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

Did you see it, or can you tell us more info about the programme?

“Around the turn of the last century the term Military Two Step related to a group of dances of a common type. The dance which was actually called the Military Two Step was, in fact, arranged by Miss Ethel Finnigan, the daughter of James Finnigan of Manchester. Bibliography records the date as being 1903 (the great P.J.S Richardson, or1906 (Victor Sylvester), but this disparity in dates is of no significance, since they were apparently referring to the MTS of Ethel Finnigan, the key difference between her arrangement and the MTS of today being in the salute, which she placed on Bar 12, and made with the left hand. The arrangement which mirrors that of today’s dance is that of her father James, who produced the “Raw Recruit” (a Military Two Step), with the salute at Bar 6.
In his 1953 book, F. J. Mainey stated that he held the original script and music of the Raw Recruit, the copyright being dated 1898 and held by music publishers Francis, Day,Hunter, of New York. He contacted the publishers, who told him that the copyright extended to both the dance and the music, and that the date was correct. This proves, at least to my satisfaction, that the MTS of today is, in fact, the Raw Recruit of 1897/8.’’

- Mike Cooper, Old Time Dance Society.

The earliest appearance of it on a programme is: 1917 with music by Ethel Finnigan, dedicated to her Father, dated 1903. In 1950 the official board standardised many old time dances. The Military Two Step we know now is pretty much the one Ethel would have done. The Military Two Step is actually the least danced of all the Old Time Dances and has not appeared in a dance programme for many years. Yet, when people talk about Old Time it’s one of the two dances always mentioned, directly associated with Old Time.
We hope to resurrect the dance at The Whitworth Social.

To see the Manchester Advertiser article about the fire, click here.

James Finnigan

Shorrocks-, super ballroom, Brunswick St
(was 2 adjoining houses! Had reputation for being toffee nosed. Resident band, The Syncopated Six.)

Grimshaws- Nr. All Saints, ( more populist, started as a dance school)

Ritz- Whitworth St, ( A bigger Dance Hall, seen as The Top Spot, guaranteed good dancers.. In 1930s described as ‘The Hall of a thousand delights’)

Palais De Danse, Harpurhey,( a bigger hall,)

RB Ballroom, Monton St

Levenshulme Palais, Stockport Rd, (purpose built, with capacity of 300 and sprung floor. Res. Band Bill Edge & his Boys, with lady Double Bass player, acc. Marie)

Chorlton Palais,- (nr.the bus terminal, was purpose built venue with capacity of 300.Its now a Mc Donalds, according to Pat).

The Larcano, Sale

New Aldri Ballroom, behind the Contact Theatre, Dave put Sonuc Youth on there

Finnegans, Queens Rd, Cheetham Hill, Burnt down in 2006 after closing in 2005

TOTP, BBC studio, Dickenson Rd

City centre:
Grosvenor Hotel & Deansgate Hotel (northern end of Deansgate)
UCP Coniston Rooms , Market st
Parkers Restaurant st,Marys Gate
The State Café corner of Market St 7 piccadilly
Pictue House basement, between corners of Tib St 7 Oldham St

Rusholme & Moss Side:

Casino Ballroom, Wilsmslow rd
Cowans Dance hall, corner of Raby St & Bickley st
Rialto & Merrie Macs, Denmark rd, (above the Co-Ops)
RB Ballroom, Monton St

Recently, we went to meet a sequence dance group in Burnage. The group meet on Thursday evenings in Burnage Community Centre and were extremely friendly and welcoming. Kermit’s a regular. If you’d like to join this group, you can find more information here. Thanks to Connie and everyone at Burnage Sequence Dance Group.

Do you like a good knees up? Did you waltz round the floor to the Phil Moss Dance Band? Were you a regular at The Ritz Northern Soul All-nighters? Did you rave at the Hacienda? Were you at The Smiths first ever gig? Did you go and watch Top of the Pops being recorded in Rusholme? Ever taken a dance class? Do you dance on your own in your bedroom to a favourite record? If dance and music have played a part in your life in Manchester we would like to hear from you.

Artist Lucienne Cole is working on a project with the Whitworth Art Gallery looking at social dance. There will be a research introduction to the project culminating with a live performance and an open dance event for all to join in. There will also be print material produced to document the project.

You can help us by telling us your stories and experiences of dancing and music in Manchester. Please download this Whitworth Social Survey and email it to us at whitworth.projects@googlemail.com