HARD-UP DANCE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 20, 27 October 1944, Page 5

HARD-UP DANCE

YOUNG CALEDONIAN EVENING

"DOWN AND OUTS" TAKE! OVER

Usually of the most placid and re- ! spectable nature f the atmosphere, surrounding the Caledonian Hall on Saturday evening was rudely shattered by the arrival of large numbers of illnclad and nondescript looking specimens of the human race which loomed through the mist and rain to flock through the doorway; of the Scots sanctuary in order to pass away the evening in dancing: and merry-making. For live hours the low-brows ruled the roost. Derelicts and vagabonds were welcomed with equal heartiness while, characters of the shadiest appearance draped picturesquely about the doorway served only to attract, more dancers from the highways and bi~ ways of Whakatane. No doubt uninformed pedestrians en route about their lawful business: •shyetl horror struck away from the. East Side dance, hall atmosphere pervading the scene but in reality t a very different state of affairs ob-. tained. The Young Caledonian Society now a well-established and very sue-, cessful organisation, was holding a Hard-up Dance. Practically every member together with a number of visitors was pre-? sent, and a very full programme of dances and novelties was dispensed. Messrs Colin Wallace S. Pyne. and W. Lysaght supplied the rhythm while Malcom Law f with the aid of a very efficient sound system held sway over the floor. The novelty dances proved to be* most popular. Don Howat and NgaireDocherty and Barry Brabant and Anne Goodwin were successful ia the Monte Carlo and Spot Waltz respectively while in the Statue: Waltz Phil Moore and Nova Ranby took the honours. This latter novelty dance proved most trying tothe judges who spent some time en-, deavouring to catch one or other of the last, few couples left on the floor in motion. The clowning of the» president of the Roland King, towards this end was most helpful and succeeded in whittling, down the number of couples considerably. An especially sumptuous supper was served including both savouries and sweets whitfh was despatched with the utmost vigour by all present. Sufficient, it is to say that very little remained, after hearty Scottish appetites had been satisfied. Many and varied were the hardup costumes exhibited. Some were, more of the fancy type while others were just plain •'down-at-heel' outfits } but one and all bore the hall-* mark of 'derelictism.' The prizes for the best hard-up costume went to Ray Delves and Pauline Chadwick . The unqualified success of the evening was. due in no small way; to Messrs Hurs,t and Thomas who by making it possible to secure the services of a first class orchestra for the occasion ensured that the. dance would be out on its own. It can safely be said that all future Young Caledonian evenings if up to the standard of last can be sure of meeting with every success.