Dance Classes Revive Historic Flinders Street Ballroom

For the first time in decades, the Flinders Street Station ballroom will host public dance classes as part of the Rising arts festival. This initiative highlights the festival's emphasis on dance and music, recognizing the ballroom's historical role as a community dance space.

Ballroom History and Restoration

Designed in 1899 and opened in 1910, the Flinders Street Station originally contained various facilities for Victorian Railways Institute staff. These included classrooms, a nursery, a gymnasium, a library, a billiard room, and the grand ballroom. The ballroom itself served as a versatile, multi-functional space for lectures, meetings, and a vibrant hub for dance classes.

By the 1960s, the space began to deteriorate, eventually closing to the public in 1985 due to issues like leaks and structural damage. After a $100 million station refurbishment completed in 2018, the ballroom became accessible for public use again.

Rising has previously utilized the third floor for various art installations. Notable past exhibitions include Patricia Piccinini's "A Miracle Constantly Repeated" (2021), Rone's "Time" (2022), "Shadow Spirit" (2023), and "Swingers – The Art of Mini-Golf" (2024).

Rising Festival's Dance Focus

This year, the ballroom will return to its original purpose. It will offer dance classes in various styles, such as ballroom, breaking, boot-scooting, and the Melbourne Shuffle, priced at $29 per session.

Rising artistic director Hannah Fox noted that the program is inspired by the popularity of dance in Australian culture and its role in social gathering.

Hannah Fox is serving as the solo artistic director for Rising this year. Gideon Obarzanek, who co-directed since 2020, is now leading the Australian Dance Biennale, which will also be part of Rising. While the biennale features professional dancers, the ballroom classes and a free mass dance class at Federation Square are designed for participants of all skill levels, prioritizing enthusiasm over expertise.

Ballroom's Current State and Future

The upper levels of Flinders Street Station, including the ballroom, are now safe and functional. However, they are not yet fully restored to their original ornate condition.

Fox believes that temporary uses for intimate events and exhibitions are an effective way to keep the building active and its story alive. The Rising festival is scheduled to run from May 27 to June 8.