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The Bush Dancers Display Group Seventh Annual Report - 30 June
2008 (Web Copy)
 The
purpose of The Bush Dancers display group is to promote bush dancing
and Australian traditional music.
We aim to deliver colour and movement to attract the interest of
audiences that are not familiar with bush dancing, to project our
enjoyment from the stage, and to encourage audiences to join in
either at the event or more importantly at future bush dances.
We dress in heritage finery: daytime colonial, ball dresses,
waistcoats etc as appropriate for the occasion. The dances are well
known and loved bush dances performed to live music. Any MFS member
is welcome to join the musicians and dancers of The Bush Dancers
display group.
The group was launched at Lanyon Homestead on Sunday 21 April 2002
and is run by a sub-committee of the MFS main committee. The members
of the sub-committee are Barbara & Lance C (primary
contacts), Diana & Daryl P (alternative contacts), and music
coordinators Daryl P, Ray M and Bob H.
 The
group aims to perform about twice per month and during 2007-08 had 22
performances. Highlights were perhaps: Blundell's Cottage Village
Fair, Canberra Labour Club, Floriade MFS Spectacular, Well being
Festival at CIT, Celebrate Heritage 2007, Belconnen Markets, Bush
Christmas at the National Museum, Multicultural Festival, Contact
Canberra, Government House, Albert Hall 80th Birthday Celebration,
Lanyon, Hyatt Hotel Tea Dance (pic right), Canberra Volunteers' Day,
the community bush dances, the fetes, and the grand afternoon teas
and balls in the retirement villages, a combination of community
service and fun. Many of our events were charity fundraisers as well
being an opportunity to promote bush dancing and Australian
traditional music.
For a listing of the events please see The Bush Dancers' Experience
at dance.pcug.org.au
We also celebrated our 6th birthday by running the Bush Dancers Ball
at the Albert Hall (pic above left), and ran a Christmas party and
workshop events. In conjunction with trip co-ordinator Lyn McGregor,
music co-ordinator David Johnson, and the Norfolk Island Social
Ballroom Dancers, we ran the Wonderful Week of Bush Dancing on
Norfolk Island (pic below).
The display group does not charge a
performance fee (we are doing it to promote bush dancing and
Australian traditional music; if we were doing it for the money we
wouldn't be doing it!) but welcomes donations to the society. All
receipts are paid into the society accounts and outgoings paid by the
MFS Treasurer.
Sincere thanks to all the musicians, dancers and
supporters who have contributed to such a magnificent year for The
Bush Dancers display group.
Barbara & Lance C, 30 June 2008
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