Dare to be Square Down Under

Dare to be Square Down Under

A weekend of old-time US square dancing, flatfooting, music, history and more, with Phil Jamison - dance caller, old-time musician, flatfoot dancer, author, scholar of traditional Appalachian dance and music (USA), with great Tasmanian live old-time musicians

10th-12th April, 2026

Hobart, Tasmania

Tickets: https://events.humanitix.com/daretobesquare

Info. including programme: folktas.org/daretobesquare

Events: Presentation on the history of old-time dancing and music, concert of old-time music, ballads and dancing, flatfooting workshop, traditional old-time square dances, dance callers' workshop, old-time fiddle workshop and old-time music session. Weekend ticket covers all events, or you can buy tickets for individual events.

Please note that the dance callers' workshop is at North Hobart Uniting Church, opposite the State Cinema.

Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/753504433862565

Facebook: Folk Federation of Tasmania or Dance Folk Tasmania

www.folktas.org

folkdancetas@gmail.com

03 6273 2127

Instagram: folktas

Folk Federation of Tasmania Inc

Phil Jamison is nationally-known within the USA as a dance caller, old-time musician, and flatfoot dancer. He has called dances, performed, and taught at music festivals and dance events throughout the U.S. and overseas since the early 1970s, including over forty years as a member of the Green Grass Cloggers. His flatfoot dancing was featured in the film, Songcatcher, for which he also served as Traditional Dance consultant. From 1982 through 2004, he toured and played guitar with Ralph Blizard and the New Southern Ramblers. He also plays old-time fiddle and banjo. Over the last thirty years, Phil has done extensive research in the area of Appalachian dance, and his book Hoedowns, Reels, and Frolics: Roots and Branches of Southern Appalachian Dance (University of Illinois Press, 2015) tells the story behind the square dances, step dances, reels, and other forms of dance practiced in southern Appalachia. A 2017 inductee to the Blue Ridge Music Hall of Fame and a 2022 inductee to America’s Clogging Hall of Fame, Phil taught traditional music and dance at Warren Wilson College in Asheville, North Carolina for close to thirty years, where he also served as coordinator of the Old-Time Music and Dance Week at the Swannanoa Gathering.

Now he’s coming to Lutruwita/Tasmania for a weekend of dancing, music and history. He’ll give a presentation on the roots and development of Appalachian music and dancing, a concert of old-time music, ballads and dancing, run dance workshops in flatfooting and southern square dancing, run a dance callers’ workshop, call for several square dances, lead an old-time music workshop and an old-time session. He likes to be busy!

Phil’s dances are always great fun, accessible, family friendly and there’s plenty to learn if you wish.

He’ll be joined by experienced local dance callers Sarah “Twinkletoes” Lewis and David “Oddsocks” Wanless, plus veteran local old-time musicians Ross Smithard and Up Jumped Trouble and the Rusticators.

Phil’s the real deal when it comes to Appalachian music and dance. He’s done extensive research in the area of Appalachian dance, and his book Hoedowns, Reels, and Frolics: Roots and Branches of Southern Appalachian Dance tells the story behind the square dances, step dances, reels, and other forms of dance practiced in southern Appalachia. Experiencing a Southern US dance and music aficionado like this really is an immensely special opportunity that doesn’t come round often so don’t miss it!