Page 47 - RSCDS Toronto Golden Jubilee Book

Scottish Country Dancing
comes of Age.
Connections
Encounters with Miss Milligan
Miss Milligan Mrs. Stewart
JEAN C. MILLIGAN AND YSOBEL STEWART
Jean Callander Milligan was born in 1886, and lived in the West End for most of her ninety-two years. Despite suffering from poor health as a child, Jean possessed enormous energy and enthusiasm, coupled with a love of all forms of dance. It is little wonder, then, that she decided to train as a physical education teacher.
Ysobel Stewart had danced Scottish dances all her life and was sad to see that by 1923 they were almost for- gotten, or, when danced, were done roughly and incorrectly. Taking with
her a collection of dances, she visited Mr. Diack of Paterson’s Publications, hoping to get some of her dances pub- lished and seeking advice about how to form a Society. Mr. Diack knew of Miss Milligan, and of her earlier involve- ment in a pre-World War 1 group – The Beltane Society – formed in Glasgow but disbanded because of the outbreak
of war. Miss Milligan had been a found- ing member and a collector of dances and music for that Society. When Mr. Diack introduced Miss Milligan and
Mrs. Stewart, they decided to co-found a new Society and to continue the complex task of collecting and publish- ing Scottish Country Dances. Not to be left out of the endeavour, Paterson’s Publications agreed to back them financially by publishing a book of 12 dances with music. The inaugural meet- ing was held on November 26, 1923, and, by 1952 the Society’s patron, Queen Elizabeth II, had conferred the "Royal" title.
Through the years, Jean Milligan took
a personal hand in ensuring that the aim of the Society – to preserve coun- try dancing in its correct form – was upheld. But, beyond that, she believed in the joy and enthusiasm expressed by dancing from the heart. She was con- sidered a formidable lady, but, beneath that exterior, was a friendly, enthusias- tic person with a remarkable sense of humour.
. . . Taken from the following documents: "Spring in the Step", Internet "The Royal Scottish Country Dance Society, Toronto Branch, Silver Jubilee, 1957-1982".
"From the waist up, I’m forty. From the waist down, I’m Methuselah." (at ninety) "...whether you dance in a ball room or a barn, the main thing is to have fun..." "... And, remember, the one thing I will not have omitted – it doesn’t matter who is in the class – I must have the social graces. I don’t care about feet. Sorry – I don’t worship feet. I could
slay all those people who say to me, ‘Miss Milligan, I don’t like girls in long dresses, we can’t see their feet’. You shouldn’t be looking at their feet. You should be looking at what their feet made all this (indicating torso and head) do. This worship of feet worries me dreadfully."
. . . Dr. Jean Milligan
"I must mention that Miss Jean Milligan was my lecturer at Jordanhill College
– where I learned my first few dances. She was a wonderful inspiration to the early dedicated dancers who started the Society with such enthusiasm.
She came over many times to North America and other countries and it was her spirit that made us all feel we had to achieve the very best. She used most of her money, travelling to ensure a strong vibrant happy group of danc- ers. She was staying with us on her last "world trip" when she was ninety-two and still had a wonderful personality."
. . . Catherine Macfarlane
One of my early experiences play-
ing piano was accompanying a class
in 1968 in Hamilton taught by Miss Milligan. Miss Milligan made a mistake: she added an 8-bar figure to a 32-bar dance. I covered up by adding 8 bars to the tune, and Miss Milligan noticed the music wasn’t aligning with the dance. She asked me, graciously but not too quietly, from the other end of the
hall, to play the music in "the proper sequence." I suggested she had made an error in the dance. She immediately retorted, "I don't think so!" My heart was in my boots! As tactfully as pos- sible, I pointed out the specific problem, whereupon Miss Milligan announced
to the class, "I've added an awfully nice wee bit to the dance, but ‘Homer has nodded’. My apologies to our redoubt- able pianist."
. . . Don Bartlett
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“...whether you dance in a ball room or
a barn, the main thing is to have fun...”