Here is a selection of extracts from the Morganian School Magazine on the School Dances that used to take place between Dr Morgans and the Girls Grammar School. They are interesting not only because they are written in that turgid and formal style that seemed essential to all and every writer; but they also show the rather formal nature of the dances themselves. This was the late 1950's when Elvis was dominating the music scene and James Dean's "Rebel Without a Cause" was portraying a fast growing cultural youth rebellion. You would hardly know it from the tame days of those now long forgotten school dances and the proper behaviour they were supposed to generate. No teenage pregnancies at school dances, just a few jam buns!

December 1954. A programme was arranged at a meeting of the Dance Committee but was subjected to rather severe modification during the dance..... The attendance was good both teaching staffs being represented. The main attraction of the evening was the deomonstration of the Tango which was executed with great mastery by Mr Bryden and his partner ...... The most popular dances are still the old variety, Quicksteps and Modern Waltzes attracting but few dances. The tables, were, however reversed for the Square Dance, which was danced, on several instances during the evening with great energy and gusto if not with the correct steps.... Owing to the inexperience of the Master of Ceremonies, the dances followed one another with great rapidity, resulting at the end of the evening in many exhausted dancers.

December 1957. To date there have been two dances one held at each school. Both of these dances, I am glad to say, have been very successful. It is rather a pity though, that so few boys came along, as I am sure that even those who cannot dance would enjoy themselves. Most of the dances are very easy to pick up. I hope many who read this will take the hint.

December 1958. To date two school dances have been held this term, both of which were quite well supported ..... Our new MC performed admirably on both occassions, in spite of his passion for the "Twelfth Street Rag." ..... The second dance was somewhat noteworthy for its mysterious superfluity of jam buns, but many of these were later found to have been the property of a Rugby Team.

December 1959. Six dances have been held since the New Year and all were enjoyed (I presume). This term, as sometimes happens in any school, the girls Fifth Form is not only small, but also unwilling to dance. This means that the happy state (for the female of the species) where she has about 1.2 or 1.3 males around her has now gone over to the totally unwelcome state |(for the male of the specieis) in which he is one among 1.7 or even 1.95 who are all trying to get a dance at some stage in the proceedings. Let us hope this may be changed before the end of the year.