what those dances are, but I'm guessing that you didn't get into a boy's arms to do them.
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38723)
• Midland, Michigan
6 Jan 17
Weird. I thought I already read this one and responded. Maybe I checked it out before work one day and forgot to stop back. Scratching my head on this one. When I saw the image on someone elses activity I thought it was brand new. My memory had the image a different color than this.
Anyway, I never did those types of dances when I was young. For one thing, I was super shy back then and I also went to an all-girls high school, so no blokes about to dance with there. I'm sure they had mixed parties, but if I went to any I don't really remember.
I did take ballroom dancing when I was in my early thirties when working in Ohio. I've never really gotten to use much of what I learned back then anyway. I did learn how to polka and waltz when younger being brought up polish. I had no problem dancing at wedding of family members back then.
1 person likes this
@jaboUK (64361)
• United Kingdom
6 Jan 17
@MarshaMusselman I think you did respond to this by saying you'd be back later to comment.
I went to an all-girls school too, so the dances were nothing to do with school.
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I went to an all-girls school too, so the dances were nothing to do with school.1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38723)
• Midland, Michigan
11 Jan 17
@jaboUK I thought I did stop back, but maybe that was to the one related with the poem attached or something. Otherwise, no biggy as it's not worth doing research on straightening my mind out over that one.
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21854)
• Canada
9 Feb 17
I wonder if they do dance anymore - I'm assuming the schools still have dances. I was in high school in the 60's and it was great fun to go to a dance. Our church was a little too straight to allow dancing in the hall...but there were dances at the school at least once a month. I loved the proms....fancy dresses and handsome boys....
1 person likes this
@jaboUK (64361)
• United Kingdom
9 Feb 17
@PainsOnSlate The proms was just an American thing, though I see that some of the high schools over here are starting to have them. We never had dances at our school.
1 person likes this
@jaboUK (64361)
• United Kingdom
10 Feb 17
@PainsOnSlate Well we had our Saturday night dances - they just weren't anything to do with the school.
- they just weren't anything to do with the school.1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21854)
• Canada
10 Feb 17
@jaboUK very interesting, you had no proms - no prom queen and kings... How did you ever make it through the teen years...
1 person likes this
@paigea (35828)
• Canada
6 Jan 17
We had dances at school and then my rural friends went to lots of dances at the community hall. They would be attended by people of all ages and would be attached to an event that happened on the weekend like a curling bonspiel or baseball tournament. The dances were a lot of fun. My parents were wonderful dancers and tried to teach me but I was hopeless. So, I liked when someone was such a good dancer they could make up for my lack of skill.
1 person likes this
