History of Les Amies Dance Club
Les Amies Dance Club was founded in 1921 following the disbanding of a similar club known as "Entre Nous". The first Rose Ball was held on April 10, 1922. An executive of three members consisting of C. Melvyn Scott, J. Percy Page and James W. Hill, remained unchanged for the first 25 years with new names appearing on the Executive Board from the late forties. The Honourable J.Percy Page was Lieutenant Governor of Alberta from 1959 to 1966.
Les Amies members dined and danced in the grand ambience of the Hotel Macdonald for the first 60 years of our history. The club moved to other premises when the hotel closed for extensive renovations in the mid 1980's. While the "Mac" reopened in fine style in 1991, the small dance floor made it unsuitable for Les Amies.
During the early years of the club's history, the press provided detailed accounts describing the setting at the Rose Ball. Tables were decorated with roses and lit taper candles. Waiters paraded turkeys held aloft on silver platters and decked with sparklers, followed by a second parade of baked Alaska, also with sparklers. Background organ or piano stylings set the mood. Until 1943, the press listed in full the names of members and guests attending the Rose Ball -- a veritable "who's who" of Edmonton society.
Today "the band still plays on" but in a changing and evolving 21st century world. Each year, Les Amies holds five dinner/dances at a variety of venues. The club continues to provide lovers of ballroom dancing an opportunity to "dress-up" in their finest and to dance and celebrate with a live band on an excellent dance floor. New bands and stylings, new approaches to membership, and a host of new faces continue to make the Les Amies dances enjoyable evenings of great dancing.
Les Amies members dined and danced in the grand ambience of the Hotel Macdonald for the first 60 years of our history. The club moved to other premises when the hotel closed for extensive renovations in the mid 1980's. While the "Mac" reopened in fine style in 1991, the small dance floor made it unsuitable for Les Amies.
During the early years of the club's history, the press provided detailed accounts describing the setting at the Rose Ball. Tables were decorated with roses and lit taper candles. Waiters paraded turkeys held aloft on silver platters and decked with sparklers, followed by a second parade of baked Alaska, also with sparklers. Background organ or piano stylings set the mood. Until 1943, the press listed in full the names of members and guests attending the Rose Ball -- a veritable "who's who" of Edmonton society.
Today "the band still plays on" but in a changing and evolving 21st century world. Each year, Les Amies holds five dinner/dances at a variety of venues. The club continues to provide lovers of ballroom dancing an opportunity to "dress-up" in their finest and to dance and celebrate with a live band on an excellent dance floor. New bands and stylings, new approaches to membership, and a host of new faces continue to make the Les Amies dances enjoyable evenings of great dancing.
The Honourable Donald S. Ethell, Lieutenant Governor of Alberta speaking at our 90th Anniversary Gala Rose Ball, May 2012
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Sue and Dick Stein, Les Amies members since 1969, cutting the cake at our 95th Anniversary Gala Rose Ball, May 2017
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