molly dancers

[pickalily]

Does anyone know the origin of "molly dancers " as stairs? Thanks

[JoolsTwo]

I think Molly Dancers were out of work farm workers, who used to dance to get money to feed their families. They blacken their faces so they could not be recognised.

[pickalily]

Thanks Jim but how does that relate to stairs?

[ali_alic]

Could it be down to the type of dancing they do. There is a particular action they are famed for called "stepping" which would look as if they were climbing a flight of stairs. The description of "stepping" is thus : Stepping is the movement of the dancers' bodies when performing a dance. Basically, each step involves bringing one leg up so that the thigh is horizontal and the calf vertical, with the arm on the same side also brought up in an 'L' shape with the forearm vertical and fist clenched. The other limbs are straight down. On the next step simply swap straight and bent limbs, if you see what I mean. (This is easier to do than describe!) The step can be a step-hop or a polka step.

[Rumford]

I'm curious as to the context of Molly dancers and stairs. I know what a Molly dancer is but I have never come across a link to stairs. Is this some saying or expression where you come from? I would go with the above poster and say that a lot of Molly and related dances are called step dances so there could be a confusion between step and stair, otherwise I'm truly puzzled.

[chijiki]

It is possible that 'Molly Dancers' as slang for stairs is just a local thing. It's certainly not well known as slang parlance.
'Dancers' is Manchester slang for stairs.
'Daisy Dancers' is cockney slang which has an obscure connection with 'Dancing Bears' . . . . . . . .stairs.

So, I suppose that one could prefix the word 'dancers' with any type of dancing and use it as slang for stairs.

[Mr Songman]

I found this!!

The Oxford Engl. Dict. says "dancers" is slang for "stairs"--only in plural--and doesn't explain why. The supporting quotations all refer to going upstairs, never down.
1671: Track up the dancers, go up the stayres.
1812 (a dictionary entry only)
1829: Come, track up the dancers, and dowse the glim.
1858: Come, my Hebe, track the dancers, that is, go up the stairs.

[pickalily]

Thanks everyone.I came across the term in "Our Kid" by Billy Hopkins .A true story based on the early childhood of the author in1920's Manchester.Well worth a read.

[SmartRS]

Our family used it all the time. Every night we were told "up the Molly dancers" at bedtime! I was only born in '69 but my family were all Manchester. I have tried before to find out it's origin but it's nice to find someone else who's heard it specifically!

[shaunhoppy]

I again do not know the origin, but I am from Manchester and my mother always used to say "Come on, up The Mollies" at bedtime.