Hobart Dances

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 Easter). 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.

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.

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 2024:

End of month dances: Last Saturday of each month March-Nov (except Easter)

Masked Mediaeval and Renaissance Ball with Jounce Ensemble, 9th March ’24 (note: not end of month, because of Easter)
Buttongrass Ball with the Roundabouts, 27th April ’24
TBA, 25th May ’24
TBA, 29th June ’24
TBA, 27th July ’24
Klezmer + Balfolk Dance Party with Plumb, Meyers, McNamara and Pribac, 31st August ’24
TBA, 28th September ’24
TBA, 26th October ’24
Derwent Regency Festival with Van Diemen’s Angels, 29th Nov – 2nd Dec ’24


Monday Night Folk Dances: First and third Monday of each month, Feb-Dec (except Easter)
2024: Feb 5, 19*, Mar 4, 18, Apr **, 15, May 6, 20, Jun 3, 17; Jul 1, 15; Aug 5, 19; Sep 2, 16; Oct 7, 21; Nov 4, 18; Dec 2, 16.
*Most nights are US contra dances: See TasContra but some are Balfolk nights (lively French folk dancing) – Feb 19 and others to be announced.
** No dance on Apr 1, because of Easter.

Danceoholics Unanimous 2024: Currently in recess.

Other dances:
Sun Jan 7: Regency Picnic at Runnymede
Wed Jan 17: Regency Ball at Lenah Valley Country Manor
Feb 19: Balfolk Dance (lively, fun, French dances)

See also Facebook: Dance Folk Tasmania or Folk Federation of Tasmania.