Victorian Beach Dance (1961)

L/S of a group of children in Victorian costume, standing in position in a seaside scene in a hall. They are pupils at Ballantine Dancing School in Knightsbridge, London, and their teacher, Violet Ballantine, is seen walking from the scene and clapping her hands. The dance routine starts, with different children coming forward to do their pieces; playing with the (invisible) sand; prancing around as Victorian toffs, Matron with orphans; Society family; bathing belles and men in striped swimsuits, bowler hats and moustaches; two couples as Pierrot clowns. The other children are seen swaying to the music, and everyone joins at the end; waving to camera while the youngest ones dance round in a circle. Note: On file is a letter from Violet Ballantine to Roy Lewis at Pathe saying “This is just to say that all is under control - we have cut the ballet down from 12 minutes to just under 4 minutes... I think we are getting to know what you want now... Don’t exclaim if there are too many children - we have cut the