Traditional English Dance - Morris Dancing

Every solstice, outside the pubs of Palmerston North, strangely clad people can be seen leaping into the air, waving handkerchiefs and sticks, with bells jingling from their shins. This traditional ritual to welcome the return of the sun and spring is called Morris dancing, and it goes back at least to the 15th century in England. 

The origins of Morris dancing have been lost in history, but prevalent opinion is that Morris is based pre-Christian fertility or luck-bringing ceremonies. Over time, these 'pagan' dances were assimilated by the church (first the Catholic, then the Protestant) and by the 1500s, Morris was being performed for Easter, May Day and other local festivals.

Morris is still danced all year round to ensure a good crop, to provide entertainment, or to commemorate important events. Today, Morris is still performed in England and New Zealand on days such as Plough Monday, Easter, and the start of spring. Some of the dances have not changed in over a hundred years and because of this long history, Morris dancing is considered a living tradition.

We would love you to try Morris dancing. We practise at Palmerston North Fire Station on Thursday evenings.

Alternatively, if you would like us to dance at an event that you are organising please contact our Squire, Rob Freeman, or Lis Todd.


Rosewood Morris Dancers

Palmerston North Central

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The Manawatū Scottish Society (Inc) was established in 1925. Its mission statement is to foster Celtic Heritage through the promotion of Celtic literature, customs and accomplishments, and social interaction within New Zealand. This is achieved through promoting three Pipe Bands and Scottish Country Dancing based in the Society’s Hall, which is available for hire to approved hirers. In addition, the Society hosts the Jenny Mair Highland Square Day, now in its 44th year, and the Claidheamh’mor and Targe Solo Invitational Piping Contest, now in its 39th year.

Manawatū Scottish Society (Inc)

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The Club supports and encourages jazz musicians and their audiences by holding public concerts on the second Sunday of the month. The Club and Rodger Fox organise annual Manawatu International Jazz and Blues Festivals, featuring local, national and leading international artists. The Club celebrated the fiftieth year of the Festivals in June, 2018. 

A feature of the Festival is a competition for high-school students playing in Big Bands and jazz combos, which supports and encourages these young players to be the artists of the future. 

Club members enjoy discounted tickets for the monthly concerts and Jazz and Blues Festivals.      


Manawatū Jazz Club

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We are a group of people who have a love of folk music and meet on a regular basis to share the music that we know and also what we have been learning. We have regular club nights where we have the chance to perform music in a sing-around format, this night usually has a theme and we get the chance to perform a couple of songs/tunes related/inspired by the theme (the Events Calendar is available on our website). You may perform solo, or in any sized group you prefer, or invite everyone to join in with you.

We also have concert nights where guest artists, national or international, come along and perform for us. These are top quality musicians and they always put on a great night!

On regular club nights we have a door charge of: $3 for club members; and $5 for non members; FREE for school children and ‘first-timers’. On concert nights the entry price is higher.

The Palmerston North Folk Music Club

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Crows Feet Dance Collective PN is a fun, contemporary, creative-based dance project for adults. We cover basic technique and fitness and explore a range of dance styles and approaches, using contemporary dance as the core style. Meet a welcoming, friendly group of people who love to dance and have fun! For all, including beginners to dance.

There are occasional performance opportunities for those who would like this. Otherwise come and enjoy dance with a creative base! Everybody works at their own level of dance and fitness.

Wear comfy stretchy clothing, bare feet or soft dance shoes and bring water. 


Crows Feet Dance Collective Palmerston North

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The Manawatu Overtones is a Women’s Chorus who sing a cappella, four-part harmony in the barbershop style.  Our chorus was first formed in 2004 and currently has approximately 35 members.  We are an auditioned chorus and members, although not required to read music, must be able to sing holding their part (whether it be Lead, Baritone, Tenor or Bass) while other parts may be singing around them.

Leads sing the melody, Baritones provide the fill-in notes and round out the harmony, Tenors have a light, sweet, pure tone to their voice and sing the highest part while basses have the lowest voices and  provide the foundation for the harmony.

Manawatū Overtones

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Samba ao Vento is a Palmerston North-based Brazilian percussion group playing samba batucada and other musical styles. Contact us to find out how you can be a part of our group.

Samba Ao Vento

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‘Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and life to everything.’ Plato 

Join us for our live performances each month in the Evelyn Rawlins Room at Square Edge. Enjoy the sounds of many eras and styles performed by local pianists, instrumentalists, singers, soloists and ensembles. All are welcome. 

In addition, Musica Viva offers a Young Performers’ Scholarship competition for local musicians under 30 years. Prizes are offered in Piano, Instrumental and Vocal categories. Participants perform an item in our April–September concerts, with the competition taking place in October. Applications to participate in the YPS programme closed on March 15 2024.

Musica Viva Manawatū

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OnStage Manawatū’s objective is the promotion of the performing arts in Palmerston North and surrounds and to assist community and charitable causes. Club groups perform at retirement villages around the city. The club also awards a $500 scholarship annually to a young artist. Until March 2020 the club was known as the Manawatū Savage Club, established in 1908. The name change was the first step in modernising and simplifying the club’s customs and formats.

OnStage Manawatū

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The Renaissance Singers, formed in 1975, is an auditioned choir of 20-30 members who frequently perform a cappella. The choir has a reputation for presenting varied and challenging programmes, comprising modern works as well as works of the Renaissance period and earlier. 2-3 concerts are presented each year. New members are welcome! 

Renaissance Singers Inc

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The Manawatū County Club, based in Palmerston North, was established in November 1928. It welcomes women of all ages, professions, ethnicity and educational backgrounds to participate in a diverse program of informative, stimulating and social activities, both at the Club Rooms and at selected offsite venues.

Within the Club are many interest Groups. These include Gardening, Antiques and Collectibles, Music, Arts and Travel, Bridge, Bolivia, Mah Jong and Oral History. They each develop their own annual program of activities. All members are encouraged to belong to those groups which interest them. There is also a program of key annual events and two luncheons, with interesting speakers, are held at the Club each month. 

The Club offers a warm and welcoming environment in comfortable surroundings for individual members and groups to meet, find friendship and support, share interests and participate in a range of social activities.  


Manawatū County Club Inc

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A perfect group to join to make friends while having fun dancing. You will be taught some cool bollywood moves as well as traditional classical dance. If you want you can perform too. It is a promise that you will love it. From kids to adults and all ethinicities welcome. No bar whatsoever.

Shree Academy - United by Dance, Indian/Bollywood

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We teach Highland Dancing from 3 years old, Royal Scottish Official Board technique taught, giving freedom to dance world-wide.

Manawatū Highland Dancers

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Palmerston North Brass Band is the oldest organisation in Palmerston North, technically pre-dating Palmerston North City itself! Established in 1868, we have been providing entertainment to Palmerston North residents for over 150 years.

We play a wide range of music, from classical, traditional brass band pieces, right through to arrangements of pop songs. We get involved in community events as frequently as possible, and you may have seen us at Relay for Life, Anzac Day services, Explore Esplanade Days, in the Christmas Parade, or just popping up for a spontaneous performance around town!

In addition to our brass band, we also facilitate lessons for anyone who wants to learn a brass instrument and run an 'academy band' for learners to try playing in a band setting without the pressure of being in a full band.

Palmerston North Brass Band

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Makkika Dum is an Egyptian Drumming group in Palmerston North. We perform and teach Egyptian and middle eastern drumming styles. We play modern, folk, and classic Egyptian rhythms with passion and love. Singing folk songs and incorporate oriental instruments in our public performances.


Mazzika-Dum Egyptian Drumming 

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Aziza Bellydance is a Palmerston North based dance group focused on performing and exploring fusion/modern oriental and traditional Middle-Eastern dance styles.

Established in 2007, it is committed to creating a fun-filled and empowering dance environment that will connect you with people from all walks of life.

Aziza Bellydance Palmerston North

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Formed in 1996, the Manawatunes are a chorus of men who love singing. We sing acapella harmony, much in the barbershop style, but we also explore a range of other acapella music. We try to have a variety of music in our repertoire; from classic “Polecats” (cornerstones of the Barbershop genre) to arrangements of more contemporary numbers. We were the Barbershop Harmony New Zealand Champion Small Chorus in 2019, 2018, 2014, 2010 and 1999 and hopefully there will be further exciting news coming from our partnership with BHNZ in 2021. The Manawatunes meet to rehearse each Wednesday evening at the Red Cross rooms, and are delighted to have this opportunity to share our harmony with the public after a year where a number of our opportunities have dried up. We hope you will enjoy our performance, as well as the performance of one of our quartets, Sound Check!

Manawatunes Chorus

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Square Edge Community Arts supports a vibrant community of artists and creative folk, arts and community organisations. 

We run a monthly exhibition programme, offer community workshops, hold markets and events, and host forums and performances. Our tenants and users include artists, a picture framer, photographers, a signage designer, sound healer, plastic free grocer, café, yoga, art, voice, drama, and language teachers, a garment centre, and much more. We offer studio spaces for artists, and bookable rooms for a diverse range of user groups. There are many opportunities to join in with a wide range of activities here.

Square Edge Community Arts 

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We are a friendly club based at Massey University Palmerston North for both students and the general public to learn all aspects of fire and circus performing.

Fire and Circus Club

Massey University

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To present choral music of excellence to the citizens of the Manawatu. Founded in 1919, the Palmerston North Choral Society is an assessed choir in Palmerston North. They perform a range of classic choral singing to more modern works and perform at various venues and events around the city.

The choir performs a range of choral music from traditional oratorios through to modern works. Generally, two concerts each year are its main focus but this year it is aiming for four shorter concerts. The singers also enjoy participating in NZ Choral Federation Sing Fests, the Molly Atkinson Ladies' Choral Festival, the city Christmas in the Park concert and other community events as they arise. The PN Choral Society celebrated their 100th year in 2019.


Palmerston North Choral Society

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Belly dance classes for Every Body!
Hipnotize has been sharing belly dance with the community for over 20 years. Our classes are welcoming, energetic, and most of all fun!
Hipnotize classes start with the fundamentals for all Belly Dance stylisations, adding layering, musicality, improvisation, choreographies and performance techniques.
No dance experience is required for the Fundamental classes and though primarily aimed at beginners, are open for all levels. 
Whether you are a beginner or an experienced Belly dancer we have a class for you. 

Message, email or click the website link for more information & to register for classes.

Hipnotize BellyDance

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Conductor: No resident conductor. Recent guest conductors have included members of the NZSO and NZ School of Music.

We perform three main concerts a year, with a variety of styles to suit a range of audiences and provide interest and challenge to the players. 

Manawatū Sinfonia

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The Comedy Hub has been producing stand-up shows, comedy workshops and introductory courses since 2017, with the goal of making the Manawatū a great place to be a comedian.

We do a variety of shows, including:
*Open Mics
*Local Showcases
*Pro Shows (National/International acts)
*Community Shows (e.g. Māori/Pasifika showcase, Stand Up for Sign Language)
*Fundraising events

The Comedy Hub

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We are a women's choir who sing a wide range of music from Renaissance to Pop. We were established in 1997 by Alison Stewart. We sing at the Palmerston North and Feilding libraries and have sung Christmas carols occasionally in the Downtown complex. One of our purposes is to raise money for charity.

Camerata Choir

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We are a friendly, well run dance club who meet during weekly club nights, plus we hold regular hops to enjoy dancing to Rock n Roll music.  Beginners are very welcome, we run regular Beginner Block Courses where we teach basic skills which can then be built on during club nights.        

Rose City Rock 'n' Roll Revival Club

Kelvin Grove

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Palmerston North Film Society is a non-profit, volunteer-run charity dedicated to showing rare films that are not usually commercially available. For over 70 years we have presented a wide range of local and international documentary and classic film masterpieces.
WHY YOU SHOULD JOIN: As well as offering access to the broadest cross-section of films available anywhere, a Palmerston North Film Society membership remains one of the cheapest entertainment deals in town!

Palmerston North Film Society

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We are a group of Argentine Tango dancers, of all  levels of experience, who meet every second Sunday for a couple of hours, to practice and develop our beautiful dance of walking in embrace.   Come along with your special partner or by yourself, learn to connect with the group and dance in close embrace Argentine tango.

Tango del Corazon - tango from the heart

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Practica Adv 3.30 5.30pm

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SÁBADOS TEATREROS (ST) is a drama education group for Spanish-speaking children from 5 to 15 years old in the Palmerston North area. The program was started in June 2021 by Dr Maria Gomez-Lozano, who started weekly drama lessons for 12 children aged 5-10 years old. 
The lessons are exclusively done in Spanish with the aim of promoting the use of their mother tongue among the Latin American and Hispanic community. However,  any child learning Spanish, independent of their ethnicity is welcome.


Sabados Teatreros

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Pamanlahi is a non-profit cultural club that aims to share the cultural and historical knowledge of the Philippines to the various city-wide community. Established in 2013, the group has been performing for the numerous organisations in Palmerston North

Pamanlahi Cultural Ensemble 

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Scottish country dancing is a social form of dance with its roots in the communal rural dances of Britain.  

Unlike Highland dancing, Scottish country is in groups of six to eight people, is much more relaxed, there are no bagpipes, and kilts are definitely not required.  All you need are soft-soled shoes, the ability to count to eight, and time to come along to have fun accompanied by lively Celtic music.  

No partner is required, but you can certainly bring a friend if you wish!  

Beginners are always welcome – tuition is given.


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