CROSSROADS: A Step Through Irish Dancing in Australia
Description
Irish dancing is a unique and sophisticated cultural dance practice with a lively history across the world. Once upon a time, Irish dancing made it to these shores that we have come to call Australia. That history has been experienced, written about and handed down over generations - not only through story, but mostly through the dancing itself, though both are one and the same. Many people from diverse cultural backgrounds now ‘do the dancing’, and this centuries-old artform and its innovations live in the hearts, minds and feet of people everywhere in Australia today.
Come and join us on Saturday, 24 October 2026, from 6.30 pm -9.30 pm to step through time as we share the shuffles, hops and heel-toes of this marvellous history.
The evening will be festooned with stories of the past through to the present. It will feature interviews with current Irish dancing teachers from the Kennedy Dance School, Step West and the Sydney Irish Céilí Dancers. They will delight you with spectacular demonstrations of the many beautiful forms of Irish dancing currently practised in Australia. These include Sean Nós, Set Dancing, Céilí Dancing and Step Dancing, which took the world by storm in international sensations such as Riverdance and Lord of the Dance.
The evening will be punctuated with poetry from the delectable Dr Anne Casey, the ethereal vocals of Jacqueline McPhee and a thronging of local Irish and Australian artists. The spectacular soundscape will be created by fabulous local seisiún musicians led by the troubadour Sean McLoughlin.
After the official performances, the evening will bubble along into the night with a seisiún and - if you fancy - an opportunity for you to have a go at a bit of Irish dancing yourself!
Who should come?
Anyone and everyone!
Anyone who likes the craic
Anyone who is curious about Irish dancing
Anyone who is interested in the history of Irish dancing in Australia
Anyone interested in Irish culture
Anyone interested in Irish cultural history across diverse diasporas
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