A weekend of dancing on the South Coast City of Brighton & Hove!
Spring Fling is a weekend of dance, organised by young people, for young people, supported by the Youth Services Committee. Each year the event is held in a different location and, in 2025, Brighton & Hove will be the host city. Spring Fling is open to dancers aged 35 and under and all those attending can look forward to a fantastic weekend of dancing, socialising and making friends.
Brighton and Hove is a welcoming and diverse city with pride and passion for culture, creativity and equality. It’s a city with a pavilion instead of a cathedral and has a small Premier League football team who have stolen the hearts of many pundits! Brighton has a Green MP Siân Berry. It is also the home city of the dance 192 Miles Home, Book 50 (all dances devised by young dancers from Spring Fling 2015)!
So come and have your food stolen by seagulls on the pebbled beach, experience the quirky fashion and get lost in The Lanes, visit our two piers (yes, the burnt West Pier is as famous as the Palace Pier!) and see the views of the South Downs from the i360 while singing good old 'Sussex by the Sea’.
~ Spring Fling 2025 Committee
Spring Fling staff
Join us for an action packed weekend full of dancing, learning, and having fun with friends.
Local Organising Committee: Katy Davies, Edward Davies, Elaine Davies, Zoe Hill, Sadie Ferguson and Holly Parsons.
The teachers and musicians for Spring Fling are:
| Teachers | Musicians |
| Duncan Brown | Chris Oxtoby & Ann Stonehouse |
| Faye McNeil (Mather) | Andrew Nolan |
| Gillian O'Dell (Frew) | Adam Brady |
| Sara Latto |
Classes
Please note that Spring Fling classes are exclusively for people aged 35 and under. Over 35s can book a ticket for the Spring Fringe event, hosted by Brighton Branch and the Friday and Saturday evening dances.
Classes offered on Saturday morning:
- Intermediate/Improvers (Teachers: Gill & Faye)
- Advanced (Teachers: Duncan & Gill)
- Very Advanced (Teachers: Duncan & Faye)
Classes offered on Saturday afternoon:
- Dances by the seaside
Brighton is known as 'Sussex by the Sea' and is one of the most visited seaside cities in England. Whilst you are dancing by the seaside it's a great chance to dance some seaside themed dances.
(Teacher: Gill. Musician: TBC)
- Dances from the Scottish islands
Have you ever danced any dances from The Scottish Islands before? This class will cover different styles and techniques used in the Islands of Scotland including Shetland and Hebridean Dances.
Class note: This class is instead of Highland and Ladies step classes to give dancers a bit of variety and it's just as energetic and exciting! If you own a pair of hard shoes (Character shoes, court shoes or jazz shoes) please bring them along. Please don't bring shoes with taps on as the hall won't allow them. If you don't have any hard shoes that's fine, you'll be fine in ghillies/ballet shoes or trainers.
(Teachers: Duncan Brown & Sara Latto. Musicians: Chris Oxtoby & Ann Stonehouse)
- Birling for dances
Birling and turning fast in a dance is so exciting but it can be difficult to control them. Bruised arms and being bashed into is no fun! Hurting yourself and others is the last thing anyone wants. This class will have the thrill of dancing these types of dances with helpful methods to be more in control to make sure everyone enjoys them.
(Teacher: Faye. Musician: TBC)
Classes and Sunday get together will take place in Brighton Girls School.
Full Weekend Ticket - Fees and accommodation
| Type | Full Price | Early Bird Price |
|---|---|---|
| Non-resident Member | £120 | £85 |
| Resident Member | £225 | £190 |
| Non-resident Non-member | £160 | £130 |
| Resident Non-member | £260 | £230 |
| Residential Family Ticket (12 up to under 18 Accommodation + Class) | £210 | £180 |
| Residential Family Ticket (Parent/Guardian Accommodation only) | £170 | £160 |
The early-bird discount period will end on 31st January 2025.
Those booking a residential ticket will stay in a&o Hostels, 41-42 Old Steine, Brighton and Hove, Brighton BN1 1NH. The a&o Hostels has some of the best views of Brighton and is located in the heart of the city. Only minutes away from the sea, The Palace Pier, The Royal Pavilion and the Lanes.
The Spring Fling ticket includes:
- Welcome dance on Friday evening
- Ball on Saturday evening
- Classes on Saturday (morning and afternoon) and Sunday morning
Dance Only Ticket - Fees and information
| Type | Price |
|---|---|
| Friday Dance Adult Member | £20 |
| Friday Dance Adult Non-member | £24 |
| Friday Dance Under 18 | £10 |
| Friday Dance Under 12 | £5 |
| Saturday Dance Adult Member | £23 |
| Saturday Dance Adult Non-member | £27 |
| Saturday Dance Under 18 | £11 |
| Saturday Dance Under 12 | £6 |
Friday and Saturday evening dances are open to all.
Friday dance
- Playing for the Friday dance will be Ian Robertson and his Scottish Dance Band.
- Friday dance programme: TBC
Saturday dance
- Playing for the Saturday dance will be Strathallan Scottish Country Dance Band.
- Saturday dance programme: TBC
Venue
- The Friday and Saturday night dances will take place in BHASVIC.
For dancers wishing to attend the Friday and/or Saturday dances only, you can buy your tickets by clicking on the following links:
Want to know more?
For any queries about Spring Fling, please contact rscdsspringfling@gmail.com.
For any queries about Spring Fringe, please contact fringe@rscds-brighton.org.uk.
Visit Spring Fling Brighton 2025 website at https://www.springfling2025.co.uk.
Scholarships to attend Spring Fling are typically offered annually by the Youth Services Committee who select the recipients.
The scholarships are open to members of the RSCDS and to non-members. Applicants should be 35 and under, with preference given to those 25 and under. Scholarships typically cover the full or half costs of residential/non-residential fees; travelling expenses are not covered.
The application should be supported by a short statement from the applicant, outlining the financial need and stating briefly why the applicant would like to attend Spring Fling.
If successful, it is a condition of the award that a short report, maximum 500 words, must be submitted to the Youth Services Committee. The report, or extracts from it, may be featured in the Scottish Country Dancer, Dance Scottish Together or published on the RSCDS website or social media platforms.
Applications will close on 30th November 2024.
- event for over 35s
- Saturday 12th April 2025 (daytime)
- hosted by Brighton Branch
- suitable for Upper Intermediate to Very Advanced level dancers
- Teacher: Mervyn Short
- Musician: Ian Robertson
- location: BHASVIC
Bookings for Spring Fringe will open later in the year.
With any queries about Spring Fringe, please contact fringe@rscds-brighton.org.uk.
- Teacher: Grace Hill
- Musician: Jeremy Hill
- BHASVIC 3.45pm- 4.45pm
- £5 per family
- For dancing families with children under 12s.
- Parents/Guardians can join in or will need to stay with their child/children during the class.
Booking will be on the Fringe Family page on Spring Fling website.
With any queries about Spring Fringe, please contact fringe@rscds-brighton.org.uk.
Gatwick airport is the closest Airport with regular and direct trains to Brighton Station, taking 20-40mins depending on what train you get. You can also get a coach from Gatwick Airport to Pool Valley Coach Station but they can be less often and take longer than the trains.
Heathrow Airport is slightly further away than Gatwick airport but there are coaches that go to Pool Valley Coach Station. Alternatively, you can use Tubes and trains to get to Brighton Station but there isn’t a direct route.
London: There are trains and coaches from London Victoria and other London Stations.
If you arrive at Brighton Train Station it is a 15min walk to the Youth Hostel.
If you arrive at Pool Valley Coach Station it is a 1min walk to the Youth Hostel.
Under 18s must be accompanied by a responsible adult.
To view more photos from previous Spring Fling events visit our Photo Gallery.
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