Melbourne Colonial Dancers Inc.

Some of the Melbourne Colonial Dancers, in full costume, putting on a display at a National Folk Festival in Canberra.

We are dressed quite casually when we meet on a Wednesday night at

St Michael's Church Hall
Cnr MacPherson & McIlwraith Sts, Carlton

(Melway Reference: 29J12 Tram Stop: 116)

1^st Wed. in February to 2^nd Wed. in December with two exceptions:- The Wed just before and the Wed just after Easter.
8 - 10 pm then supper

Mini disc music
$5 Members $6 Non members

1^st Wednesday of the month
The Melbourne Colonial Dance Band
$6 Members $7 Non members

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Change of venue for just one night. On Wednesday 8th September we will be meeting at the Community Hall at 80 Hawdon St, Heidelberg from 8 pm.

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Home
What's so good about Colonial Dancing
Classes at Glen Iris
Oncoming Events
Past Colonial Balls
Our Dance Program
Display Group
The Band
Contacts
Young People Meet

Your first night at Carlton is FREE

We invite you to have a good look at this website, and if you think that you might enjoy this type of dancing then we would love you to join us. You do not have to bring a partner with you.

On this website do try to answer some of the most frequently asked questions. Colonial dances, or "bush dances", dominated the dance scene up until World War 1. They are a mixture of set dances and couples dances, which makes them unique among the social dances. The set dances are excellent “mixers”. The dancers are arranged in lines, squares or circles. There is nothing quite like couples dances for making friends!!

For the set dances there is a “caller” who announces what to do throughout the dance. A practice beforehand, or a demonstration, or just a quick explanation is usually given before the dance. As well as meeting at Carlton we also have classes at Glen Iris, two balls a year and several other social events.

Membership is only $10 a year. For that you get a discounted entry to the regular Wednesday night functions and the Thursday night dances at Glen Iris. The Christmas Barbeque is free for members. You also get the normal voting and speaking rights at the club Annual General Meeting.

Many members have found it very helpful to be told of updates to this website by E-Mail. Most updates have information about imminent events or photos of recent ones. Any-one can click here to send an E-Mail to a group called "Melbourne Folkies" that will have you included on our E-Mail list. Click here to find out about Melbourne Folkies.