Early Auckland Dance Music When Orchestras Ruled

Leys Orchestra delves into the era of early Auckland when dozens of orchestras kept feet tapping, skirts twirling and the good times rolling. Dances were held in every community hall, church hall and dance hall, and even at roller skating rinks.

They brought communities together, energising Auckland's entertainment life during the late 19th to mid 20th centuries. Re-live the toe-tapping numbers from ragtime, Dixie and two-step to fox-trot, waltz and tango.

In addition to music from 'greats' such as Joplin and Gershwin, the programme includes long forgotten gems from our heritage music collection by some of the multitude of composers who wrote tunes as fast as they could to satisfy the popular obsession for dancing.