Wednesday nights during ACT school terms 2026
All welcome, including new dancers. No experience or partner required.
Interested in learning to dance? Do you enjoy socialising with people who love to dance? Want to have fun while getting great exercise?
ALL are very welcome to Irish Set Dancing classes on Wednesday evenings (7.30 to 9.30pm)
Suitable for adults of all ages. All dances are taught and called. First TWO classes are FREE.
While Irish Set Dancing is done in couples, you don’t need to have a partner in order to come along! We regularly swap people around so that people get a chance to dance with many experienced dancers. We’ve found that this is the best way for new dancers to learn set dancing.
Ask us if you would like a class for new dancers, focussing on the basic steps and some of the more popular sets. These can be arranged on request.
If you want to see how much fun you can have, and hear how wonderful the music is to dance to, have a look at the many Irish Set Dancing clips on youtube. Here’s one to get you going – the Plain Set danced outdoors in Kilrush, County Clare, with the Five Counties Ceili Band (starts at 2.28 min) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54AQlRB6l-4&list=RD54AQlRB6l-4&index=1
North Canberra Baptist Church Hall, 17 Condamine St Turner. – Location map
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Classes planned for 2026:
Term 1: 4 February – 1 April
Term 2: 22 April – 1 July
Term 3: 22 July – 23 September
Term 4: 14 October – 16 December
MFS Members $9 / Non-MFS $10
10 week pass available at a discounted rate: $80 MFS / $90 Non-MFS (no expiry date)
Half-price for under 18 & full-time students
First two classes are FREE
Light supper included
Contact Christine moc.liamg@arrebnacdsi
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20th Anniversary Canberra Irish Set Dancing weekend, Friday 9 October – Sunday 11 October 2026
Join us for our big birthday weekend of workshops, ceilis, live music and socialising. Suitable for both new and experienced dancers. No partner required. Everyone is welcome.
Workshops with experienced teachers (nine teachers from NSW and Victoria)
Two ceilis with the Jimmy Mullarkey Ceili Band
Get together on Friday evening 9 October at the Canberra Irish Club
Follow the link above for full details, including ticket prices and how to book.
If you would like to be on the mailing list, please contact us moc.liamg@arrebnacdsi
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Irish Set Dancing Ceilis
We traditionally run a ‘mini-ceili’ on the last Wednesday of Terms 1, 2 and 3, giving dancers the opportunity to enjoy favourite sets with minimal teaching and walk-throughs. The last week of Term 4, Wednesday 16 December 2026, is a Christmas party and mini-ceili.
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Deck Dances
Join us for social dancing at a host’s home (deck) and a bite to eat, a couple of times during the year. Watch this space and MFS Announce for dates and all details.
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What to bring
The recommended footwear is shoes with leather or hard ‘slippery’ soles that allow easy movement of the feet. Irish Set Dancing has a ‘gliding’ step where the feet brush the ground and ‘swings’ with a partner where dancers keep one foot on the floor while pushing around with the other. Wearing running shoes or shoes that ‘grab’ the floor will put a lot of pressure on knees and make dancing a lot more difficult. Feel free to come along to the first session in whatever you have, as we can demonstrate the many styles of footwear that suit. Please don’t bring tap shoes or shoes with metal soles as they may damage the floor.
Most people choose to wear casual clothing with room to move. In colder weather, layered clothing is useful as dancing is great exercise, making us warm whatever the weather.
Please don’t wear perfume/after shave. It may impact on the enjoyment of others, especially those who experience allergies.
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References
For further information on Irish Set Dancing in Canberra see http://www.mabula.net/setdancing/
