The Michaelmas Dance 2024

Michaelmas Eve was a sunny, dry day in Edinburgh, for which I am most grateful. I began it by washing wine glasses, and I ended it by stacking bags of the used-and-rewashed wine glasses under a table in the sitting room. Then I fell into bed.

We were a company of 56, I believe: 47 guests, six musicians, a jazz singer, my husband and I. We began around 7:45 PM with the Prayer to Saint Michael, and then I invited our guests to fill in their dance cards. At about 8 PM our first caller Max took the stage to explain the steps to the Dashing White Sergeant, the crowd found their partners, and the Strathtay Trio struck up a tune.

We had three groups of musicians: a waltz duo (piano and violin), the ceilidh trio (violin, guitar and mandolin), a jazz pianist and his brother, the singer. The waltz pianist was my brother, and as he usually accompanies professionals, he was pleased to discover himself the senior musician among the talented young amateurs. George was also happy to play before the dance began, in the quiet bits between dances, and after the dance was over. It is splendid to have musicians in the family, and I have two. (The other is a devotee of demon rock-and-roll.)

I decided to alternate waltzes and ceilidh dances this time–and will shortly have a committee meeting so I can be told if this was or was not a good idea. Before George and violinist Mary struck up “The Blue Danube,” Max and I illustrated the Box Step and the Natural Turn. The company began to dance, and it was a beautiful sight.

The final waltz before the intermission was “The Road and Miles to Dundee,” for which there were song sheets for those who chose not to dance to it. The singing was led by my husband, who is from Dundee.

During the intermission, we had jazz. Janek played, and Kuba sang. There was swing dancing, including the Shim Sham, which MMWP will be learning until all members react to the opening notes of “Ain’t What You Do” like racehorses to the sound of the bugle. Kuba’s funny rendition of “I Wanna Be Like You” was particularly well received.

In general, we don’t serve the wine, beer, coffee, tea cake and snacks until the intermission. (There is squash and water throughout.) However, a few people were so desirous of coffee that I made some during the first half. Also, as usual, I discovered that some of the wine had magically sneaked itself onto the table early. That said, the company drank even less than before: only five and two half-bottles of wine and seven cans of beer among all that crowd. (My sister, a keen salsa dancer, tells me that this is because drink and skilled dancing don’t mix well.)

The second half began around 10:15. This time Sophia called the ceilidhs, and we began with the Canadian Barn Dance.

By our second waltz, however, I realized we were running so late that something from the programme would have to go. After a consultation with Sophia, I decided to cut “Vito’s Waltz”–or, rather, ask the musicians to play it after the Salve Regina ended the official proceedings. And when I watched the company dance The Eightsome Reel to its conclusion, I knew I had made the right choice. We went straight into Strip the Willow, and then the Strathtay Trio ran for its train.

This meant no accompaniment for “Auld Lang Syne”, so when we were in its traditional circle, I nodded at Mr McLean to begin. However, Mr McL had been primed only to lead “Salve Regina”, so he began that instead. And it was again my favourite moment of the Michaelmas Dance: the entire company, those who assist at the Fraternity of the Priests of St. Peter (FSSP) Masses, those who go to Ordinary Form, and those who support the Society of St. Pius X chapels, sang the seasonal Marian Anthem together.

Then we had “Auld Lang Syne”, only it was not as boisterous as usual, as Mr McLean was not inclined to drive his wheelchair forward and backward with the crowd. Instead he led a Hip Hip Hooray for me, and Madeleine handed me a beautiful, fragrant bouquet as Marek and Krzysztof hovered behind her and Krzysztof made a short speech of thanks.

George and Mary plunged into “Vito’s Waltz” and, forgetting that I had promised myself not to do this, I rushed to the kitchen to try to bring order out of chaos before midnight struck and the janitor rattled his keys. I was followed by some very delightful and helpful people, most notably Madeleine, who began to wash the dishes. However, there was nobody to stand by the door to bid good-bye to the guests. I regret this very much.

The problem there, future hosts and hostesses, is that I never had a committee meeting, and I completely forgot at my last dance party to canvas for official volunteers. Every dance needs a certain number of volunteers to be successful, and that includes volunteers to manage other volunteers. One host or hostess can juggle only so many balls before he or she begins to drop them. For another example, I discovered too late that my lipstick was not in my evening bag.

Nevertheless, the coffee hour after Mass on Michaelmas itself, was an even more cheerful affair than usual, and without hesitation I made 3 pots of coffee instead of swithering over “Two or two-and-a-half?” There were guests who had come up from England, and at least one who had come down from Dundee, and everywhere I heard happy remarks about the dance.

The best accolade went something like this: “When I got out of bed this morning, I fell down because my feet hurt so much. But then I crawled to the shower, and afterwards I was okay.”

As at previous dances, I learned many lessons, and I will be happy to impart them to readers in time. This morning I must clean the flat, for it looks as if the Michaelmas Dance took place here.