Where to go for information about getting involved in folk dancing, dance bands and instructions for folk dancing.
Major dance events are now listed on the Forthcoming Events Page.
See our Venues Page for information on venues.
Dance Bands – Some information about some of the bands who play for dances in Tasmania, including some of their own web sites
The Tango is Tasmanian - old time and set dances of Tasmania (dance book)
The Overland Track Suite - dances for Tasmania’s wilderness (dance book)
Regular Dance Events/Classes/Sessions
We advise you to check with the venues or organisers of regular events before travelling – sometimes sessions and regular events cease, change, or miss a week. While we give the latest information we have here, some of it may be out of date!
If you know that an event has changed, please let us know via email to events@folktas.org
North – Dance
Every Tuesday: Scottish Country Dancing at Burnie
FFT 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 m4tmoule@gmail.com or phone 6437 1195. Trina Moule, secretary, BSCDS
FFT 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.
FFT The Reel Scottish Country Dancers, Launceston:
Dance at Penquite Rd, Norwood TAS 7250, every second Saturday
Contact: Tony Northey tonynorthey@gmail.com or phone 03 6331 8892
FFT Longford Morris Dancers: 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
Irish Dancing for fitness and fun with Christine Hyland. Second Friday of each month. Sacred Heart school hall off York St, Launceston. Family $5, adult $2, child $1. Contact Bridget Smith, 6326 7977 or ah 6328 1455.
Launceston School of Bellydance – Are you interested in learning Middle Eastern dance? A great way to keep fit and flexible and have a lot of fun (and admirers). Contact Vicki, 6331 8668 or Mara, 6331 102
South – Dance
Last Saturday, most months March-Nov (except Easter): Folk dances with live music, Wesley Hall, 58 Melville St, Hobart, 7:30pm, $16 / $14 (conc.) / $13 (memb.) / $5 (u/14). Info: 03 6273 2127 or folkdancetas@gmail.com. Dances include bush dances, balkan dances, mediaeval and renaissance dances, Irish ceilidhs, Scottish ceilidhs, contra dances, old-time and traditional Australian dances and whatever else we can find a band to play. See full details of particular dances on our forthcoming events page.
Second Friday of each month (other than January (except 2012) and Easter): Danceoholics Unanimous – 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
Note: We don’t usually hold Danceoholics in January, because it usually clashes with Cygnet Folk Festival, but if the festival does not clash, we may well be holding Danceoholics. Contact us to check.
1st Sunday of the month: Pan-Celtic Music and Dance Session
(Play, Dance or Listen)
Wesley Hall, 58 Melville St, Hobart
4:00–6:30pm
1st Sunday of the month (except Jan)
New format: 4:00-4:30 tune exchange workshop
4:30-6:30 round robin session plays for dancing
Entry: $4. Tea and coffee available free. BYO anything else.
Focus on celtic music from Scotland, Ireland, Cape Breton, Sweden, the Shetland Isles, Brittany, Quebec, Galicia and more (even a few Balkan tunes).
Sheet music available, or learn by ear.
Contribute your own tunes (with dots).
Re-unite celtic dance music with the dance!
All dances taught. No partner or dancing experience required.
www.folktas.org 6297 8565
Folk Federation of Tasmania Inc
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) mcandawjones@gmail.com
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.
Weekly: Irish Dancing Classes for Adults and Children: Friday and Saturday, Hobart. Please contact Bronwyn Kelly on 0406 872 425 or hobartirishdancing@yahoo.com.au.
Authentic Greek dancing classes: Fridays for adults and children
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 contact: Diana Davies, Squire, Jolley Hatters Morris
Email:Diana.Davies@csiro.au Phone: 0423 652 431
Mediaeval and Renaissance Dancing: 3rd Tuesday of each month
73 Hopkins St (Salvation Army Hall), Moonah
7:30-9:30pm. Cost: $2. Contact: 6228 5956.
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;
