Experience the joy of dancing to wonderful music, with friendly people. All dances taught. No partner or dancing experience required. All ages and identities welcome.
Dance include bush dances, balkan dances, regency dances, renaissance dances, Irish ceilis, Scottish ceilidhs, contra, Balfolk, Klezmer, Steampunk, contemporary and traditional Australian dances.
For dates, see below.
The Folk Federation of Tasmania runs several regular public dances in Hobart each month (other than January):
End of month dances: Folk dances or balls in different traditions – four hours of great live music by Tasmania’s finest folk dance bands. Last Saturday of each month, March to November (except Easter), at St James Hall. See folktas.org/hobartdances.
Monday Night Folk Dances: A fun evening out, with a workout to great live music. 1st and 3rd Mondays of each month (Feb-Dec, except April 2025). Most nights are US contra dances, but sometimes we have French Balfolk dances. Both are fun, exciting and lively, with no dancing experience required. See folktas.org/monday.
As one recent newcomer told us, “I laughed so much, my jaw hurt … Thanks for a great night.”
Bush? Contra? Square? Ceilidh? Folk? Whatever you call it, it’s great fun, good exercise, an easy and safe way to meet people, good for all ages, inexpensive, great for your mental and physical health, releases those endorphins, blows away the cobwebs and the blues, makes you laugh, burns off those calories, builds social capital and increases the joy in the world! Come and join us. You’ll be wondering why it took you so long.
Dates for 2025:
End of month dances: Last Saturday of each month March-Nov (except Easter)
Buttongrass Ball with the Roundabouts, Sat 29th March
Masked Mediaeval and Renaissance Ball with Jounce Ensemble, Sat 26th April
Klezmer + Balfolk Dance Party with Westringa Circus, Sat 31st May
Tasmanian Heritage Fiddle Ensemble, Sat 28th June
Celtic Ceili with Intergalactic Shamrock, Sat 26th July
Balkan Roma Dance with Xenos, Sat 30th August
Old Time Dance Party with Ross Smithard and Up Jumped Trouble, Sat 27th September
TBA, Sat 25th October
Derwent Regency Festival with Van Diemen’s Angels and Fiddle and Squeeze, Fri 28th November – Mon 1st December
Monday Night Folk Dances: First and third Monday of each month, Feb-Dec (except Easter)
2025: Feb 3, 17*, Mar 3, 17, **, 15, May 5, 19, Jun 2, 16; Jul 7, 21; Aug 4, 18; Sep 1, 15; Oct 6, 20; Nov 3, 17; Dec 1, 15.
*Most nights are US contra dances: See TasContra but some are Balfolk nights (lively French folk dancing) – Feb 17 and others to be announced.
** No dance on Apr 7 or 21, because of Easter and absences.
Special Dances:
Sat Jan 18: Bush Dance
Sun Jan 19: Regency Picnic at Runnymede
Mon Feb 17: Balfolk Dance (lively, fun, French dances)
Dates for 2024:
Masked Mediaeval and Renaissance Ball with Jounce Ensemble, 9th March (note: not end of month, because of Easter)
Buttongrass Ball with the Roundabouts, 27th April
Celtic Ceili with Intergalactic Shamrock, 25th May
E-ceilidh and Balfolk Dance, 29th June
Balkan Roma Dance with Xenos, 27th July
Klezmer + Balfolk Dance Party with Plumb, Meyers, McNamara and Pribac, 31st August
Old-time Dance Party with Ross Smithard & Up Jumped Trouble, 28th September
Heritage Bush Dance with the Tasmanian Heritage Fiddle Ensemble, 26th October
Derwent Regency Festival with Van Diemen’s Angels, 29th Nov – 2nd Dec
See also Facebook: Dance Folk Tasmania or Folk Federation of Tasmania.
Many other groups also run dances, including those listed on our Dance Groups and Regular Events page.
Danceoholics Unanimous: Currently in recess. An eclectic mix of fun dances from different traditions, to fine and lively, usually recorded, music. 2nd Friday of each month, Feb-Dec (except Easter), at St James Hall. See folktas.org/danceoholics.