Sorry to be missing Madame’s 50th reunion
I am so sorry to miss out on Madame Murray’s Supper Dance. It’s a long way to come for an 84-year-old who, while game, might not last out the evening. So regretfully I’ll remain amid Toronto’s winter snow while recollecting those good times.
We boarders at Grammar School House lived almost directly across Queen’s Road from Madame Murray’s ballroom dancing ‘emporium’. Was it 3, 5 or 7 Queen’s Road? It was the first winter of the war and there was uncertainty about air raids and our safety after dark. Anyhow, Jimmy Edison, the House Master, was authorized to allow boys 15 and over to attend dancing classes across the road if parents permitted. Mine did. The room was large, perhaps a living and dining-room combined into one. The music was played on a wind-up gramophone with 78 records and Madame Murray and another lady (her sister perhaps?) conducted the 7 p.m. -8.30 p.m. lessons.
We were taught the waltz, foxtrot, slow foxtrot (wow!), quickstep and the old fashioned waltz. I can still remember M.M. saying, “Young men, you must not dance so closely with a partner in the slow foxtrot. There must be a separation!”
And then in 1941 she introducted the tango. What a blast! This, we innocents felt, was ballroom dancing at its best. I was once required by Madame Murray to demonstrate the steps with her. Great fun and applause until I learned afterwards that her decorative stocking garter had slipped down to her ankle. Passion? I think not.
Our girl partners were from The High, St. Megs and local schools. To the best of my recollection, Miss Oliver’s girls were not allowed to attend. I can remember the first, but not last names of some dancing partners. Joan, Molly, Bernice, Mary and Margaret – quite staid by today’s celebrity standards! I escorted Joan part of the way home for two winters. Up to Miss O’s, turn left, down one block, a hug, no kiss and home to 8 Queen’s Road within the 20 minutes. Ah, innocence in wartime. Unfortunately my real girl friend, St. Meg’s Head Girl, lived over near King’s College, too far away for Madame Murray’s classes.
In 1941-2 there were air raid alerts and, when the sirens sounded during dancing class, we were directed to the basement. Madame Murray’s directives – “Girls here, boys there” – were ignored in the darkness and it turned out to be the best part of our dancing lessons!
We were allowed twenty minutes to report in at the House after 8.30 p.m., which indicates the humanitarian approach Jimmy Edison had to his boys.
The Cowdray Hall classes were, of course, far after my time, but over the years I really did appreciate Madame’s devotion to the grace of ballroom dancing.
I wish everyone well in the 50th Reunion. Remember that the ‘Bug-House’ young men were the pioneers!
George Stephen,
Toronto, Canada