Folkdance Classes

Wellington 

Last updated 7 May 2008

International Folk Dance

Term 2 starts 8 May 2008 - note new day this year: every Thursday through to early December the Wellington International Dancing Group meets 7:30 - 9:15 pm, at Tarrant Dance Studios, 1st Floor, 125 Cuba Street, Wellington (near the top end of the mall).

Beginners and revision in the first half of the class, and less teaching in the second half. Please wear non-marking soft-souled shoes suitable for a moderate level of physical activity.

Group contacts:

• Jenny Hames tel. +64(4)476-4496, e-mail:
• Sonia Petrie, e-mail:
• Tutor: Cashy Yates, tel. +64(4)569-1618.

Single classes $8.00 ($5.00 for the unwaged); fee for 10-week term $60.00 ($40.00).

Other Folk and Ethnic Dance Communities

Click below for:

• Scottish
• Polish
• Contra - see our events page or the Wellington Contra website for dates
• Wellington Folk Club: www.acousticroutes.org.nz
• Wellington Folk Festival: wellingtonfolkfestival.org.nz

The Wellington Israeli group meets several days a week. Go to homepages.paradise.net.nz/balagan for class listings.

Contra dancing contacts:

• Mark +64(4)299-1136, email:
• Liz Merton +64(4)568-7377

Wellington Hellenic Dancers: Contact Joanna Matsis +64(4)388-4559 or (025)884557, E-mail:

Other Styles

This list only contains the few links the FDNZ webmaster has been appraised of and had time to insert. If you know of other websites, e-mail the webmaster (though there's no promises).

For a range of classes, workshops and courses, see the Wellington Performing Arts Centre website: http://www.wpac.org.nz (navigate to casual Childrens or Adult classes).

Rock and Roll

Feet With Heat is a rock-and-roll and Lindy Hop dance studio.

Latin American

Viva Latina Dance Company website: www.vivalatinadance.com - classes most days of the week around the region.  Contact Alex (anytime): +64(4)385-3088 or +64(21)848253.  E-mail: vivalatinadance@yahoo.co.nz.

Also check out Planet Salsa: www.smartgroups.com/groups/planetsalsa.

For events and workshops see the Salsadrome website: www.salsadrome.co.nz.

Dances Of Universal Peace

Uplifting and joyful, deep and meditative, the Dances use sacred chants and simple movements inspired by many spiritual traditions. Celebrate our diversity and experience our Unity. . . . if you can walk, you can dance . . .

All welcome. Contact Gina, tel. +64(4)938-3484.

Wellington: on the 2nd and 4th Fridays of every month (except July 8), 7:30pm - 9:00 pm, at the Loaves And Fishes Hall, Wellington Cathedral of St Paul, cnr. Molesworth & Hill Street, entrance from Hill Street through car park. Suggested donation $5 - $10.

Lower Hutt: on the 2nd Wednesday of each month (except July), 7:30pm - 9:00 pm, at the Holy Trinity Church Hall, 4 Gordon Street, Avalon, Lower Hutt (travelling north up High Street, 2nd on right past Fairway Drive/Daysh Street). Suggested donation $3-$5. Walk down driveway on right side of church to hall & lounge at rear. 2005: but please call Gina (see above) to confirm.

To find out where the dances happen elsewhere in New Zealand, go to dupanz.org.nz (click on Events Schedule) and for more about the dances in general, go to www.dancesofuniversalpeace.org.

Circle Dancing

We meet on the first Friday of each month, at 7.30pm, at the St John's Church Hall, corner of Willis /Dixon St. $3.00 to cover the cost of the hall. Off street parking available. Contact: Jaqueline Perret, tel. +64(4)388-9432

Dervish Turning

This is practised regularly following the authentic form originating in Turkey within the Mevlevi order of Dervishes founded by Jallaluddin Rumi in the thirteenth century. People of all faiths are welcome to watch the turning ceremony. wellingtonstudygroup.org.nz

Things to Do

Click here to go to the Events page, which lists monthly and one-off socials, workshops and performances.

If you're in Wellington and wondering what to do one evening, try the Feeling Great pages.  Alternatively there's the Kadmus Arts NZ Page, which lists festivals all over New Zealand.

Organising an Event?

If you'd like your folk dance or ethnic cultural event to be listed in our events page, contact the web master.

Something for dance organisers to note: the Wellington City Council grants page, and a bunch of hot tips circulated by the Wellington City Council are reproduced here... - and their index of grants is at:

http://www.wellington.govt.nz/services/grants/index.html

Also, don't miss the Get Set Go! courses for events organisers. See our Resources page for who to contact.