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Dance Groups and Sources

Where to go for information about getting involved in folk dancing, dance bands and instructions for folk dancing.

Dance events are now listed on the Coming Events page.

Dance Bands - Some information about some of the bands who play for dances in Tasmania, including some of their own web sites
 

 
 
Celtic Southern Cross - suppliers of musical instruments and music, and a great source of information about folkie things in Tasmania
 
 
The Tango is Tasmanian- old time and set dances of Tasmania (dance book)

North - Dance

Every Tuesday: Scottish Country Dancing at Burnie
Burnie Scottish Country Dancers dance on Tuesday evenings at St George's Hall, Cattley St, Burnie, from 7.30 to 9.30pm. The group is small and includes dancers at all levels, so beginners are welcome. There are no age limits but younger children must be accompanied by a responsible adult. Partners are welcome but not required! The cost is only $3 per person, to cover hall costs.
 
 
Regular dancers join the group's 'phonetree' and pay the group $5 per year to cover insurance and administration costs. We encourage regular dancers who are unable to make it to let me know by 6pm on a Tuesday so that if numbers drop below 8 dancers we can cancel by phoning those who expected to come - it doesn't happen often, fortunately. We have supper after dancing on the first Tuesday of the month.

For more information, contact Trina by email at m4tm@email.com or phone 6437 1195. Trina Moule, secretary, BSCDS
Devonport Scottish Country Dancers dance on Thursday evenings
For more information, contact Rosemary Kew by email at rosemary.smart@dhhs.tas.gov.au or phone 6435 7515, or Eric Sargent on 0437 072 328.
Reel Scottish Country Dancers, Launceston: Liz Mclean, liz.mclean@education.tas.gov.au
Dance at Penquite Rd, Norwood TAS 7250, every second Saturday
Launceston Caledonian Society Scottish Country Dancers: Betty Laverty, 03 6327 3180
Longford Morris Dancers (an FFT subgroup): practise every Wednesday night 7pm to 8.30pm at the East Launceston Uniting Church Hall, Chant Street East Launceston.
Contact Angela de Reus Phone 6327 1782 longfordmorris@yahoo.com.au

South - Dance

Folk dances with live music

Last Saturday, most months March-Nov (except Easter): Folk dances with live music are held at various venues in southern Tasmania - e.g., Wesley Hall, 58 Melville St, Hobart;
Admission: $14/$12/$10/$5 (U/14) & a plate of supper.   Contact: David Wanless/Cathy Hutchinson, 03 6273 2127 or folkdancetas@gmail.com or see the main events section of this web site for details of individual dances.  Dances include bush dances, balkan dances, mediaeval and renaissance dances, irish dances, scottish ceilidhs, contra dances, old-time and traditional Australian dances and whatever else we can find a band to play. 
A Folk Federation of Tasmania event

Danceoholics Unanimous

Second Friday of each month (other than January and Easter): Danceoholics Unanimous (http://www.myspace.com/danceoholicsunanimous) - a small informal group of people who get together on the second Friday of each month to laugh, chat and dance a lot. We do an eclectic mix of folk dances from different traditions (e.g., Australian, Contra, Irish, Earthly Delights, English Country, ...) for those who want to try something different, or can't wait until the next big public dance.

 

7:30-10:30pm

 

Wesley Hall, 58 Melville St, Hobart (5 mins walk from city centre) $6, concessions $5, members $4, children $3. Please bring a plate of supper to share. All dances taught.

 

Dress and attitude: casual.
Enquiries: 6273 2127 or folkdancetas@gmail.com
A Folk Federation of Tasmania event

Dancers' Delight Session

Hobart, first Sunday of each month,Hampden Road Community hall, Battery Point, Hobart.

The event is an open pan-celtic acoustic music session, and members of "Dancers' Delight" will host the event each time. There is reasonable space for dancing in this pleasant small hall, with tea/coffee facilities. Entry is by gold coin donation and musicians, dancers and listeners are all welcome.

The general idea is to re-unite celtic dance music with the dance! This session will focus on dance music from a variety of celtic traditions, so we will play music from Scotland, Ireland, The Shetland Isles, Quebec, Asturias, Brittany - anywhere where there is a celtic music tradition in fact. If you are keen to dance, to listen, or to hone your skills of playing this genre of dance music for live dancing, please do come along! The community hall is a smallish red brick building on the right as you go down Hampden Road. Park wherever you can in the streets nearby.

www.myspace.com/dancersdelightband

Enquiries 03 6297 8565

Malcolm Fielding

The Hobart Multicultural Dance Group is an informal group of people who meet weekly to share Folk Dances from a range of cultures (e.g. Israel, Greece, the Balkans) and contemporary Circle Dances choreographed using traditional steps. We also occasionally host visiting dance teachers and run workshops. You are welcome to join us at our regular dances. No previous experience is expected.

Recreational Folk and Circle Dance

Every Thursday, 8PM, St James Hall, Rupert Av, New Town. Cost is $5/$4, and bring a contribution to a shared supper.

"Sacred Circle Dancing"

The third Sunday in each month, 7PM, St James Hall, Rupert Av, New Town. Cost is $5/$4, and bring a contribution to a shared supper.

For further information contact:
Peter & Krista Sands 6227-8471,
email Peter Sands
Graeme Dean: 6239-1553
Georgina Maguire: 6228-7953


Join us in some friendly dancing to the strathspeys, reels and jigs of Scotland
TASCAL Scottish Country Dance Group Hobart
6225 2289 (ph or fax) mcjones@tastel.net.au
Meet Thursday evenings 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Caledonian Society Hall
31 Homer Avenue
Moonah

Affiliated with the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society

Further info: see Scottish Country Dancing in Tasmania.

The Hobart Walking Club runs regular bush dances for members and friends. Alternate Mondays. Details: hwcinc@tassie.net.au or GPO Box 753, Hobart 7001.

Second and Fourth Mondays of each month: One and all are invited to an informal twice-monthly Medieval and Renaissance Dance class in Hobart meeting on the 2nd and 4th Mondays of the month at Irish Murphy's (in Salamanca) from 7.00pm - 9.00pm. No experience necessary, all dances taught. There is no fee for the class, the venue being free.
However, feel free to purchase a beverage of your choice from the pub in appreciation of their generous offer of the space.
For more information contact Amanda at 6267 1706.

Weekly: Irish Dancing Classes: Adults and childrens' classes.  Hobart.  Please contact Margaret Lahl (6228 3035).

The Jolley Hatters Morris dancers teach dance, practise weekly and have done so for 20 years, and dance out regularly at paying and volunteer gigs. We have a membership age range of 18 to 75 but most of us are in our early 50's and enjoy the mental and physical exercise and companionship that comes from being a member of a Morris side. The dances taught are as preserved by Sharp at the beginning of the last century with precise stepping and preservation of English regional distinctiveness. Morris music is always live with the musician part of the dance and this over the years, has been instrumental in introducing a number of fine musicians to folk music.

So that's what we are about, where else can you learn to caper, do whole heys and rant to make the road to hell so much more fun?

To get involved please phone:

Diana Davies
Squire
Jolley Hatters Morris

Email:Diana.Davies@csiro.au Phone: 0423 652 431

Photo of the Jolley Hatters Morris dancers at Richmond Village Fair 2007
(Download the full size image)

Regular and special Swing Dance events - see www.TasSwing.com.au or contact Barry Windridge for details, Barry.Windridge@dpiwe.tas.gov.au, ph 6231 4850.

Square Dance groups:

Casino City Square Dance Club: 03 6244 2144, 7 Balamara St, Bellerive

Tassie Hoedown: ? Bligh St Warrane;

East Side Eight;

Cyril & Nel Edwards - Cygnet Swingers 03 6266 3155, Cygnet Coast Rd, Cradoc, meet RSL Cygnet, 2pm 3rd Sunday of month "plus" 1pm.