To see dates of Ragroof Tea Dances please click here
N:B This was updated 05/10/23
This is the archived website for Ragroof Theatre, Tea Dances
are available to book with Round in Circless
Ragroof Theatre host stylish afternoon tea dances for all ages and levels of
experience. Come and trip the light fantastic to the sounds of the roaring 20s,
30s and 40s and encounter our recreation of the glamorous heyday of ballroom
dance, with a dash of luscious Latin and scintillating swing.
Ragroof Theatre’s tea dances, produced in association with dance teacher
and choreographer Dorothy’s Shoes, provide an authentic and diverse range
of entertainment, including a DJ for discerning dancers, dance displays, instant
dance classes aimed at absolute beginners, plenty of opportunity for experienced
dancers to show their skills – and, of course, tea and cakes.
The traditional afternoon or early evening tea dance, or thé dansant
as it is sometimes known, is a fabulous and unique social phenomenon, established
in the Victorian era, and subsequently popularised worldwide.
Our tea dances can be produced indoors or out, transforming your environment
into a glamorous ballroom or village dance with our own dance floor, bunting
and PA system.
Ragroof Theatre feels that partner dancing is a sublime and beautiful artform which deserves to be preserved and honoured. Our tea dances aim to do just that, providing the opportunity for people of all ages and from all walks of life to come together to experience the pleasures of dance!
Ragroof Theatre can also provide various interactive or walkabout characters from the eras 1920s-50s including nippies, flappers, glamorous ladies, racy gents, and 40s wartime army, navy and airforce characters.
The Ragroof Dancers can perform routines involving two to eight dancers, with set pieces including:
~ The Etiquette of Ballroom Dancing Waltz
~ The ‘I Won’t Dance, Don’t Ask Me’ Tango
~ The Cheeky Charleston (Nippies or Flappers options!)
~ The Old Smoothies’ Quickstep
~ The Copacabana Tropical Samba
~ The Girl Power ‘What, In These Shoes?’ Mambo-Cha
~ The Saturday Night Fever line dance and the Travolta-inspired Latin Hustle
~ The Western Swing & Cowboy Polka
Past highlights include lavish tea dances at the Spiegeltents in Edinburgh, Dublin & Brighton festivals; Dancing under the Stars at The National Theatre; The Big Event at Myatts Field London.
For more information on hiring the dance floor please click here.
Fat 45s
The Fat 45s are a ten-piece big band led by Ivan Fabrega from Ragroof. They
bring back the dance music of the 1940 & 50s with their slick quiffs, sharp
suits, swingin’ hips and high heels. Crowned by the rich soulful voice
of Dale de Ville, the Fat 45s play jump jive, swing and rhythm & blues,
setting the dance floors alight wherever they go – guaranteed to make
every party shake, rattle & roll.
For further info see www.fat45.com