It's a topic that Canberra historian, Dr Lenore Coltheart, is exploring with a group of long-time groovers and movers at the place they learnt to tap their feet - the Albert Hall.
Their recollections of rock 'n' roll, old time, ballroom and many other dances are part of a series of discussions on our elegant city hall, which Dr Coltheart is hosting throughout this centenary year.
666's Elliott Dunn put on his finest dancing shoes - a pair of tradesman's boots - and shuffled down to the Albert Hall, to understand why it has been a keystone of Canberra's social life since it opened in 1928.
First, Elliott borrowed from Dr Coltheart's historical brain, and then met 1960s rock 'n' roller Val Starr.
"We actually packed out the hall, around 700 people, which I think is the capacity crowd of the Albert Hall," Val was happy to point out.
"They were great nights, great dances. We thought we were great, our egos were bigger than we were."
Patricia Vest was another to share her memories of the Albert Hall dance floor, which she graced for less licentious events, like ballroom dances.
"The Saturday night dance, all the youngsters would arrive and sit around the ball, and you'd be asked to dance, or not, as the case may be," Patricia reminisced.
"It was just a very friendly atmosphere. It was the tail end of the war."
In between a few impromptu dancing lessons, Elliott also spoke with Luke Wensing, one of the Friends of the Albert Hall, and found out about the current state of social dancing in Canberra from Colin Towns, the convener of SoCanDance.
No comments:
Post a Comment