Dance History |

Did you know there are currently listed around 2450 (give or take) social ballroom dances done accross Australia.

The story of social sequence dancing in Australia is apparently totally undocumented. So the mammoth task began, several months in and there is a significant base to work from however some areas remain poorly represented and for this we seek you assistance.

Glenn Cooke:

(This is a work in progress, with your help a database will be created giving a social dance history for all to refer to)

If you have any dance or ball programs you would like to contribute to the project, please send scans here. (or request a mailing address for hard copies) With thanks for your assistance.
Glenn Cooke.

(Glenn is former curator at the Queensland Art Gallery and has extensively pubished on Australian visual arts)

We also would appreciate any and all social dance history, photos, scripts etc.(all items here are for public interest purposes)

: The Palais Glide

: Dance History Australia

From days gone by dance has developed and moved with human kind. Our history is tiny compared to others but we all share a common ground.
Some interesting re-enactments for you to enjoy. (this page will open in a new window)

You can find the history of Australian Social Sequence dance collated so far..

Some data collected – ACT – NSW – QLD – SA – TAS -VIC – WA
Click on each column to sort dances done at each venue or area.

Dance	Style	ACT 2011 Canberra Saint Benedict's Hall Repertoire	ACT 2012 Belconnen Seniors Club January	ACT 2012 Canberra Old Time Dance Club 25 Jan. Repertoire	ACT 2012 Canberra Old Time 32nd Anniversary Dance 8 June	ACT 2012 Canberra Old Time 32nd Annual Ball 9 June	ACT 2012 DICKSON Thursday Dance January	ATC 2012 Canberra Narrabundah Harmonie German Club January	ACT 2012 Canberra Isabella Dancers January	ACT 2012 Canberra Senior Citizens Turner January
BL Alvaston 1975 by Tony & Denise Dyer	BL	x	x	x				x	x
BL Ballerina 1995 by Ted & Sue Burroughs	BL								x
BL Balmoral (A) 1971 by Robert Stewart	BL	x	x	x	x		x	x		x
BL Bambi 1962 by David Rollinson & Barbara Heathcote	BL	x		x			x	x	x	x
BL Banyan 1996 by Ian & Sue Webster	BL			x		x		x	x
BL Barclay (A) 1943 by Jack Kennedy	BL	x	x	x	x	x	x	x		x
BL Barnaby 2001 by Harry & Barbara Howarth	BL						x
BL Biju 2004 by Barbara & Bill Tapscott, Mt Pleasant, SA	BL	x		x		x			x	x
BL Birthday 2004 by Graham & Avril Watkins	BL						x
BL Buddleia 2004 by Ian & Sue Webster	BL								x
BL Burley Griffin (A?) 2005 by Joy & Brian Venables	BL	x		x					x
BL Dynasty 1983 by Ted & Sue Burroughs	BL	x	x	x			x	x		x
BL Georgella 1951 by Stella & George Berwick	BL	x	x	x	x		x	x	x	x
BL Marli (A) 2007 by Bill & Barbara Tapscott, Mt Pleasant, SA	BL								x
BL Melba (A) 1967 by Albert Boal	BL	x	x	x		x		x		x
BL Saint Eddie's ?? by ?	BL	x		x		x
BL September 1998 by Neil & Lesley Marshall	BL						x
BL Summertime 2003 by Neil & Lesley Marshall	BL								x
BL Sweet Sixteen 2008 by Graham & Kathy Thomson	BL
BN Bella 1992 by June Macready & Don Millington	BN						x	x
CH Beyzabanu 1987 by Colin Piper	CH	x		x			x			x
CH Blue Wren (A) 2008 by Bill & Barbara Tapscott, Mt Pleasant, SA	CH	x		x T						x
CH Chan Ha?s (A) 2002 by Bill & Barbara Tapscott, Mt Pleasant, SA	CH	x		x					x
CH Cocobola 1998 by Ian & Sue Webster	CH	x								x
CH Jacqueline 1961 by Laurence Ratigan	CH	x	x	x	x		x	x
CH Mardi Gras 1989 by John & Christine Harrison	CH							x
CH Orlando 1989 by Jackie Sanderson	CH	x							x
CH Pontinental 1968 by Alex Moore	CH							x
CH Sally Anne 1973 by Ken & Barbara Street	CH	x	x	x	x		x	x
FT Glenroy 1976 by Tom Turner & Florence E Smith	FT								x	x
FT Golden Fan (A)? by Alexandria's Dance?	FT
FT Idaho 1959 by Bobby Howe	FT	x	x	x			x			x
FW Celebration 1938 by Charles J Daniels	FW	x
FW Charmaine 1957 by Joe Smith, Sydney, NSW	FW	x
FW Destiny 1949 by Official Board	FW	x
FW Dorothea (A) 1933 by Syd Barrett	FW	x	x	x			x
FW Empress (A) 1933 by Ted Kirk & J O'Reilly	FW	x	x	x		x		x	x
FW Expo ?? by	FW
FW Fascination by Joe Desmond, Gaiety Studios, Sydney	FW							x
FW Gaiety (A) 1971 by Jack & Joy Gullick, Melbourne	FW								x	x
FW Hawaiian (A?) 1962 by Ron Lynch	FW	x	x	x				x
FW Killarney Vale (A) 1950 by Florence Newbegin	FW	x	x	x			x		x	x
FW Lavene by	FW		x
FW Le Gay (A) 1982 by Jack & Joy Gullick, Melbourne	FW								x
FW Lexene Uk by	FW
FW Lucille (A) 1966 by Bert Cartledge, Melbourne	FW	x	x	x	x		x	x	x	x
FW Luxemburg by	FW
FW Margo (A) Uk by Bert Morgan, Victorian Society of Dancing	FW	x	x	x		x
FW Marietta 1954 by	FW	x	x	x					x
FW Onslo 1911 by Origin unknown.	FW							x
FW Oxford Uk by International Dancing Masters Association	FW
FW Petite (A) 1984 by Jack & Joy Gullick, Melbourne	FW	x	x	x				x	x
FW Presentation (A) 1999 by Colin Ogilve, Maryborough	FW								x	x
FW Pride of Erin 1911 by C S Wood	FW							x
FW Princess 1971 by Gerals Bell & J Lubelska	FW	x	x	x		x		x
FW Queen's 1920 by	FW								x
FW Remembrance (A) 1986 by Jack & Joy Gullick, Melbourne	FW	x		x	x				x	x
FW Rosita (A) 1962 by Syd Baker	FW	x		x		x		x		x
FW Serenade (ANV) 1938 by Jack Kennedy	FW		x						x	x
FW Springtime 1965 by Bill Traill	FW	x	x	x					x
FW Supreme (ANV) 1988 by Colin Ogilve, Maryborough	FW								x	x
FW Swing (A) 1939 by Jack Kennedy	FW	x	x	x	x		x	x		x
FW Topaz 1965 by Pat Thompson	FW								x
FW Tracie Leigh (A) 1965 by Bernard & Betty Reilly	FW	x	x	x	x		x	x	x	x
FW Twilight (A) 1944 by John Bartlett	FW	x	x	x			x	x		x
FW Wanslo 2000 by Lorna Wanstall	FW						x
JI Alphabet 1991 by Steven & Diana Shaw	JI	x
JI Boogie Beat 1989 by Bill & Grace McMillan	JI	x
JI Festival Glide/Festiva Jive by Origin unknown.	JI	x	x	x			x
JI Galaxy 1983 by Charles Denness & Millie Garraway	JI
JI Jollery 1985 by Reg & Sylvia Dart	JI									x
JI Rock ?? by	JI	x
MA Blue 2001 by Andrew Pigg & Caroline Roberts	MA						x
MA Dirty, The 2000 by David & Ann Lavery	MA						x			x
MA Maestro 2007 by Barry Earnshaw & Beverley Murch-Fowkes	MA						x
MA Magic 1997 by Don Millington & June Macready	MA	x		x			x		x	x
MA Manyana 2002 by Ray Fenton Storey	MA	x	x	x		x			x	x
LD Texas Stomp by	LD
LD Waltz Across Texas ? by Lois & John Nielson	LD
MI Gavotte, Stardust 2006 by	MI						x
MI Gordons, Gay 1907 by Lexene	MI						x	x
MI Hucklebuck (A) 2005 by Gold Coast origin	MI	x
MI Lexene ? Four Step? by Origin unknown.	MI
MI Mexican hat dance ?? by	MI
MI Polka, Fiona's 1966 by Mr N Johnson, Carlisle, UK	MI		x				x	x
MI Tap, Gypsy (A) 1930 by	MI	x
MI Taxi Dance ? by	MI
PA Madrid 1964 by Jim Brennan	PA		x
QS Cameron 1984 by Michael Davies & Betty Baker	QS	x							x
QS Cassius (A) 1989 by Neville Boyd	QS	x	x	x			x	x		x
QS Helena 1962 by Lewis Wilson	QS		x	x			x	x	x	x
QS Kendray 2000 by Jim & Hazel Wake	QS	x								x
QS Mayfair 1956 by Frank Short	QS	x	x	x		x			x	x
QS Montague 1984 by Ron Prescott	QS	x	x
QS New Vogue (A) 1991 by Russ Hesketh	QS						x			x
QS Quando 1979 by Christine Hodgkinson	QS	x		x			x		x	x
QS Quixote 1999 by Neil & Lesley Marshall	QS
RU Blue Angel 2006 by Beverley MurchFowkes & Edwin Vickers	RU	x		x						x
RU Charisma 1986 by Elizabeth Atkinson & David Howker	RU	x		x				x	x
RU Forever 1989 by Audrey Bromage & Michelle Webster	RU	x		x		x			x	x
RU Miami 1993 by Ron Lane & Audrey Bromage	RU	x	x	x	x		x	x
RU One/ One Rock 1971 by Peter Varley	RU		x					x
RU Queen of Hearts 1997 by Audrey Bromage	RU	x		x	x	x		x	x	x
RU Redforde 2004 by Edwin Vickers & Beverley MurchFowkes	RU						x
RU Rosebank 2000 by Graham & Kathy Thomson	RU	x		x					x	x
RU Rossillini 2007 by Michael Stevenson & Ann Brown	RU								x	x
RU Roundabout 1980 by Ted Burroughs & Sue Hillman	RU							x
RU Roxanne 1997 by David Belshaw & Karen Kelly	RU
RU Sirocco 2001 by Audrey & Allan Bainbridge	RU						x
RU St Benny's ? by	RU									x
RU Wisteria 2002 by Ian & Sue Webster	RU	x		x		x	x		x	x
SL Apple 2003 by Ian & Sue Webster	SL						x		x
SL Mexicana 2011 by	SL
SL Sweet Bay 2003 by Ian and Sue Webster	SL						x		x	x
SA Disco/Oxford by	SA
SA Katrina 1972 by Joan Wilson	SA							x
SA Mexicana 2011 by	SA
SC Alton ? by	SC	x	x	x
SC Carousel (A) 1974 by Jack & Joy Gullick, Melbourne	SC	x	x	x	x			x		x
SC Charmaine (A) 1934 by Norm Chappell	SC	x		x	x			x	x	x
SC Excelsior (A) 1939 by Charles Thomson	SC	x		x		x		x	x	x
SC Joyette (A) 1962 by Jack & Joy Gullick, Melbourne	SC	x	x	x	x			x	x
SC Maxina 1917 by Madame Low-Hurndall	SC
SC Merrilyn (A) 1942 by Jim Fahey, Melbourne	SC	x	x	x		x	x	x	x	x
SC Stanthorpe ? by Deanne Willocks	SC								x
SU Alpine Stroll 2006 by Ian & Sue Webster	SU	x	x	x	x				x	x
SU Animation (A) 1987 by Colin Ogilvie, Maryborough, QLD	SU								x
SU Avenue (A) 2007 by George Walstall, Adelaide, SA	SU	x		x						x
SU Britannia 1958 by Official Board of BD	SU	x
SU Camara Sway (A) 1983 by Jack &Joy Gullick	SU		x
SU Caprice 1971 by Robert Curtis	SU							x	x
SU Ceefax 1984 by Joyce Marland	SU
SU Chantel 2003 by Steven Shaw & Helen Blackburn	SU						x
SU Edinburgh 1979 by Annette Sheridan	SU						x	x	x
SU Emma's 2000 by John & Maureen Dack	SU						x		x
SU Fairview 1982 by Ted & Sue Burroughs	SU								x	x
SU Heather's 1999 by Dorothy Hudson & Ray Bulpitt	SU	x		x					x	x
SU Jasmin 1984 by Roger & Yvonne Corkery	SU	x	x	x					x
SU Misty Blue 2001 by David & Ann Lavery	SU	x		x	x		x		x	x
SU Red Rose 1991 by Steven & Diane Shaw	SU	x	x	x				x	x	x
SU Rev? 1961 by Rita Pover	SU	x
SU Roberta (A) 1985 by Colin Pople, Redcliffe, Queensland	SU	x		x					x
SU Sancerre 2004 by Steven Shaw & Helen Blackburn	SU								x
SU Shiraz 2008 by Steven Shaw & Helen Blackburn	SU								x
SU Silver Sway 1966 by Jacqueline Gipson	SU								x
SU Sovereign 1994 by Ian & Sue Webster	SU						x	x	x
SU Together 1975 by Bob & Wyn Oliver	SU	x	x	x		x	x	x	x	x
SW Alpha 1930s by Sequence Dance Advisory Committee	SW	x	x	x	x		x	x	x	x
SW Anna-Lisa (A) 2010 by Andrea & John Barwick	SW							x
SW Ben's 2005 by Deborah Long	SW						x		x	x
SW Beverley Anne 1988 by Ted Burroughs	SW	x		x			x		x	x
SW Blue Heather 1984 by Ken & Barbara Street	SW	x	x	x	x			x	x
SW Bluebell 2007 by Barry Earnshaw & Beverley Murch-Fowkes	SW	x							x
SW Caroline, Waltz 1983 by Bert & Norma Stockley	SW								x
SW Catherine, Waltz 1956 by Arthur Shaw	SW							x	x	x
SW Dream 1968 by Robert Stewart	SW	x		x		x			x
SW Eden 1986 by Michael & Angela Hayton	SW	x		x		x			x
SW Emmerdale 1979 by W J Crook	SW	x	x	x	x			x		x
SW Engagement 1969 by Ken Park	SW	x		x	x	x	x		x	x
SW Grasmere 2002 by Michael & Angela Hayton	SW	x		x	x	x			x	x
SW Harmonie (A) 1984 by Ron Prescott	SW	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
SW Helenbrooke 1979 by Dorothy Moxon	SW
SW Honeysuckle 1985 by Graham & Avril Watkins	SW	x	x	x				x	x	x
SW Joy's ? by	SW						x
SW New Vogue (A) 2006 by John & Andrea Barwick, Melbourne	SW							x	x
SW Oriana 1995 by John & Maureen Dack	SW						x
SW Saga 1989 by Michael Pharoah & Julie Williams	SW	x		x					x
SW Umbria ? by	SW	x
SW Vanity (A) 1939 by Jack Kennedy	SW							x
SW Wanderer?s 2000 by Graham & Avril Watkins	SW								x
SW Wayfaring 2003 by Ian & Sue Webster	SW								x
SW Woodside 1965 by J Fanning	SW	x	x	x		x	x	x	x
SWG Anfield 2001 by Graham & Kathy Thomson	SWG	x		x			x		x	x
SWG Annie ?? by	SWG								x
SWG Boogie 1980 by Patrick Jay	SWG	x	x	x				x	x
SWG Boulevard 1980 by Ted Burroughs & Sue Hillman	SWG	x	x	x				x	x
SWG Brennan (A) 2006 by Bill & Barbara Tapscott, Mt Pleasant, SA	SWG								x
SWG Chicago (A) 1930s by Gerald Hayes, Melbourne	SWG	x					x	x		x
SWG Dixie 1982 by Michael Davies	SWG	x		x	x		x		x	x
SWG Gatsby 1996 by Michael Morris & Beverley Berry	SWG								x	x
SWG Glyngarry 1981 by Origin unknown.	SWG							x
SWG Harlequin 2003 by Steven Shaw & Helen Blackburn, UK	SWG	x
SWG Highland 2002 by Graham & Kathy Thomson	SWG								x
SWG Ivory 1993 by Gary Fleetwood & Patricia Jay	SWG						x
SWG Linden 1992 by Ken & Barbara Street	SWG						x		x
SWG Madison 2008 by Steven Shaw & Helen Blackburn	SWG	x		x		x		x	x	x
SWG Mexican 1970 by Brian & Christine Yarnold	SWG
SWG Ragtime 1969 by Jeff & Muriel Aldren	SWG	x						x	x
SWG Sharron 1990 by Ken & Barbara Street	SWG	x					x		x	x
SWG Sindy 1984 by Gary Fleetwood & Patricia Jay	SWG	x	x	x	x	x		x		x
SWG Soho 1975 by Mr & Mrs Ken Park	SWG								x
SWG Spindle 2005 by Ian & Sue Webster	SWG								x
TA 44 1998 by Tracey Mason & George Fildes	TA	x		x		x	x		x
TA Black Knight (A) 1984 by John & Jean Legge	TA	x		x					x
TA Camellia 1952 by Eric Stonehouse & Marjorie Wantling	TA			x			x			x
TA Eugene 1950 by Messrs Dix Ltd, London	TA						x	x
TA La Bomba (A) 1938 by Jack Kennedy	TA							x
TA Midnight 1951 by Gilbert Daniels	TA	x	x	x		x	x	x		x
TA Royal Empress 1922 by H A Clifton & Adele Roscoe	TA	x	x	x
TA Solaire 1970 by Robert Stewart	TA	x	x	x	x		x	x	x	x
TA Spanish 1938 by Charles Thompson ?	TA			x				x
TA Square 1922/1989 by Adapted by Neil & Lesley Marshal	TA	x	x	x				x
TA Tangoette (A) 1940 by Gerald Hayles	TA	x	x	x	x			x		x
TA Tenacity 1997 by Philip & Helen Blackburn	TA						x		x
TA Terrific (A) 1978 by Neville Boyd	TA	x	x	x			x	x
TA Tina 1986 by Terry & Ethel Grundy	TA						x
TA Tinka/ Tinker 2005 by Harry & Barbara Howarth	TA								x
TS Canadian Three by Origin unknown	TS	x	x	x				x
TS Evening Three 1961 by	TS	x	x	x	x		x
TS Honky Tonk Two 1993 by	TS			x					x	x
TS Militaire (A) 1938 by Pat Hynes	TS						x	x
TS Tammy Two 1981 by Roy & Dorothy Moxon,	TS
TS Urimbirra Two 1993 by	TS		x	x			x			x