Southern Fling in Melbourne

Fifty-eight dancers plus two teachers and four musicians arrived at University College on the afternoon of the 22nd November to attend the Southern Fling/Fringe 2024 weekend. This was a new venture for the Melbourne & District Branch Inc replacing our annual Branch teaching weekend and incorporating the Spring Fling weekend for younger dancers which is held on a biennial basis here ‘down under’. We welcomed dancers from across Australia and New Zealand. Sixteen young dancers comprised the “Fling” class and thirty-two dancers danced in the “Fringe” class.
The weekend coincided with the RSCDS ‘Dance Around the World’ so all the dances on the program were blended across the weekend in classes and the Saturday night social.

Clare Haack and Andrina Brennan from Sydney were our two teachers. Clare taught the Fling class and Andrina the Fringe class. We were very lucky to have such enthusiastic and friendly teachers join us for the weekend.

Wonderful music was played by Matthew Robertson, Duncan Smith, David South and Pip Healy for classes and the social. On Friday night, Matthew and Duncan took us through a “Ceilidh Around The World” (keeping to the Dance Around the World theme) that included English, Irish and Contra dances.
The “Fling” class presented The Wild Geese as a demonstration dance at the Saturday night social.

Another highlight on the weekend was the debut of “Jig for Liam – Time Traveller” that Matthew wrote for David’s son, Liam, who has had some medical challenges lately. This was played at the social. All those attending the weekend sent a special message to Liam to wish him well on his journey to good health.
Accommodation and meals, classes and the social were held at the College bringing the “Southern Fling” and “Southern Fringe” participants together in a cohesive and communal atmosphere. Old friends were reunited and new friends made!

We acknowledge the RSCDS Jean Milligan Fund for providing scholarships both full and part to four of the younger dancers, to Sydney Branch for providing scholarships to two of their dancers and to the all those who donated funds to enable the Melbourne Branch to award sponsorships to all the students who attended the weekend.

Christine Freeman, Southern Fling/Fringe 2024 Convenor
Melbourne & District Branch Inc