It turns out that dancing (well) is the most important social tool a guy can have. Dancing is the only evolution in our society where a perfect male stranger can touch another perfect female stranger without an assault charge.
It allows a guy to know if that female stranger is self confident ("I don't want to dance because there is nobody else on the floor") coordinated ("Sorry, I didn't mean to step on your foot") adventurous ("Wow! Let's do that dip again!) or drinks too much (Oh, I want to have another Martini before I dance")
Moreover, it allows the use of the sense of smell. (She smokes. Tobacco. Marijuana.) She has classy taste (Shalimar!) And touch. (Wow! She's an athlete!) (She wears natural fibers, silk) Mama Mia!
AHHH! The La Salle dances! I looked forward to those all week! Now, from a female perspective on those George J. West Jr. High dances.... waiting at our side of the room, sweating the possibility of NOT being asked to dance, waiting for the swarm of boys to take the initiative to move to our side of the room. What doomsday afternoons those were!
La Salle Academy mixers in the 76-80 years were pretty much the same. Anxiousness for sure…Leave room for the Holy Spirit, from the brothers lol. Although a couple of lay teachers hoped you made out, brothers would guide us back to the auditorium if we wandered around.
The young ladies were from St. Mary’s of the Visitation, St Xavier’s, and Bay View.
Great story Dr. I, always remember my first dance, I was scared to death a boy would not invite me to dance!!! Well I was correct. Crazy how important that was at that age!
I remember the dances, I went to LaSalle, which back then (55 to 57) was all boys school, so I knew many of the guys there. Girls, did not know any or remember any. Funny I recently met a classmate from back then and he remember me dancing with a specific girl, but I had no recollection. Amazings me what people remember, and I forget.
Once again, you conjure up memories of the past. Though I grew up in a different time zone, the angst remains the same. I remember white buck shoes, white sox, Madras shirts, khaki pants, Brylcreem, sweaty palms, and peer judgement. Aren't we glad we have shed our social fears?
Back then at La Salle there were no girls attending La Salle. I really hated to try to make friends with girls cold turkey! Joe Mollicone was in my class and definitely he set the standard for being really cool!
The pretty girls which my classmates would pick out for me to ask to dance were for unknown reasons to me always from Classical High School or Bay View Academy!
And usually mostly girls with Italian heritage names also! I guess that reflected my friends!
My favorite song was definitely “Goodnight Sweetheart”! Both from mostly a relief perspective but occasionally sometimes from a later post prom experience “parking” in Roger Williams park for awhile!
had lots of dances/mixers both at Archbishop Molloy HS in Queens, NY --- with all the Catholic girls' high schools -- as well as at Providence College. Actually, in sophomore year we formed a rock band, "The Right Honourable Gentlemen" and we played many PC, Brown, RISD, and Salve dances. We did an opening before the Hollies played at PC's Alumni Hall. Loved the 60's!
Those LaSalle Canteens will never leave my memories, standing along the side wall, talking to my cousin Billy Lynch and hoping one of his friends would ask me to dance. Being asked to dance the last dance was always special. I do remember those brave boys who summoned up the courage. Along with the Proms at SXA with the Sisters watching us do the Grand March down the Alumni Hall Gym floor, festively decorated by us and the planned post prom gatherings at Johnson's Hummocks. The Father Daughter dances were always in October and a lot more fun than the Proms.
Yes, bravery; doing something we didn't think we could do. I was invited to
a SXA dance. I remember the nuns behind the cage. I seem to remember stopping the dance in the middle of the evening to sing a religious dong. Was it to St. Xavier?
Probably “Hail, Alma Mater. Although I checked the SXA Handbook, an hilarious collection of rules and songs for every occasion and there is a Hymn to St. Francis Xavier. Yes you are correct about “the Cage”.
Dance lessons at GJW? Missed those. Maybe because I left after two years. Probably was a senior thing. But since I went to the LaSalle dances, I could have used all the help possible! Thanks for the memories!
This is from Chuck de Caro:
Ed:
It turns out that dancing (well) is the most important social tool a guy can have. Dancing is the only evolution in our society where a perfect male stranger can touch another perfect female stranger without an assault charge.
It allows a guy to know if that female stranger is self confident ("I don't want to dance because there is nobody else on the floor") coordinated ("Sorry, I didn't mean to step on your foot") adventurous ("Wow! Let's do that dip again!) or drinks too much (Oh, I want to have another Martini before I dance")
Moreover, it allows the use of the sense of smell. (She smokes. Tobacco. Marijuana.) She has classy taste (Shalimar!) And touch. (Wow! She's an athlete!) (She wears natural fibers, silk) Mama Mia!
And oh yeah, dancing is fun!
AHHH! The La Salle dances! I looked forward to those all week! Now, from a female perspective on those George J. West Jr. High dances.... waiting at our side of the room, sweating the possibility of NOT being asked to dance, waiting for the swarm of boys to take the initiative to move to our side of the room. What doomsday afternoons those were!
Oh, Yeah! it took guts.
But you must have had guts by the time you went to that dance in a white suit! Good for you!
Joann asked me! My mother bought the suit.
It takes a woman! In this case, two women!
Yep, I was a piece of work
Those were the days, my friend! We thought they’d never end!! 🥰
Simone Signoret wrote a book, "Nostalgia Isn't What It Used To Be."
Goid memories❤️
La Salle Academy mixers in the 76-80 years were pretty much the same. Anxiousness for sure…Leave room for the Holy Spirit, from the brothers lol. Although a couple of lay teachers hoped you made out, brothers would guide us back to the auditorium if we wandered around.
The young ladies were from St. Mary’s of the Visitation, St Xavier’s, and Bay View.
Good Times
Ah, the Catholic girls . . . There were girls from GJ West also
Great story Dr. I, always remember my first dance, I was scared to death a boy would not invite me to dance!!! Well I was correct. Crazy how important that was at that age!
Monumental importance then, Colleen
I remember the dances, I went to LaSalle, which back then (55 to 57) was all boys school, so I knew many of the guys there. Girls, did not know any or remember any. Funny I recently met a classmate from back then and he remember me dancing with a specific girl, but I had no recollection. Amazings me what people remember, and I forget.
Biagio, Simone Signoret wrote a book, "Nostalgia Isn't What It Used to Be." I disagree. I live in a wonderful world on nostalgia.
How true, thanks Ed,Frank
Lots of unrequited loves along the way.
Once again, you conjure up memories of the past. Though I grew up in a different time zone, the angst remains the same. I remember white buck shoes, white sox, Madras shirts, khaki pants, Brylcreem, sweaty palms, and peer judgement. Aren't we glad we have shed our social fears?
I donned everything but the Brylcream. Mine was Vitalis. I wish I had those Madras shirts and the Madras jacket
Back then at La Salle there were no girls attending La Salle. I really hated to try to make friends with girls cold turkey! Joe Mollicone was in my class and definitely he set the standard for being really cool!
The pretty girls which my classmates would pick out for me to ask to dance were for unknown reasons to me always from Classical High School or Bay View Academy!
And usually mostly girls with Italian heritage names also! I guess that reflected my friends!
My favorite song was definitely “Goodnight Sweetheart”! Both from mostly a relief perspective but occasionally sometimes from a later post prom experience “parking” in Roger Williams park for awhile!
We shared the same experiences, Jim. The only difference; I had two "parking" spots ---- Triggs and River Road.
had lots of dances/mixers both at Archbishop Molloy HS in Queens, NY --- with all the Catholic girls' high schools -- as well as at Providence College. Actually, in sophomore year we formed a rock band, "The Right Honourable Gentlemen" and we played many PC, Brown, RISD, and Salve dances. We did an opening before the Hollies played at PC's Alumni Hall. Loved the 60's!
Yes, wonderful days, Vin. You had a band so you didn't have to dance, Eh?
are you kiddin' --- every kid in Brooklyn had moves --- got me to PVD. :)
HaHa, of course
Those LaSalle Canteens will never leave my memories, standing along the side wall, talking to my cousin Billy Lynch and hoping one of his friends would ask me to dance. Being asked to dance the last dance was always special. I do remember those brave boys who summoned up the courage. Along with the Proms at SXA with the Sisters watching us do the Grand March down the Alumni Hall Gym floor, festively decorated by us and the planned post prom gatherings at Johnson's Hummocks. The Father Daughter dances were always in October and a lot more fun than the Proms.
Yes, bravery; doing something we didn't think we could do. I was invited to
a SXA dance. I remember the nuns behind the cage. I seem to remember stopping the dance in the middle of the evening to sing a religious dong. Was it to St. Xavier?
Probably “Hail, Alma Mater. Although I checked the SXA Handbook, an hilarious collection of rules and songs for every occasion and there is a Hymn to St. Francis Xavier. Yes you are correct about “the Cage”.
Love it.
Dance lessons at GJW? Missed those. Maybe because I left after two years. Probably was a senior thing. But since I went to the LaSalle dances, I could have used all the help possible! Thanks for the memories!
We rookies all needed the help
There would be more dances IF there was the pool scene from IAWL❣️
I'm sure you mean the part where the pool opened and the dancers fell in. I kinda felt like that.