Tamworth is stepping back in time next month as the Town Hall transforms into a lively mid-century-style dance hall for The Saturday Night Social, a vibrant evening of music, dancing, and community connection.
Presented by Dance Maker’s Collective in collaboration with Tamworth’s own 2340 Big Band, the event promises a joyous celebration of dance hall and disco eras—reimagined for today’s audiences. With live music, a dance floor under lights, and an atmosphere buzzing with nostalgia, it’s set to be a night to remember.
Janelle McKenzie, Associate Producer for Tamworth’s Entertainment Venues, said, “This is something we’ve been working on for a while now. The Dance Maker’s Collective had already held a couple of very successful events in Dubbo, and we just knew we wanted to bring it to our beautiful Town Hall.”
“It’s all about reestablishing that connection with dance and with your community, and tapping into that sense of nostalgia – so many people still remember going to dances with their parents or grandparents, or dancing around the house with family, and we wanted to reignite that feeling.”
“This is one of the reasons we’ve made it very affordable and open to all ages.”
Under the baton of musical director Tim Godden, the 2340 Big Band, along with three vocalists, will deliver a carefully curated lineup of their favourite toe-tapping tunes, ranging from smooth jazz to classic rock. Whether you’re a seasoned dancer or just love a good boogie, you’ll find yourself swept up in the rhythm and charm of the night.
“2340 was always going to be the perfect fit for the evening. They hold regular concerts for us each year already, and I think anyone who’s sat in that audience would have thought ‘gee I wish I could get up and dance right now’ – this time you can!” said Ms McKenzie.
The fun kicks off at 6 pm on July 26, when doors (and the bar) open, with dancing starting at 7 pm.
Guests are encouraged to bring a plate of snacks to share among friends, and special group table bookings are available for those coming with a party. If you don’t have a friend or a special someone to bring along, don’t worry. Solo guests are also warmly welcomed, just look for the “Friendly Solos” pink seats when booking online.
And if stressing about your dance moves has got you all in a twirl, they’ve got you covered for that too!
The night before, there will be free dance workshops in the town hall. The Dance Maker’s Collective will teach attendees a few simple modern, contemporary dances they can bust out for the big night.
Suppose you’ve always fancied yourself an inner Fred Astaire or Ginger Rogers at heart. In that case, the Collective will also use the dance workshop to audition a few local dancers to be Dance Ambassadors who will be ‘surreptitiously planted’ in the hall on the night to encourage the other attendees to get up and bust a move.
“This is about fun, it’s accessible to everyone,” said Ms McKenzie.
“The classes will teach you a couple of basic steps to get you started and then, once you’re up there on the floor with everyone else, you’ll be fine for the rest of the night.”
Dance Maker’s Collective is the only collective-led professional dance company in Australia, and was formed in 2012, and last year won the 2024 PAC award for their Social Night Social event, which recognised the “the shared ingenuity, reciprocity, care and commitment towards developing this project that deeply engages the community and leaves an ongoing legacy for presenting the work in the future.”
McKenzie said, “The Dance Maker’s Collective really acts as a group to help get us started. If it’s a success, which we’re very confident it will be, they will then hand it over to us for our community to make it their own and something that will hopefully form a solid part of Tamworth’s event schedule for years to come.”
The Saturday Night Social
Saturday, 26th July 2025 from 7pm, Tamworth Town Hall (Workshop night 5pm-7pm Friday the 25th)
Tickets $23-$35
Tickets available from Entertainment Venues Tamworth here
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