|
For auld lang syne
...early days at the New York Branch
|
Here's a look back over the first 50 years of dancing, partying, and friendships at the New York Branch. Thanks to all who have contributed to this vivid picture of our first half-century!
If you have memories or photos to share, please send them to anne340@verizon.net.
|
Freddy Sverdlove, a founder of the New York Branch, wrote this undated memoir:
Stanley Greenberg, Founder of the New York Branch R.S.C.D.S.
When Jeannie Carmichael and a Boston Demonstration Group were invited to the Folk Dance House in New York to show the folk dancers what Scottish Country Dancing was like, a group of folk Dancers were immediately enamored of this kind of dancing. But it was Stanley who took immediate steps to start a Scottish Country Dance Group. He arranged to have Jeannie Carmichael come to New York to teach us once a month. But in between Jeannie's visits, Stanley taught and reviewed the dances we had learned. So we were quite good and Jeannie was impressed with the way Stanley taught us.
Then Stanley proceeded to learn everything about the R.S.C.D.S. He wrote to Miss Milligan and they became good friends. When Stanley heard that Miss Milligan would be coming to the U.S. to give the exams for new teachers, he invited her to come to New York and he began to prepare us for the Preliminary Exam.
Stanley Greenberg went out of his way to make Miss Milligan's visit to New York an outstanding occasion. She was wined and dined, taken to see outstanding sites in New York. But best of all, 5 candidates passed the Preliminary Exam. Miss Milligan was so impressed with the Candidates' ability to teach that she returned to New York on her way back home and with Stanley making all the arrangements, she gave the Full Certificate Exam and all five Candidates passed.
Now that we had enough teachers, Stanley proceeded to arrange for New York to become an official Branch of the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society.
Our New York Branch began to grow with Stanley's help. He arranged for demonstrations, we danced on T.V., we performed at Columbia University and many more places.
One could go on and on relating in great detail how much Stanley Greenberg did to build the N.Y. Branch. We all miss him very much and if the N.Y. Branch remains strong, it's because the foundation Stanley built is still with us.
|
Freddy tells more about "Miss Milligan's First Visit to the New York Branch":
In order to become an official branch of The Royal Scottish Country Dance Society, we were required to have a certain number of members and at least two or three officially certificated teachers. Therefore, when we heard that Miss Milligan would be coming to the United States and Canada to give Teaching Examinations, our President, Stanley Greenberg, applied to the Society to have New York City one of her testing places.
Eight members of our Branch began to prepare for the Preliminary Teaching Test. The members were Douglas Cook, Stanley Greenberg, Robert Gruskin, Harry Hirsch, George Kerr, Sally Ray, Ida Stern, and Freddy Sverdlove. We met regularly to study the assigned dances, to learn the history and background of the R.S.C.D.S., to practice teaching the footwork and formations, and to develop an ability to answer questions relating to the dancing in clear, understandable writing. We worked hard, and we followed the written guidelines, but it really was a struggle, for Jeannie Carmichael could only come once a month to assist us. Jeannie reviewed the dances, corrected the footwork, and helped in every way she could. She was a blessing to us all.
In the Fall of 1959, Miss Milligan arrived. Harry and I went to the airport to pick her up. Miss Milligan was to stay at our house until the evening of the exams. I had invited the entire executive board to come to have dinner with us and to meet Miss Milligan. She proved to be a real delight, with a sparkling sense of humor. She told stories and related funny incidents and anecdotes. When Miss Milligan heard that Harry was a French teacher, she told us how our footwork and dances stemmed from the French courts. She went out of her way to make us all feel how warm and friendly she was. After dinner, Miss Milligan went to the piano, and we sang many favorite Scottish songs. Then we folded up the large table, and we did many of the favorite dances we had learned. It was, indeed, a gala evening, and it was Miss Milligan who was the life of the party.
The evening of the exams was a revelation to all of us. Miss Milligan and Miss Jeannie Carmichael sat at a long table with sheets of printed material. We lined up in two sets for the performance part of the test. Each candidate talked through a dance, and then we did the dance. We were being tested on how well we did the talk-through and also on our deportment, posture and footwork. At the end of each dance, she called one of us up to the table, and in a very positive, supportive way made a correction or two.
After the performance part, we were all taken to a nearby room and given the written part of the exam. We were informed that the written exam often helped the Examiners decide on the Passing or Failing Result. While the written exam was going on, one candidate at a time was called into the Main Room to take the Teaching Part. Dancers from the Branch were asked to come to help out as "stooges" and to follow as best as possible what the "new" teacher was trying to impart. For this Preliminary Test, the candidate was just assigned some footwork or a formation to teach for this part was meant as a way of testing the candidate's potential. At the end of the teaching test, each candidate had a few minutes to talk to Miss Milligan. Throughout the exam, she was helpful and assuring. Each candidate had a positive feeling after talking to Miss Milligan. Miss Jeannie Carmichael sat there beaming, for she was very proud of us, and we were very grateful to her, for we would never have succeeded without Jeannie's help and encouragement.
Weeks later, we received our results. Five of us had received our preliminary certificates. We were then able to become a Branch of the RSCDS.
Miss Milligan was so impressed with how well we had done that she came to New York on her return trip and gave the five candidates the Full Certificate Exam, and again the five Preliminary Teachers were successful. We then went on to become a really strong Branch, and many more teachers have been certificated since then.
|
Hiroyuki Ikema has been called the "Father of Scottish Country Dancing in Japan." In 1958, while a student at New York University, Ikema-san joined the New York Branch. He began teaching Scottish Country Dancing upon his return to Japan, and with the support of the Japan Folkdance Federation proposed in 1981 that a Branch be formed in Tokyo. As a result of his efforts, the Tokyo Branch was approved by the Society in 1984.
Letter from Hiroyki Ikema to Danny Laitin, October 26, 1994
Dear Dr. Daniel Laitin-san:
I thank you very much for your letter of Oct. 10 '94 ... It is so much compliments. I really am pleased to hear from You. thank you again for remember me of old old days of New York.
I've been really enjoying New York Branch Newsletter for many many years, always remind me of the day very warm greetings class of McBurney YMCA. usually 2-3 sets Jeannie Carmichael taught me very strict in HER Scottish way and Dr. Stanley Greenberg whom I'll never forget.
Always I keep in my mind that I owe much New York Branch of course YOU included for what I am now. Prof of Women's College of Phys:-ed and works Voluntary in the National Folk Dance Fed of JAPAN fairly important position I've done....
Sincerely, H. Ikema
|
Walter Paton, a memoir of 2001
In my 91st year you will have to forgive lapses of memory.... [I]n late 1974 ... I became a regular at McBurney Y and Scotia Dancers at Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church, in due course becoming president of both and of course in charge of the Branch Books and Record Store. When I went on my travels I took with me my cribs of Hugh Foss dances and a reel to reel tape of music for them.... There was no summer dancing in New York, so when Donnie Simons obtained the use of an air conditioned church hall on the East Side I started my first classes. As a result, when Alida Kratnoff arranged for Scottish Country dance classes at Tenafly Adult Education School, and no branch teachers were willing to cross the Hudson, I was asked to teach there. Looking back I am amazed. I was 70 years old. I had to take a bus to the subway to Manhattan, change to the uptown train to George Washington Bridge for a bus to Tenafly. I had two shoulder bags--my kilt in one and a mini-cassette player, light weight amplifier and cassettes in the other--they were a source of much discomfort in the rush hour on the uptown train. My heart attack when I was 75 put an end to that, but Tenafly dancers had travelled north to parties with Enid Kuperman over the New York State border, so they did so regularly and Enid decided to move dancing south to Teaneck. Then it was back to Tenafly and formation of the New Jersey Branch. I should perhaps return the 80th birthday book to let you see the other places I danced. Madge Colquhoun founded the Long Island classes, and when she gave up, her husband George wanted to continue, but Al Wimmer informed the Branch and Ann Smith took over with marvelous results. Ann now at Manhasset was overwhelmed by an influx of beginners. She discovered that most were from Suffolk County and it was arranged that a class be formed in the old barn, Smithtown.... I would say that Freddy Sverdlove was the most important influence with her Branch and Brooklyn teaching, and Sheila Wilson was a great help. Dave Goldberg, like myself without a certificate, has done wonders taking over as Ann Smith's substitute and teaching at Brooklyn. I think that the RSCDS does itself harm by not taking more cognisance of local opinion on teaching skills before withholding a certificate.
|
Sheila Gassler reminisced in this e-mail to Sally Freedman, written October 9, 2006:
As for Stanley[Greenberg] - he was a "One Man Band" - kept all records in his head, ran the Society with the assistance of his "hand-picked girls." He would tell us what to do and we were always there for him, whenever he called. We loved him, loved being with him, doing his bidding; he would buy ballet tickets, theater tickets for all of us and away we went. He would always take us to dinner afterward and it was great! Norman Shimkin, Bernie Weisner were also there. We were devastated when he had his coronary, and bereft when he passed away, so suddently - I still remember that last night when we waited for him to apperar at our dance and he didn't come.... We could not believe that he was gone. We also were without direction, and it took us some time to get back on our feet again.
|
Helen Carmichael Campbell is the grand-niece of Jeannie Carmichael. She is now in e-mail contact with members of the Branch and has shared her memories of her "Aunt Jeannie."
October 7, 2009
We both [Helen and her cousin Alison Hart Smith] remember Aunt Jeannie as being a very special great-aunt. She visited our family as often as was possible. She spent part of her holiday in the Highlands with my Aunt (her niece) and part in Glasgow with her friend Lilian Ross and with My Father ( her nephew). She loved Scotland and all things Scottish (in spite of being born in England, of a Scottish father), and as children my cousins, Alison, Bruce, and myself, were always asked to wear kilts when she came. She was a very knowledgable lady, and we enjoyed listening to her tales of my grandfather (her brother) when they were small. She didn't speak much of her job (I think this was because of security). We were all quite young when she died but have happy memories of her, although we do remember that we had to be very well behaved when she visited - good manners were important .
October 14, 2009
Hi Anne
Hope you are well. I am attaching some pictures of Aunt Jeannie, which I hope might be of interest to you. The baby one is self-explanatory, the one with her shaking hands was taken on board a cruise ship, and the other one, we are not sure who the lady on the left is with Aunt Jeannie.
My cousin Alison and I have traveled back to Aunt Jeannie's family tree and found out names etc. of her ancestors. I would be happy to share this info if you were interested.
I hope that your ball goes well. We never knew there was an annual ball named after our great aunt- quite an honour. One day we might manage to cross the Atlantic and attend the ball if that would be acceptable.
As I said in my previous e-mail, because Aunt Jeannie stayed in the States we didn't see her that often, but she was very generous to my aunt and my father (her niece and nephew).
Hope to hear from you soon
Helen
|
 |
| Jeannie Carmichael |
|
|
 |
| Jeannie greets the captain on a cruise |
|
|
 |
| Jeannie, at right, with a friend |
|
|
Mary and Ed Abdill contributed this memoir on June 8, 2000
We met just about twenty-seven years ago at the New York Branch. In retrospect, it seems to have been destiny.
We soon discovered that we lived just three blocks from one another. Mary had a car and asked if I would like a ride home. "Sure," I said, and that sealed our fate. Quickly we realized that we preferred each other to current dating partners, and in less than a yuear we had set the date of December 8, 1973, for our wedding. At the time we had forgotten that the first Jeannie Carmichael Ball had been set for that evening. "Shall we go anyway?" Mary asked me. "Of course," I replied. So in the morning we had a Pontifical High Nuptial Mass at Riverside Church Chapel, celebrated by a Liberal Catholic Bishop from Minneapolis. In the afternoon we had our reception at a Jewish dairy restaurant. (Mary and I are vegetarian, so the choice was great for us, for those who kept Kosher, and those who preferred a fish meal).
On arrival at the dinner that evening, we were given a standing ovation, a bottle of champagne, and a great deal of love from all the dancers. After the intermission, Mairi's Wedding was added to the program, and Mary and I were called to the top of the set to dance. It has been our dance ever since.
On the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Jeannie Carmichael Ball held at West Point, the Branch decided to repeat the first program. Mary and I wondered why Mairi's Wedding was not on it, having forgotten it was specially added for us. Ann Hankins knew that it would be added, but she assured us that the dance had not been on the original program, and they would not be doing it.
Nevertheless, twenty-five years later, Mairi's Wedding was added to the program, and we were called to the top of a set to dance it once more.
In the years that we have been dancing we have seen at least seven marriages of couples who met dancing. Perhaps it is the music. Perhaps it is the genuine friendly warmth of the dancers. Pehraps it is that people go dancing simply to enjoy themselves rather than to find a mate, and in the process, find love and friendship as a gift from Providence.
|
Sally Freedman reminisced about dancing with Jerry in Brooklyn and Manhattan, October 15, 2009:
Jerry and I were avid square dancers from when we married, and for the next seven years we went to every square dance in the area and some that were farther away. Around 1971-72 the rules for square dancing changed, and it was required that you do 50 or so weeks of classes and get a certificate of proficiency. This was not for us as we were experienced square dancers, and about this time my father was quite ill and we could not get anyone to stay with our children.
Our friends Sol and Lillian Schwartz told us about a Scottish Dancing group in our neighborhood led by Freddy Sverdlove. They suggested we give it a try. This we did and found the group to be very friendly and supportive of new dancers. I guess you might say we were hooked. We danced with the Brooklyn class of the New York Branch for a year or two before we were invited to come to Manhattan to dance at the Branch. A few of us Brooklynites crossed the Brooklyn Bridge into Manhattan every Thursday to dance as well as dancing every Tuesday in Brooklyn.
Before long we found ourselves voted in as Members at Large on the Executive Committee, and in no time I was asked to be Corresponding Secretary of the Branch, a position I held for as long as--to paraphrase Sheila Wilson -- "Donkey's Years" -- until we had to move out of Brooklyn and relocate in Baltimore, Maryland. In 1995 after Danny Laitin gave up the editorship of the Branch Newsletter, Scottish Country Dancer, I became Newsletter Editor. It has all been a labor of love. We were sorry to be so far away and not to be involved with the preparation of the 50th year as a Branch of the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society.
|
In 2000, Doris Jardine Weller wrote a "Royal Scottish Country Dancing Time Line," excerpted here:
1955 --Moved to New York and attended Michael and Maryanne Herman's Folk Dance classes weekly, including occasional special Scottish evenings when Jeannie Carmichael visited from Boston.
Peterborough, N.H. - Attended classes given by Misses Lillian Ross (visiting teacher from Scotland) and Jeannie Carmichael from Boston Branch at Ralph Page's Folk Dance Camp. Learned skip-change traveling step well enough to dance The Black Dance without mistake last evening there, with "Youve got it!" compliments from Jean and Arthur Tufts of New Hampshire, who danced in Boston and, later, New York as often as possible.
Joined RSCDS New York Branch under presidency of Stanley Greenberg, who took such a personal interest in each of us hopefuls that he would send a postcard to anyone who had missed two weeks in a row saying how much he and the rest of the class had missed us! We danced at McBurney Y every Thursday night and established the custom of going across the street to the "Waldorf" cafeteria after class for apple juice and talk. I started in beginners' class and was finally promoted when Jeannie Carmichael, regular visiting teacher from Boston, where first RSCDS Branch in USA was now official, had decided my strathspey had improved enough to make the grade.
|
Here's more from Freddy Sverdlove:
Sometime in the late 1960's or early 1970's, Mike Todd and Elizabeth Taylor decided to hold a large extravaganza in Madison Square Garden. In order to make the event a really spectacular occasion, Mike Todd decided to choose outstanding dance groups to perform.
Mary Ann Herman invited the demonstration group of the New York Branch to come to the Folk Dance House for an audition. You can imagine how excited we were to be showing our lovely Scottish Dances to Elizabeth Taylor and Mike Todd. We rehearsed and prepared some of our favorite dances and worked on our footwork and form until we were perfect.
When we arrived at the Folk Dance House many other nationality folk dance groups were there, all dressed up in their costumes. Each group had an opportunity to show their best and at the end of the evening Elizabeth Taylor would choose the groups she wanted for the event.
Elizabeth Taylor read off the names of the 3 or 4 groups she wanted and to our great delight, we were among the chosen. We were given detailed instructions as to the time and area for the demonstration.
We arrived early and were told to go to a certain section in the basement. To our surprise, we were told to stay near the elephants. Our leader, Stanley Greenberg, President of the NY Branch, decided that it would be advisable to go through our program. The Pipes began to play and we began to rehearse. Before we had completed one dance, an offcical approached our team and told us that we could not rehearse because the pipe music was making the elephants nervous and restless.
We were under the impression that each group would perform on the stage, but apparently, Mike Todd had changed the plans. We walked around in a large circle right behind the elephants. When the marching stopped, we did a dance or two, but the tremendous audience could not appreciate our dances or our music.
Before I left home for the performance, I instructed my husband, Harry, to allow our children to watch television so they could see their mother dance. When I returned home that night the children informed me that they saw the event on TV but they never saw our danceres ... only the elephants. So much for our Adventure with Hollywood!
P.S. Elizabeth T. came in riding on an elephant and dressed in a purple gown. All the groups had to dance to the same tunes. It was very weird.
|
Danielle Reinstein e-mailed this reminiscence from Paris on February 16, 2010:
A French girl dancing in Manhattan in 1978/79
Thirty years already! My name then was Danielle Granier.
I came to New York in October 1978, having received a grant to study for a year. I had started Scottish dancing in Paris at the Scots Kirk and enjoyed it immensely.
When I was about to leave for New York, a friend of mine who had gone to Summer School in St Andrews the previous year gave me the phone number of Sadie Lapiner, whom she had met there. I phoned Sadie, who mentioned the McBurney Y, where I started dancing and felt very welcomed immediately. I think my first class was with Katie Rule, and I remember that after a month or so Henry Blum and myself were promoted to the advanced class.
We were lucky that year because we had the pleasure of dancing frequently to the music of Barbara and Robert McOwen (I think she was still Barbara Bouwsma then), who were in New York at the time. I even took some Highland classes with him.
I do have plenty of nice memories of dancing with the Branch on Thursdays and the Scotia Dancers at Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church on Mondays, and I did improve my dancing tremendously! It was a wonderful experience and I met lots of nice and friendly people. On my last dance at McBurney Y I had the surprise of a beautiful cake saying "Bon Voyage" to share with all the people I had danced with, and Walter Paton gave me a record as a souvenir. I
must say I was really moved and very sad to leave.
One anecdote I am not completely sure of: in 1985, my future husband Jerry (also a Scottish dancer) and I were travelling in China. We were on a boat cruising near Guilin when on the deck I came face to face with... Stan
Greenberg, and we hugged. Now in my memory it is Stan, but after all these years I might be confusing his name with someone else's from the Branch. I am sure I would recognise his picture. But it was an incredible encounter!
Now Jerry and I live between Paris and London. We are still dancing and teaching SCD. In fact, we are the founders of the Paris Branch, which this year is celebrating its 25th anniversary!
Many thanks to the New York Branch for that super year of dancing.
A big hug from Paris.
Danielle
|
|