Page 39 - RSCDS Toronto Golden Jubilee Book

People, Places and Parties
Sandra Binns-
Johnstone
I feel very blessed to have been a part of the Scottish Country Dancing family in Toronto, starting out as a Highland dancer at age nine, influenced by my mother (a member of the Daughters of Scotland in Canada) and my grandpa, a "Gordon Highland," to move into SCD. At age sixteen in Jimmy LeFevre’s group I met Georgina Finlay, Noreen McLennan, Coll Black, Jack Geddes, Alec MacGregor, and Sandy Bain, so
I had the best of the best to guide
me through. I remember travelling by streetcar to Bathurst and Bloor, where in the church lower hall Coll Black taught me the correct positions so that I would be accepted on the demon- stration team. And so I continued on
a journey with friendship, wonderful experiences, and happy memories all the way.
I danced on the Toronto Branch team at the opening of the new Toronto City Hall—a stage quite high in front of the building, TV coverage and lots of fire- works. Hundreds attended — quite an honour.
Opening of new City Hall, 1965
At the CNE Grandstand for the Folk Arts Festival, my partner Bob Millar and I represented our group in the opening number, with special choreography— what a thrill and honour! The complete show was filmed by the National Film Board and the CBC, and apparently the
film was played at one of our theatres as a fill-in. But I have not had the plea- sure of seeing it yet! Also at the CNE on music day, the Branch demonstration team performed on stages positioned around the grounds, and we always had good audiences.
At Maple Leaf Gardens we performed in the 1963 Easter Seal programme, with Tommy Hunter and Juliette, the singer, to a full house.
I thought I had experienced all, over my years with SCD, then Bob Blackie called me to ask if I would look after the spare dancers required to be on hand for the 512some at the CNE. That was
a terrific experience—but then came the SkyDome and again I was asked to be in charge of the spares. Wow, what a trip! Again I felt honoured to be part of the 1024some which almost happened.
SCD has been a wonderful hobby and pastime, from demonstrations to teach- er of both adults and children, enter- ing my teams into the Festivals, then adjudicating at festivals, then travelling North America to teach at workshops. I feel deeply that the core value through- out is to practise and preserve country dances as danced in Scotland, staying true to the traditions of the steps and formations, maintaining good manners and spreading friendship and happiness wherever we go to dance or teach. As we age, the feet and positions can be difficult, but wherever possible every- thing else should be present. We should feel proud of our ability to still be danc- ing with joy and helpfulness.
Dancing in the Park According to Isabelle MacPherson, who remembers it well, Dancing in the Park began on a Tuesday evening in 1963 at Edwards Gardens. It was organized by Tom Cunningham, who was instructed by park authorities that dancing would be held in the pavilion only, with no amplification of music and no dancing on the grass. The dancers must have impressed the powers that decided, however, because the next year they were allowed to do both. In 1969 the dancing was transferred to Toronto Island, which caused transportation problems at times. One night the band missed the ferry, but caught the next one so that the evening merely got off to a late start. Grace Harris remembers
that "some of the teenagers enjoyed the bushes there," to which David Grant replied, "You’re bringing some spice into this, Gracie!" In 1971 the dancing was moved to Sunnybrook Park, then back to Edwards Gardens in 1996, where it has been held ever since.
Demo team in 1960s Toronto Branch formed a demonstra- tion team in 1963 under the direction of Isabelle MacPherson. Between June 22, 1963 and July 18, 1967, there were 87 dancers involved in 104 performanc- es. Highlights were the opening of the "New" City Hall in 1965, Expo 67, and
the CNE grandstand "Nation Builders Show" under the Canadian Folk Arts Council in 1964 and 1965.
. . . Isabelle MacPherson
Geneva Park
In the early 1960s, George Armstrong,
the founder and teacher of the Scottish Country Dance group at Grace Church on the Hill, Toronto, invited dancers to Thornbury for a day of dancing, picnic and barbeque, followed by a dance in the evening. A full weekend workshop was organized the following year, held October 6 to 9 at the Blue Mountain Ski Lodge in Collingwood. Accommodation
Valerie Fisher, Jon Allen-Friend
McLeod Scottish Country Dancers
Kathy Sheilds, Barry Walker, Susan Doe, Alex Wylie
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