ATBDS History

1986 was a big year for South Australia as the state celebrated the 150th anniversary of official European settlement. Many events were held that year to celebrate the sesquicentenary, which was branded as the Jubilee 150.

The Prospect Council decided to hold an old style masquerade ball. Margaret Prideaux, a member of the organising committee with many years of dance experience, offered to run Sunday workshops for people who wanted to learn some dances of the era. She contacted Maureen Morris and together they conducted five very productive sessions.

The ball was a great success. So much so that some participants wished to continue dancing. With the enthusiasm Margaret and Maureen had gained through the experience of the workshops, it was decided to start a regular class.

On Tuesday 27 May 1986 the Australian Traditional and Bush Dance Society was founded. John Morris organised the constitution, a committee was formed, and with the help of Marcia and Cliff Nissen, Bette and Keith Crouch and other workshop attendees, the group began classes at St Cuthbert’s Church Hall in Gloucester St, Prospect. However, its poor acoustics led to a shift to the Prospect Town Hall later in the year.

Since then the group has developed a reputation as a friendly and welcoming body that covers an unusually broad variety of dance styles. In addition to our Tuesday night classes, we run Afternoon Social Dances three times a year, an annual ball, annual camp and other social activities, including games afternoons – mainly cards and board games, starting with a shared meal. Since 2015 we have also run quarterly Evening Folk Dances at the Mitcham Village Institute, currently on the second Saturdays in January, April, July and October. All the Afternoon and Mitcham dances feature live music.