Sixty years ago before Television, perhaps while TV was still black and white, dancing was a very important social activity.
Just after WWII, I’m told that on a Saturday night there were about FORTY public dances in Christchurch. All those dances required a dance band, often quite small three or four people, often playing country or folk music, Piano, Accordion, Banjo, Fiddle and drums.
The St Bernard’s Waltz, as danced in Blackpool, UK, in December, 2021. Notice the children at the dance. (They appear at about 2 minutes.) Women dancing together. A man carrying a baby boy.
That was also common at country dances in New Zealand, where there was no (official) alcohol allowed near dances. (But drinking in the car-park was often tolerated although illegal.) That was also before families were expected to find a babysitter if the parents went out.
The St Bernards Waltz vanished in Christchurch about 20 years ago. You can see why, it’s not modern. It’s very simple. there are only FOUR parts.
Side close and stamp (Actually heal taps)
Side close and walk to center
Walk to wall and ladies turn
Waltz turn to finish
So simple that you can do it already. But for experienced dancers it was boring, so it vanished, like the Military Two Step, the Pride of Erin Waltz, the Gay Gordons, and the Valetta, and more than twenty others. You can’t turn the clock back, I’m not suggesting that we start dancing the St Bernard’s Waltz, or the Boston Two Step, but please treasure the fairly simple dances that remain, like the Merrilyn, and the Oslo Waltz.
In the comments below you might like to tell us what dances you remember?