The "Quali "Dance

Post by **joette** » Fri Jan 13, 2006 6:03 pm

I wonder if anybody remembers the" Quali Dance" which took place at the end of Primary School? I guess it was the precursor of the Disco which I attended on many occasions.
I never went to the Quali as it was a choice between a new dress & christmas presents.I was a tomboy so the presents won hands down & I was nae guid at the scottish country dancing anyway.It was a night time affair too.
Although I did get roped in to demonstrate a few like the dashing White sergeant & it was amazing how much had stayed in "Back two three up,down" as we used to chant whilst moving around the gym.No wonder children are not fit now I bet they don't have to belt around doing this a couple of times a week.

LesleyB · Post by **LesleyB** » Fri Jan 13, 2006 7:28 pm

Hi Joette
My daughter, a secondary school pupil, informs me that the tradition of "learning" these dances is alive and well and made, and I quote, "pretty much compulsory" at their school - Dashing White Sergeant, Gay Gordons, Strip The Willow, Military 2-step and ...the Canadian Barn Dance. Oh, and a waltzy type thing which appears to have no name....

(apparently they are too busy taking the er, mick to chant the moves - I dunno, the youth of today!

)

Seems things are much the same!

Best wishes
Lesley

Russell · Post by **Russell** » Fri Jan 13, 2006 9:33 pm

Hi Joette

Down in Dunoon (Argyll) they actually bring in a dance teacher for the primary 7s (nae Quali noo) and my old mother goes along as a demonstrator. They tried last year for some kind of record for the Orcadian Strip the Willow - hundreds of kids all along the Main St. Don't know if they made the Guinness book of Records though.

Rememberiing my own Quili year gym was not a flattering affair boys in shorts and semmits, girls in black knickers all wearing black 'gutties' avoiding the opposite sex like they had the plague! If I remember right secondary school wasnae much better.
They say these were the best days of our lives ?????

Russell

nelmit · Post by **nelmit** » Fri Jan 13, 2006 11:25 pm

lbathgate wrote:Hi Joette
snipped...................
Oh, and a waltzy type thing which appears to have no name....

Seems things are much the same!

Best wishes
Lesley

At a guess I would say The St. Bernard's Waltz - 3 steps to the right, stamp, stamp -same to the left, then out for three in for three and one two three, one two three etc. (round and round)

Annette M

LesleyB · Post by **LesleyB** » Fri Jan 13, 2006 11:41 pm

Hi Annette
Daughter says it goes:
one, two, three, up, down; back two three, up down; away from your partner clap, back to the middle, side-together-side, back-together-back & polka!!!

s

[-X Do not try this at home.

But...she says she might have got two mixed up.

Modern education, huh?

Best wishes
Lesley

Post by **AndrewP** » Fri Jan 13, 2006 11:45 pm

We had the Quali to mark the moving on from primary to secondary school in the mid-70s in Edinburgh. It was either taught by our class teacher, or maybe the gym teacher, I can't remember for sure.

At the High School, there were various discos and dances. Usually there was trouble

at a disco, so the next one was a ceilidh dance which usually attracted less trouble. The ceilidh dancing was usually taught by one of the female PE teachers. Her husband was an athlete. Our theory after dance lessons from her was we knew why he ran for a living. We would have kept on running if we were coming home to that shouting each night.

All the best,

Andrew Paterson

Russell · Post by **Russell** » Sat Jan 14, 2006 12:22 am

Lesley

That's the Canadian Barn Dance
Perfect description. She's got it dead right even if the terminology could be more precise.

Then you get stumped when they make it progressive and most folk don't know whether they advance clockwise or ant-clockwise!

Chaos theory applies here as well as in collecting ancestors records.

Russell

Bertha · Post by **Bertha** » Sat Jan 14, 2006 11:11 am

Morning
Have been following this thread. Brought back memories of my own Quali!
Now, most schools call it a Leaving Dance/Prom (American terminology creeping in due to TV!)
About 4 yrs ago, my friends' daughter was moving on to high school and at her leaving dance, the whole class got together and decided they would make it a smart affair, copying their older brothers and sisters who were leaving high school. All but 2 girls wore beautiful long dresses and every boy dressed in full highland evening dress, they all looked very smart.
Before my sons school leaving dance some 12 yrs ago, the teacher taught the class the usual Scottish Country dances much to their dismay, this was what they were to expect at the dance. However, this turned out to be a windup as it was a disco and they only had to do a couple of reels!
His high school leaving do was a big fancy affair and they did Scottish dancing as it was a Ceilliedh (spelling!) at their own request as they were responsible for the organisation not the teachers.
Also these days, groups going to these dances club together and arrive in style - they hire stretch limos!!!!
Bertha

anne · Post by **anne** » Sun Jan 15, 2006 12:58 am

I was horrified a few years ago when my nephew announced that he was going to the Valedictory Dance! At a wee local primary in Edinburgh..... My kids' school have a Leavers' Dance but it sounds much like the quali, the boys have to ask a girl to partner them and they practise country dancing throughout Primary 7 for it. I didn't get to go to my quali - my folks decided to go on holiday early so I missed it - and I had spent months ensuring the correct boy asked me to it!
Anne

Post by **AnneM** » Wed Jan 18, 2006 7:04 pm

Hi Russell

Your mother obviously lives in the same place as my mother. Did you live there or has she moved since you were an adult?

Anne