Author: Dorothy McLean
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How to get asked to dance
But, first, a word about Lent: All things have their season, and in their times all things pass under heaven. A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted. A time to kill, and a time to heal. A time to destroy,…
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Why Ladies Should Not Ask Gentlemen to Dance
I have touched on this subject before (here, for example), but I think it bears repeating. It is also a controversial topic, so it is good to review my arguments from time to time and see if they have developed any leaks. The supreme rule of social interaction in the United Kingdom is not to…
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My Dancing Day
“Tomorrow shall be my dancing day” is a traditional Christmas carol that may date back to the 14th century. It is unusual in that its creators imagined Our Lord singing the song Himself and characterizing both His life and eternal life in heaven as a dance. Unsurprisingly, composers have delighted in scoring new tunes for…
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A Delicious Redowa
Among the many online remarks I have read on the subject of social dancing is the observation that some girls grow up thinking that dances will be like those they see in Disney cartoons: beautiful ballgowns, waltzing, an enchanted teapot singing “Tale As Old As Time”… The reality of the standard middle school dance is…
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What the Parish Dance can and can’t do
There is an interesting article in the UK Catholic Herald this week about the dearth of young couples in society. The author draws a distinction, as well he might, between consecrated virginity and the plain old single state. “If it is good at all it is only good as a Cross faithfully born,” he says…
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Why have a Catholic dance?
I have been reading books by or about the Stoics since Christmas Day, preparing to see Christianity from a new direction. Having been brought up from birth in the Catholic Church, I am curious about what the Roman Stoics thought of the Gospel, as well as the influence of Roman Stoics on Christianity. Apparently St.…
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A Vintage Event
I love birthdays and can never let my own pass by without a treat. This year’s treat was a very old-fashioned event: supper at home with husband and Dance Committee, then going by taxicab to a jazz club for dancing, and then taxicabbing home. As Mr McLean insisted that I not cook but order in…
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Three Dances
This morning I’m contemplating three dances: one proposed to me, one at which I danced, and one I didn’t dance. The Proposed Dance This dance was proposed by two of teenaged members of our Traditional Latin Mass community here in Edinburgh. They requested a Masquerade Ball. They didn’t specify that it should be held at…
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A New Challenge
This week I eagerly hurried off to a dance class held by a branch of the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society (RSCDS). Inspired by a year-and-a-half of learning ceilidh dances, I decided I wanted to grasp The Real Thing. Meanwhile, I thought that having figured out how to dance “Hamilton House” would stand me in…
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Three Ceilidhs
Happy New Year! My sister Tertia and I went to an Edinburgh ceilidh on New Year’s Eve, feeling a little sorry for those thousands whose outdoor revels were thwarted by the weather warning. It was indeed very windy. The Parish Christmas After-Party But we went first to a Christmas ceilidh on Sunday afternoon, which was…