Family Writings
Ann Cahoon's Dance Record Book
"Little Man in a Fix" circa 1916
When I listened for Ann Cahoon, my paternal grandmother, to “speak” while I wrote Big Topics at Midnight, I had her Record Book at my side. I am not sure if this was for her master’s degree or for one of the two years she taught in the university. The pages are filled with a step-by-step description of dance after dance, from “Aug. 8 Senior Technique w. chair” to “One step,” all recorded in her lilting handwriting. Page forty-eight and forty-nine were filled with a description of the Danish dance “Little Man in a Fix.” I wish I had a video of her dancing, but the best I could do was a YouTube video of this dance that starts out calm but gets a bit wild in the middle. I imagine her delighted that I (and now you) are enjoying watching this dance.
