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 While we give the latest information we have here, some of it may be out of date!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 rosemarykew911@gmail.com 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
BUSH CIRCLE DANCE
Weegena Hall
First Friday of the month
from 7:30pm ( meal available from 6pm)
Come along and dance with friends and family.
Please bring along your instruments.
Maggie 63681379
Linda 0417081671
Irish Dancing, Launceston: Contact Aileen Poynter, poyntdel@bigpond.net.au or 03 6331 2246
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 of each month March-Nov (except Easter): Folk dances with live music, Wesley Hall, 58 Melville St, Hobart, 7:30pm, $16 / $14 (conc.) / $13 (memb.) / $8 (student special). Info: 03 6273 2127 or folkdancetas@gmail.com. Dances include bush dances, balkan dances, mediaeval and renaissance dances, Irish ceilidhs, Scottish ceilidhs, contra dances, contemporary 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 and Easter): Danceoholics Unanimous is an 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 end of month dance.
7:30-10:30pm, Wesley Hall, 58 Melville St, Hobart (5 mins walk from city centre) $7, concessions $6, members $5, children $4. 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.
TasContra: 1st and 3rd Mondays of Apr-Jun 2014 (except Easter, 21st Apr)
7:30-9:30pm, Wesley Hall, 58 Melville St, Hobart (Upstairs—use side door)
Social workshops for those who want to dance more contra or those who’ve never tried it before. Learn new dances, figures and flourishes — the Mad Robin, the Gypsy Hey, swings, twirls, shadows and ocean waves.
Come along and find out why they say that contra dancers are
“Traditional, progressive and frequently improper.”
Open mic for dance callers, including Sarah Lewis and David Wanless
Cool music by hot fiddler Ross Smithard (Devil’s Own) and friends
Tickets at the door: $10 / $8 (student special)
All dances taught. No dancing experience or partner required.
All ages welcome. Dress: casual.
Contra dancing is non-competitive, moderately aerobic and highly addictive. It’s a lively, social, swingy dance style from the USA, which has exploded in popularity in recent decades. This rapidly developing tradition is popular with all ages, including a vibrant university scene. Done to simple walking steps, it features flowing movements, lots of swings and twirls, a chance to dance with everyone and the opportunity for improvisation, including using your moves from Swing, Cajun, Tango, flatfootin’ and other dance styles.
FOLK FEDERATION OF TASMANIA INC, http://www.folktas.org, folkdancetas@gmail.com
6273 2127, Facebook: dancefolktasmania
If you’re not smiling, you’re not dancing!
FFT Oatlands Scottish Country Dancers on Tuesdays
Meeting at Gay St Community Hall in Oatlands at 7pm every Tuesday, after a warm-up the friendly group dance until 10pm with a break for supper. With the emphasis on fun, Robert teaches interesting dances to ALL levels of dancers. Cost is $5, tea, coffee,biscuits supplied. Novices are always welcome and there is almost always at least one car heading up from Hobart around 6pm. Social dances happen a couple of times a year.
For class information please SMS (not ring) Robert on 0408290954 or email rttasmail@gmail.com
For transport from Hobart ring/text/email Sarah 0409218414 tasdancingfeet@gmail.com
OSCD is supported by Southern Midlands Rural Primary Health Services
Simple Israeli Dancing at Glenorchy Library, Wednesdays 9:30-10:30am
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 7.30 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Caledonian Society Hall, 31 Homer Avenue, Moonah.
Affiliated with the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society in Scotland. http://www.rscds.org/
Tascal on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TasCalHobart
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
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Scoil-Rince-Ni-Kelly/597361766942874
Authentic Greek dancing classes: Fridays for adults and children
Hellenic Dancers Hobart
Centre of Hellenic Cultural Studies
65 Federal Street, North Hobart
Tasmania 7000
(in the main hall at the back, or upstairs in the front building – entrance on the Glebe/ car park exit side)
Junior class (students born after 2003): 6pm – 7pm
Intermediate class (students born 2002 – 1997): 7pm – 8pm
Adult class: 8pm – 9pm
hellenicdancershobart@gmail.com
0409 213 078
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Hellenic-Dancers-Hobart/201693319964905
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
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.
Line Dancing: Thursday nights at Orielton, 7pm; Monday nights at Buckland, 7pm. Contact Kathy Mace, rnkmace.woodsden@bigpond.com, 0419 553 594
Square Dance groups:
Casino City Square Dance Club: 03 6244 2144, 7 Balamara St, Bellerive
Tassie Hoedown: ? Bligh St Warrane;
East Side Eight;
Dance calendar from dancecal.info
(Please note that the calendar is updated less frequently than our Forthcoming Events page, so always consult the Forthcoming Events page first. More details of regular events can be found above.)
