I AGREE with Joan Roberts (Letters, November 4). I used to attend Mary Mac's School of Dancing on Bishopthorpe, York.

They were good times and Strictly Come Dancing on Saturday night is also a favourite TV programme of mine.

Besides Mary Mac's, a lot of girls used to go to the Regency Ballroom which is now Fairfax House. It was also St George's Cinema in the late fifties, but is headquarters today of York Civic Trust.

I taught dancing there on a Wednesday night to beginners. We used to have to get the shy boys up to dance, teach them the basic steps, waltz, jive, and Latin steps.

Another popular City School of Dancing was The Court Ballroom, above the Burton men's tailors, now a bookshop in High Ousegate.

If you were not home by 11pm, there were questions asked by parents.

I can remember wearing a taffeta skirt with sleeveless top and a waspie elastic waist belt, plus a net underskirt, which used to prick your legs with its rough edge.

We used to starch the underskirt or dip it in sugar to make the material stiff, so your taffeta one on top stood out whilst you bopped the night away.

Goodness help you if it was raining outside, on your way home. Your legs stuck and your skirt edge dropped down.

Happy days!!

Barbara Pettit,

Rosemary Place, York.

Updated: 10:52 Friday, November 12, 2004