The classic big band Standing Room Only (SRO) with vocalist Saffron Bradbury is staging the next Almonte Tea Dance in their 2025-2026 season on the afternoon of Sunday, January 18. “Tea dances” are afternoon dances that were popular in the ’20s, ’30s, and ’40s, when big bands were king. They were held in hotels and, of course, featured a live band. As implied by “tea”, beverages were non-alcoholic.
SRO dances feature a variety of music for ballroom and swing dancers, including swing, waltzes and Latin (cha chas, tangos, rumbas, etc.), and are held in the Auditorium on the top floor of the historic Almonte Old Town Hall, located at 14 Bridge Street in Almonte.
This beautifully preserved venue features a clean and spacious wooden dance floor, natural lighting, and wonderful acoustics. Doors open at 1pm and dancing is from 1:30–4pm. Admission is $20 per person at the door (cash only). Reservations are not required. Light refreshments including delicious treats and a range of non-alcoholic beverages will be available at very reasonable prices (cash only). The Almonte Old Town Hall has its own parking lot, and there’s lots of additional parking on nearby streets. For more information, visit the band’s website srobigband.ca or Facebook page.
The remaining Sunday afternoon Almonte Tea Dances are scheduled for March 1 and March 29.