. ~ bringing you enjoyment through dancing ~ .
Check both NEWS and EVENTS for more details. ~ click here for our latest Bulletin ~
updated TSDAV Diary Dates 2020
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NEWS FLASH - virtual dancing
The next ZOOM dance - courtesy of the Victorian Folk Music Club -
Online Sat 15th May - "Ladies of the Dance"
~ special theme night with recorded music ~
7:30 - 9:30 pm
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NEWS FLASH - 'face-2-face' dancing - ie Dancing in the "real world"
The Victorian Folk Music Club's - WOOLSHED BALL
Sat 22nd May
- with music by The Billabong Band
~ special event with live crowd ! ~
7:30 - 11:00 pm
@ the Ringwood East Senior Citizens Hall, Laurence Grove, Ringwood East.
for bookings see VFMC website: < www.vfmc.org.au >
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The 2021 National Folk Festival has been cancelled, for the second year in a row
The National Folk Festival Board has today made the very challenging and important decision that the 2021 National Folk Festival will not go ahead.
In March this year the pandemic changed the festival and events landscape and the National Folk Festival was among the first major events in Australia to cancel in response.
After significant research and planning towards a 2021 Festival, it has become apparent this will also be impossible.
< https://www.folkfestival.org.au/no-folk-festival-for-easter-2021/ > October 12 2020
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The Victorian Folk Music Club Inc. is presenting another ZOOM dance on Saturday 17th October, 7:30 - 9:30 pm.
virtual dancing courtesy of the Victorian Folk Music Club - Online each THIRD Saturday of the month -
~ with a themed program of dances ~
For ZOOM login details see www.vfmc.org.au
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All regular dance events are still "in limbo" -
with new 'Covid' cases continuing to be reported, and social distancing provisions still in place,
it is not feasible to be contemplating a resumption of our forms of Social Dancing for some time yet. :-(
The judging of this year's Dance Composers Competition' has been postponed until next year's National !
We have had to cancel 2020's Portarlington Dance Weekend,
because of the Covid pandemic.
Regrettably, there will be NO 'DANCES FOR DANCERS' sessions
on 5th April / 3rd May / 7th June / 5th July / 2nd August / 6th September
nor on 4th October OR 1st November OR 6th December
We will keep our fingers crossed for a resumption in 2021 ???
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National Folk Festival Easter, 9 - 13 April 2020
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Bush Traditions' ~ Bundanoon Dance Weekend
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2020 Dance Comp. - entries have closed ~ “Australian Contemporary Folk Dances” ~
Entries for the 2020 competition are now closed -
judged in TWO categories
#1 General Social Dance & #2 for More Experienced Dancers
Entries were to be received by 20th Feb. 2020
Click here for link to full details
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REGULAR EVENT ~ our next session for the year: Sun. 2nd August ~ CANCELLED !
TSDAV Dance Workshops 2020
previously called ‘11th Hour’ Dance Workshops, now " Dances for Dancers "
"Dances for Dancers"
COME AND TRY THEM OUT !
selected 1st Sundays - 1 - 4 pm
at the Church of Christ Hall,
1 The Avenue, Surrey Hills. 3127 ( Melways 46 H11 )
NB ~ No longer @ The Eleventh Hour Theatre Hall,
All dancers are welcome Inquiries: Norm Ellis 9888 5332. George Ansell 9890 5650.
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~ YES ! Oh dear, you've missed it ! ~
and what a great weekend of dancing it was !
Spring Dance Weekend 8th – 10th November 2019
~ Dancing at the Village by the Sea ! ~ “Dancing Around the World !” ~
A whole weekend of dance workshops & evening dances !
PARKS HALL COMMUNITY CENTER Portarlington, Victoria.
(1.5 hrs drive SW of Melbourne, 20 mins past Geelong. Melways 239 F2)
# Don Richmond – Australian, # Keith Wood – Contra, # Kim South – Scottish, # Leanne Stute - Ballroom, # Luba Baksheev – Russian, # George Ansell – Evolving Reels, # Norm Ellis - a Surprise Selection, # and a Dance Music Workshop !
Full Program Brochure - click here Application Form now available - click here
Accommodation suggestions - click here
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WATTLE DAY - What's it all about ? ~ Wattle Day on "Bush Telegraph"
" WATTLE DAY "
~ Sat 7th Sept. 2019 ~
*** click here for details - flyer
~ celebrate in conjunction with the VFMC's regular 1st Sat. Bush Dance ~
Saturday 7th September 2019
2 different Dance Workshops - morning Maypole: 11:00 - 12:00pm
& Wattle Waltzes & other Springtime Delights: 3:30 - 5:30 pm
and a Family Bush Dance in the evening.
with Blackberry Jam Bush Band ~ 7:30 - 10:30 pm
Ringwood East Senior Citizens Hall Laurence Grove, Melway 50 B8
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TSDAV’s Dance Workshops 2019 ~ Dances for Dancers ~
~ the next session will be replaced by the afternoon dance workshop at Ringwood,
as part of the VFMC's Wattle Day celebrations on
Sat. 7th September ~ NB: 3:30 – 5:30 pm
" Wattle Waltzes & other Spring Delights! "
@ Senior Citizen’s Hall, Lawrence Grv. Ringwood East ( Melway 50 B8 )
& thereafter ~Sunday - 6th October, 1st December 1 - 4 pm
All dancers are welcome
Inquiries: Norm Ellis 9888 5332 OR Jane Bullock 9762 1389 ~ < www.vfmc.org.au >
Link to VFMC’s Wattle Day info page – click here &/or full program flyer – click here
*** ~ plus two other events of interest ~
1st Sept. & 19 Oct.
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Many thanks to all of you who came and supported our
"A Dance for Dancers" at this year's National Folk Festival.
"A Dance for Dancers" Friday 19th April, 2019 - 12:30 to 14:30, in the Coorong.
link to "A Dance for Dancers" NFF 2019 ~ Program / Instructions & Videos
A Dance for Dancers ~ with "Cue & Do"
"Cue and Do" are the TSDAV’s Norm Ellis calling, and musicians drawn from the Melbourne Colonial Dancers Band. Presenting a high intensity Dance for Dancers, with a minimum of fuss: briefed and called, but mostly NOT walked through, structured for experienced dancers and maximum enjoyment.
Keith Wood has uploaded new animations for to his excellent page @ http://www.dancekaleidoscope.org.au/dance.html
Announcing the winners of this year's Dance Competition
The Beatrice Klippel Memorial Trophy for General Social Dance :
Cecilia Johnson's dance "Floriade",
& the VFMC Perpetual Trophy for a dance for More Experienced Dancers :
Keith Wood's dance "Monkey Mia Dolphins". ~ click here for link to full report
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VALE - Daryl John POWELL OAM
- the following Tribute was posted by the NFF in their latest NEWS release -
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> > > > > SORRY FOLKS ~ you have missed our recent
Spring Dance Weekend 9th – 11th November 2018
A whole weekend of dance workshops & evening dances !
“Springing into Springtime”
* Kim South - Scottish, Roger Gifford - 'Scandi Squares', Keith Wood - Contra,
Audrey Fine - European / Middle Eastern, Darren Taylor - Square Dance,
George Ansell - recent Aussie dances, Alan Musgrove - Dance Music workshop.
PARKS HALL COMMUNITY CENTER Portarlington, Victoria.
(1.5 hrs drive SW of Melbourne, 20 mins past Geelong. Melways 239 F2)
Click for Info: ~ flyer &/or Full Program
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Our recent events ~ "The Last Chance" ~ last year's
“OLD TIME TEA DANCE”
* has been held for ONE last time !
Music by The Gay Charmers and Friends
Sat. 11th August 2018
Dancing from 4:30pm to around 9:30pm
St David's Uniting Church Hall 74 Melville Rd. Brunswick West
for flyer & Program - click here & for 'set dance' notations - click here
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NFF 2018 "HERITAGE BALL" ~ Program & Dance Instructions, & Videos ~
click here for details
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2018 Dance Competition Winners announced - Report - Congratulations Keith Wood for Green Apple Quickstep & Eureka
TSDAV Members Day ~ AGM & Hoedown ~ Sat 24th Feb. @ 6:30pm ~ at the Ashburton Uniting Church Hall ~ 3 Ashburn Grove, Ashburton ~ ( Melways 60 D 10 ) ~ followed @ 8pm by the Hoedown !
Sadie Hawkins Day Hoedown
Taking a trip back in time to DOGPATCH U.S.A.
??? Why Sadie Hawkins ???
# building upon our successful Hoedown theme: recapture the naive innocence of past times, a la "The Beverly Hillbillies" & Al Capp's "Li'l Abner"
'Sadie Hawkins Day' is Capp's masterfully satirical take on our "Leap Year / 29th Feb." traditions.
So, come and join the fun, at our Sadie Hawkins Day Hoedown !
~~~ Sat. 24th Feb. 2018 ~~~
at the Ashburton Uniting Church Hall ~ 3 Ashburn Grove, Ashburton ~ ( Melways 60 D 10 )
For printable flyer - click here & for Dance program - click here
link to some 'Valentines Day' dances - click here
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Spring Dance Weekend 10th – 12th November 2017
A whole weekend of dance workshops & evening dances !
“In Remembrance of Times and Traditions past”
PARKS HALL COMMUNITY CENTRE Portarlington, Victoria.
(1.5 hrs drive SW of Melbourne, 20 mins past Geelong. Melways 239 F2)
Click for Info: ~ flyer &/or Full Program
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2017 Dance Comp ~ Congratulations to both winners - Peter Gamble & Kathy Potter. - for details see report in NEWS section, and Full Report in Dance Competition section. Norm presented both winners with their freshly engraved Trophy and medallion, at the recent Bundanoon DanceFest. ~ go to NEWS ~ OR see photos - here (Peter) & here (Kathy)
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Other announcements ~
~ news from the 50th National ~
It is also of special interest to note in the 50th year of the National Folk Festival, that our TSDAV founding President, and mentor, Shirley Andrews (dec'd), was the chair person of the organising committee for the very first National ! Shirley started research into early Australian dances for the Victorian Folk Music Club (VFMC) in 1959, and in the '70s, published "Take Your Partners - Traditional Dancing in Australia".
We also thank the VFMC for continuing to support Shirley's legacy through the TSDAV, by sponsoring both of our dance awards.
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Our most recently published TSDAV Dance Books
"Australian Contemporary Folk Dances"
Numbers 7, 8 & 9
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Our Founder & Mentor - Shirley Andrews
- read more - see About Us / Identities
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