Pine Mountain Settlement School
Series 16: EVENTS
May Day 1939

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TAGS: Events May Day 1939, Dancing Green, English Country dances, May Day Celebration, handkerchief dance, Arthur Dodd, John A. Spelman III, PMSS Girls Octet, Mae Gadd, Abby W. Christensen, Glyn Morris, May Day programs

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EVENTS May Day 1939

INTRODUCTION

The 1939 May Day celebration was one of the more extensive programs devised and presented for the annual event. May at the School was a very active time, as the month also included the annual Dogwood Breakfast given for the staff and guests at the School. Planning for both events was begun in early April and fully engaged the staff and students.

The year 1939 was an important time for English Country Dance. This was the year that Miss Mae Gadd was assigned to assure that the standards of the English Folk Dance Society were applied to its American branches which she did with great proficiency, first as an organizer and teacher, then as the head of the New York City branch. In 1939 she became the first national director of the organization and remained in that position for 35 years. During that time she changed the society’s name to Country Dance and Song Society of America (CDSS) to reflect her interest in Appalachian dances. She also sponsored seasonal festivals that regularly attracted hundreds of dancers and established folk dance clubs at local high schools and colleges.

Also of interest, she was often consulted by choreographer Agnes de Mille on dance steps for the musicals Oklahoma! and Brigadoon which both contained varieties of folk dance. During her long tenure with the Society, she transformed it from a loose federation of English Society branches into an autonomous, not-for-profit, American organization. She was deeply involved in the foundations of the Berea College English Country Dance programs.

Even earlier than 1939, Pine Mountain was invited to participate in several national folk festival events. Through the efforts of Abby W. Christensen, an English Country Dance enthusiast, Pine Mountain performed at the infamous White Top Festival in Virginia and was invited and often well represented at other Folk Dance events. Under Glyn Morris‘ direction, students from the School were invited to perform for various local fund-raising engagements. They often combined their dancing and singing talents to raise money for the School.

In 1936-37 the PMSS Girls Octet joined dancers in trips to New York and ultimately were asked to perform at the White House for President and Mrs. Roosevelt. By 1939 the skill level of the students was high and the May Day event was an opportunity to show their talents to the local community.

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TRANSCRIPTION: EVENTS May Day 1939 Program

Pine Mountain Settlement School
MAY DAY
Saturday, May 6, 1939

The program will begin at 2 o’clock on the Snake Path
Dancing Floor if the weather is fine,
or at Laurel House in case of rain.

Music by Mr. Arthur W. Dodd
Assisted by Mr. [Glyn] Morris and Miss [Fern] Hall

GISBURN PROCESSIONAL
and
THE TWIN SISTERS
By Students and Staff

SAGE LEAF
(A round for as many as will)
By the whole school

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THE HOLLY BERRY
Class dance of A-3

Set I

Lillian Hendricks	Fred Hoskins
Louise Hawn	Floyd Lewis
Mary Ellen Boggs	Estil Cornett
Sallie Boggs	Willie Cornett

Set II

Christine Turner	Sallie Boggs
Rosa Boggs	Estil Elam
Tressie Shell	Fred Couch
Nora Begley	Hattie Sturgill

GRIMSTOCK
Class dance of A-2

Set I

Marjorie Kelly	Perry Caudill
Gwendolyn Hendren	Oral Howard
Nell Jean Wade	Carl Farley

Set II

Virginia Ball	L.P. Myrick
Hazel Edwards	Calvin Jones
Helen Nolan	Douglas Nichels

PUT ON THY SMOCK ON A MONDAY
Class dance of A-1

Set I

Wilma Yost	Charles Hollins
Mary Pace	Bill Turner
Lois Yost	James Centers

Set II

Bertha Lewis	Paul Gilliam
Reba Garrett	Ray Miller
Ruth Ann Cornett	James Rutherford

Set III

Bertha Creech	Willard Enix
Mary Pace	Bill Turner
Lois Yost	James Centers

Set IV

Bertha Lewis	Paul Gilliam
Reba Garrett	Paul Boggs
Ruth Ann Cornett	James Rutherford

RIGS O’ MARLOW
(A Morris dance from Headington, Oxfordshire)

Mary Pace	Ruby Ayers
Ruth Shuler	Mattie Ayers
Pauline Frost	Wilma Yost

FLAMBOROUGH
(A Sword dance from Yorkshire, England)

James Centers	Burton Creech
Jack Howard	William Cornett
Carl Farley	Oral Howard
Paul Gilliam	Willard Enix

THE HEALTH
Class dance of the Juniors and Seniors

Set I

Wayne Browning	Ruth Shuler
Lester Moore	Marie Nolan
Arnie Hall	Stella Taylor
Noel Howard	Ruby Ayers

Set II

Wilbur Wilder	Mary Louise Williams
John Warren	Pauline Frost
Paul Hayes	Lucille Christian
Burton Creech	Mable Gilliam

Set III

Wayne Browning	Ruth Shuler
Talmadge Dean	Marie Nolan
Arnie Hall	Stella Taylor
Denver Davis	Ruby Ayers

Set IV

Wilbur Wilder	Mary Louise Williams
JJohn Warren	Pauline Frost
Laton Haverly	Lucille Christian
Noel Howard	Mable Gilliam