“Bush dances” arose in Australia in the 1950s as part of an international revival of interest in folk music. Bush Music Clubs were formed in several States and when they played for dances those dances became known as Bush Dances, even though many of the dances in their repertoire had not been danced in the Australian bush.
The SA Folk Federation was formed in 1971 in the wake of Adelaide hosting the 5th National Folk Festival at Flinders University on the Australia Day weekend. South Australia’s first Bush Band, the Bogaduck Bush Band, was formed around the same time and their dances at Mylor in the Adelaide Hills soon became very popular.
The Celtic Music Club (CMC) was formed in 1976 and commenced their monthly bush dances in Adelaide’s Irish Hall later that year. Many of the dances from Mylor featured. The Folk Federation also began regular dances in 1978 and moved them to the Irish Hall in 1979, where they continued until 1993, when they merged with the CMC’S third Saturday dances.
Hence the CMC dances are now South Australia’s longest-running bush dances.
