Article in North & East Manchester Advertiser

Dance legacy resurrected

2/ 5/2008

TWO years after fire destroyed one of Manchester’s most famous dance halls, its spirit is set to rise from the ashes through a unique art project.

Finnigans dance academy, which was based on Queens Road, Cheetham Hill, burned down in 2006.

Established in 1877, it was here that owner James Finnigan invented ‘The Military Two Step’, a dance that was later developed by his daughter Ethel in 1903.

Now artist Lucienne Cole is resurrecting the style at Whitworth Art Gallery as part of a “dance project” called The Whitworth Social.

A spokesman for the gallery said: “The idea of The Whitworth Social follows a lifelong tradition and history of dance hall get-togethers where people from all walks of life joined in a unifying experience.

“The focal point of the evening’s programme will be in the participation of ‘The Military Two-Step’.

“The dance has not appeared on a programme for many, many years, so we are hoping to make our own mark on dance history in Manchester.”

See the full article here:

http://www.nemadvertiser.co.uk/news/s/1047951_dance_legacy_resurrected