In line with the Premier’s announcement of a state-wide lockdown, Freedance classes scheduled between Friday 12 February and Thursday 18 February at Abbotsford Convent will not go ahead. Please check for updates on the Freedance page ahead of your visit. 

Put your dancing shoes on, grab a friend (or three), and head down to Abbotsford Convent for 10 weeks of energetic dance classes in the open air, led by local artists from Dancehouse.

There’s three class styles to choose from, including: a Contemporary Action Lab for professional contemporary dancers; a Street Dance series for all levels; and a Family Freedance series for the whole family. So you can select what suits you the best!

To keep it COVID Safe, all classes will be held outside across the Convent’s outdoor spaces, gardens and basketball court.

And to top it off, the classes are FREE. Yes you read that right, FREE.

We’re excited to sweat it out together after such a long time apart. Let’s do this!

Your safety is our priority

We take your safety seriously and have put in place the following COVID safety measures to ensure you are able to feel free and have fun whilst dancing. 

• The capacity of each session is 30 to ensure social distancing and to comply with the government directions (please note: we will continue to adhere to government restrictions, and will notify you directly if this affects this program);
• Each group/ family will be provided with their own markers to mark out their dance space to ensure safe distancing;
• The workshop area will be demarcated for the event to ensure members of the public are aware and ensure social distancing;
• You are encouraged to bring your own water bottle and water as the site water fountains have been switched off to reduce contamination; and
• Markers and any other equipment will be thoroughly cleaned with disinfectant between each session.
• Freedance is a Tier 3 COVIDSafe Event and has been registered with the Department of Jobs Precincts and Regions (DJPR). For COVIDSafe policy head to our Resources page. 

About the classes

Contemporary Action Lab
(Ages 18+)

Aimed for the professional mover yearning to travel in space, Monday night’s Contemporary Action Lab is open to all contemporary dancers. Classes will range from a movement  to facilitating an ‘express’ choreographic exploration or action. Curated and led by Keir Choreographic Award 2018 winner Melanie Lane and Yellow Wheel Artistic Director Kyall Shanks, this sunset dance class will help you find the freedom in your body as we all liberate ourselves from dancing in our homes.

18 January — Jo Lloyd
25 January — Israel Aloni **Cancelled due to extreme heat**
1 February — Rebecca Jensen
8 February — Paea Leach
15 February — Shelley Lasica **Cancelled in line with Covid-19 restrictions**
22 February — Sarah Aiken

Street Dance series
(Ages 16+)

Suited for beginner to intermediate street dancers, Wednesday night’s Street Dance series will be led by choreographer Trevor Santos and Sister Sessions co-founder and waacker, Marnie Newton. Join us as we bring the flavour and energy to get everybody moving again—from foundations, to grooves and choreography. You do not have to do that Tik Tok dance in your room anymore!

13 January — Briana Cohen
20 January — Kiki Devine
27 January — Martijn Sedgfield
3 February — Arisa K Herbert
10 February — Christian Francisco (Nonoy)
17 February — Alec Pernes **Cancelled in line with Covid-19 restrictions**
24 February — Hëna Memishi

3 March — Alec Pernes [Rescheduled]

Family Freedance series
(Ages 7+)

Family Freedance classes are specially designed for children aged 7+ and their accompanying adults to get bodies a-movin’ and those endorphins flowing! The classes are for everyone (pooches can sit on the sidelines) and no dance experience is necessary. Incorporating movement, rhythm, creative dance and body awareness—you’ll be led by Josh Lowe, founder of Drill Youth Dance Company and former Artistic Director of Yellow Wheel; and Shamita Sivabalan, one of Australia’s leading Bollywood educators. So get ready to shake, shuffle and sashay upon the Convent’s rolling hills!

Please note, all children must be accompanied by a parent, carer or guardian.

16 January — Ida Ghatge
23 January — Rachel Mackie
30 January — Ida Ghatge
6 February — Zoe & Aaron (Team Dream)
13 February — Beth Lane **Cancelled in line with Covid-19 restrictions**
2 February — Ngioka Bunda Heath
27 February — Shamita Sivabalan

6 March — Beth Lane [Rescheduled]

Freedance is a Tier 3 COVIDSafe Event and has been registered with the Department of Jobs Precincts and Regions (DJPR). A copy of Dancehouse’s COVIDSafe Event Checklist is available here. More information about your visit to Dancehouse is available on our Contact page.