THE dance is over, but the memories linger on! My recent jottings about the golden era of strict-tempo dancing, before the sedate quickstep and waltz were blown away by American-influenced be-bop and jive, had Sutton reader Joe Ackers totting up an impressive list of local hops that once operated in and around St Helens.

It was a time when it was possible to sashay the night away on every day of the week. And Joe has come up with a dozen venues -- though he'd be first to admit that his list is far from complete.

Just to get a flavour of what the kids of the 1940s to 60s could enjoy (and to revive fond memories for all our ankle-flicking veterans) heres Joe's list: Holy Cross Parish Hall, Co-op Ballroom, The Plaza, Sutton Methodists, Webbs, Wilsons, West Park Dance Academy, SS Peter and Paul (Haresfinch), The Maida, the St Helens Town Hall and St Helens Baths.

Well, Joe, I can certainly add a few more, from among my own teenage haunts: Parr St Philips, Peter Street Institute, Haydock English Martyrs, Sutton St Anne's, Newton Sea Cadets, Earlestown's British Legion, Peanut Hall and Viaduct Institute, Parr Oddfellows and St Helens YMCA.

And just over the border, we had Garswood Mission and one of the biggest magnets of all, the legendary Ashton Pro.

Just multiply that little lot by the many thousands who, over several decades, ankle-flicked and swished their way round to live bands or (in the more humble venues) gramophone records, and you'd arrive at a mind-blowing total of dedicated dancers, all with their own memories and romantic tales to tell.

One such is Ruth Harvey, nee Twist, who was delighted with the reader who "reminded us all of the halcyon days of the Maida."

This school of dancing (replaced by the present-day Regency) stood in Prescot Road, St Helens, and pupils danced to a record machine. "The very name conjures up the excitement of Friday nights in the early 1950s," says Ruth, of Pike Place, Eccleston. "I can hear that music now -- 'Ebb Tide' on saxophone; 'Autumn Leaves'; Ruby Murray singing 'Softly, Softly'; and many more romantic tunes of that era."

She adds: "The Maida was where we learned to dance -- even jive -- and where I met the boy I fell in love with and who has been my husband for 36 years."

Ruth recalls doorman Andy Innes who let the dancers in after a ring on the doorbell. "I remember the seats all around the polished dance floor, and the magic of watching demonstration ballroom dances performed by those who had won medals.

"We all shuffled round, getting better every week. And the highlights of the night were the 'ladies' choice' dances, where the girls all dashed to find our latest crushes."

Then that big moment when the lights were dimmed and the big mirrored ball, suspended from the ceiling, slowly rotated, casting light and colours around the room as couples smooched their way through the waltz.

It hadn't to be too obvious, though, during those more modest times. "If we got too close to our partners we would be politely tapped on the shoulder by the two ladies who ran the establishment!"

Ruth still sees people she recalls from those Maida days. "It was a unique place which took us from early adolescence to more sophisticated times at places such as the Co-op Ballroom, years later.

"Girls jived with girls, boys bopped with boys and we had a great time when rock 'n' roll came in with the likes of Elvis, Little Richard and Bill Hayley."

Ruth sums it all up: "Happy memories! We travelled there and back by trolley-bus and were safely home by 10.30pm after enjoying the time of our lives. I still only have to hear certain tunes now, and I'm instantly transported back in time to the romance and magic of the Maida."

A TRULY delightful little story. Can anyone add their own memories from those great dancing years; or perhaps add to the above list of happy havens of strict-tempo melody and cheek-to-cheek waltzing?