Prospect Park in May

  


The timing seems right for these 4 photos of the May Pole dances held annually in Prospect Park when elementary schools, including PS10, sent dancers to participate in the colorful event.  A little research on this subject tells that May Pole dancing dates back to the late 1800s in many rural districts in England and, apparently, there was talk of it back in the 1400s.  What this has to do with Brooklyn in the 1950s is an interesting question. 

Although in the early 1900s, somebody in England named John Tiller claimed to have created the "modern Maypole" dance, and he's said to have invented the dance style the Rockettes are famous for. 

Now that's a little closer to home.  But, nonetheless, Eileen and I remember the PS10 May Pole dance well.  Eileen even remembers what we wore.  The girls' sewing project had been pastel colored jumpers which were not only intended to be everyday clothing but were also our colorful costumes for the May Pole dance.  As I recall, boys participated too.  

More research tells that there are many possible weave patterns around the May Pole, depending upon the dance steps done around the Pole.  How did we learn even one pattern of this intricate weaving dance?  Did we practice somewhere?  The time of year the May Pole is danced is Spring, late April and early May.  I don't have a specific date associated with the PS10 event and, in fact, am not sure what year I took these photos.  The dancers in the photos are not a PS10 group, at least not our group. 

The two teachers, however, are our PS10 teachers.  The teacher with the corsage, wearing the striped dress, was my 8th grade (8-2) teacher, the unbelievable Mary Elizabeth McLaughlin O'Hea Egan.  (She liked to recite her full name in class.  She was, no doubt, emphasizing her recent marriage to Mr. Egan--or her complete Irish-ness.  I remember a few other things she did in class.  She was pretty unconventional.)   The other teacher, wearing the bolero jacket, was "Miss Forte 8th grade math teacher" according to my scrawl on the back of the photo.  Now I'm wondering if we "changed classes" for all of our subjects in 8th grade.  Do you remember?

Ingrid Melcers Ritz