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 dates, bands and ticket links below.
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) and occasional special nights. Most nights are US contra dances, but sometimes we have French Balfolk dances or other special dances. All are fun, exciting and lively, with no dancing experience required. See dates below and tickets at events.humanitix.com/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 2026:
End of month dances: Last Saturday of each month March-Nov (except Easter)
Runnymede Regency Picnic, Sunday, 18th January 2026
Celtic Ceili with Intergalactic Shamrock, Sat 28th March
Dare to be Square Down Under with Phil Jamison, Ross Smithard & Up Jumped Trouble and the Rusticators, 10th-12th April
Masked Mediaeval and Renaissance Ball with Jounce, Sat 25th April
Buttongrass Ball with the Roundabouts and Friends, Sat 30th May
Klezmer + Balfolk Dance Party with Westringa Circus, Sat 27th June
Band and dance tradition TBC, Sat 25th July
Band and dance tradition TBC, Sat 29th August
Old-time Dance Party with Ross Smithard & Up Jumped Trouble, Sat 26th September
Balkan Roma Dance with Xenos, Sat 31st October
Derwent Regency Festival with Van Diemen’s Angels and Fiddle and Squeeze, Fri 27th November – Mon 30th November
Monday Night Folk Dances: First and third Monday of each month, Feb-Dec (except Easter) and occasional bonus nights
See dates, bands and traditions on folktas.org/monday
8th June: Vardos – Hungarian and Romanian Rroma and folk dances: Driven by Alana’s wild violin, chased by lutruwita/Tasmanian born Sofia on accordion, Vardos play folk and Romani music and have learnt from Rroma (Gypsy) and folk musicians in Hungary and Romania during their travels in Eastern Europe, most recently in 2025. Based in Naarm Melbourne, Australia, the band has toured internationally, released 6 albums and appeared in film and television. Much of their time in Eastern Europe has been centred around village dance music which they will share in this Monday Night Folk Dance. https://vardos.com.au/
Tickets for all: events.humanitix.com/monday
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.