Folk Dance Resource

Dance is such an important part of every culture.

We dance when we are happy and full of energy, we dance to mark celebrations or tell important stories and sometimes we dance just for fun! Some children express themselves through dance even before they can walk (Grace certainly did!).

Today, neuro scientists can explain the amazing things that happen in our brains when we participate in dance and the ‘feel good’ hormones that are released. Dancing (like all participation in music) is good for you. All around the world and over time, dances evolve, change names and all sorts of variations occur – that’s all part of the living breathing nature of music.

I first heard and danced to The Queensland Backstop way back in the 1980s, but its roots go way back – at least a hundred and fifty years earlier. When immigrants from English, Irish, Scottish and Welsh backgrounds arrived in Australia they brought their music, language, arts and culture with them – making Australia a melting pot of ideas, songs and sound. In the 1970s and 80s there was a resurgence of interest in folk music. They say that people would walk all day to get to a bush dance and stay until daybreak so they could see their way back to their homes or camps. It was a time when story telling, poetry, singing and dance were the main forms of entertainment – a way to make friends and relax from the hard work of shearing or cattle management or mining for gold.

I learnt these dance steps from The Bushwackers one of the best folk groups in Australia at the time. They released albums and books of music which were then used in schools and community groups throughout Australia. The names of certain dances may have changed but the kinds of steps, technique and form of the dances remained similar.

Bush dancing is for everyone! The steps are often simple and easy to remember. Sometimes a ‘caller’ would remind people what step was coming next. They are fun, inclusive and bring people together.