Armistice Victory Dance - Cambridge

One of the features of the annual Armistice in Cambridge is the “Victory Dance”, which is held each year on the Saturday evening of Armistice Weekend.

Locals and visitors from all around attend this ball, dressed in appropriate military uniform or wartime period costume.

It's the perfect opportunity to step back in time into the glitz and glamour of the big band era of World War Two, when the carefree moments were grasped by the fighting men and women, and those on the Home Front alike.

The dance usually features a full sized big band, a full swing orchestra whose jitterbugging tunes set all the toes tapping.

The band is supported by an array of singers who croon out the period tunes whilst those in battledress and zoot suits cut a rug on the dance floor. In 2007 the band was the excellent Hamilton Big Band, who were ably supported by The Boogie Woogie Bugle Girls, plus a selection of excellent cabaret singers and even an appearance by Sir Winston Churchill!

The Armistice in Cambridge celebrations are a commemorative service to formally remember those who served in New Zealand's Armed Forces. The event will have something for everyone to see and be entertained by, especially the younger generations, who can learn about just what it was we are remembering.

From October to March 2009, the return of soldiers to New Zealand is commemorated in a series of events, talks, movie showings, exhibitions and recitals throughout the country.

Organisations participating in ‘Coming Home’ include the National War Memorial, Archives New Zealand, National Library of New Zealand, Army Museum Waiouru, Ministry for Culture and Heritage, New Zealand Film Archive, the Royal New Zealand Returned Services’ Association, Auckland War Memorial Museum, New Zealand Defence Force, Armistice in Cambridge and local councils.