Performers of all experiences took the stage at the annual South Coast Dance Festival. Photos: Keeli Dyson.
Hundreds of students are flaunting their stage presence and performing prowess at the South Coast Dance Festival, with schools showcasing their creativity through choreography and movement.
Thirty schools from the Illawarra and Shoalhaven are participating in the annual event this week with kids from Kindergarten to Year 12 making up the program of performances.
Hayes Park students Cooper Daley and Noah Aukino are part of the primary school’s first all-boys group to participate in the event.
As first-time performers, both students worked hard behind the scenes to make sure they were ready to step onto the stage.
“It’s a really good opportunity for us,” Noah said. “There were over 80 people who wanted to be in dance group but only 25 could be.
“It was really hard if some boys messed it up and some boys got it right and we would have to restart until we all got it right.”
But it has sparked a passion, with Cooper encouraging anyone to get involved.
“You can show people how confident you are and how engaging dance can be,” he said.
“Just give it a try; even if you don’t make it, it doesn’t matter.”
Now in its 37th year, the event provides opportunities for new and experienced performers from the region’s public schools.
Wollongong High School of the Performing Arts students Vanessa Le and Amy Harris rehearsed in class several times a week leading up to the performance, but it was also the social aspect that attracted them to participate.
“This is my first time doing it since Year 2,” Amy said. “I just really like the vibe of performing and being with my friends.
“I love spending time with my friends and having that extra performance aspect to go with my dancing outside of school as well,” Vanessa said.
The dances are also about more than just showcasing skill – they are about expression and storytelling.
“Some of the storytelling that we see, especially in the high school items is way beyond what you would expect for public education; it just blows me away,” South Coast Dance Festival backstage manager, committee member and teacher Glenda Cameron said.
“I’m just in awe of the creativity of not only the choreographers but the students and how they can manipulate their bodies into that stage space and with such beautiful technique.”
But she said even younger performers had a lot to gain from the experience.
“It’s about children experimenting movements with their body, improving locomotor skills, learning sequences, being in a team, working together, working as individuals; so there’s a whole lot of other skills that come with the performance rather than just the skills of the dance and the choreography.”
Glenda has been involved in the festival for almost three decades.
Glenda has been part of the festival since her daughter participated 28 years ago and this year she had the opportunity to share her skills in a new way.
“We started a mentorship program for teachers with dance choreography in schools and I was the fortunate one that got to go around to four different schools in our region and work with teachers and students on a one-to-one basis,” she said.
“I started to assist teachers in developing their ideas, the type of music they would like, what their piece would maybe look like on the stage, some ideas for costuming, and then they went away with that and developed their own choreography and then I came back on another occasion and worked again more with the students and helping them to work on entrances and exits and how the piece could be more cohesive.
“It has been a success and we can’t wait to see it on the stage.”
The Australian Ballet is also presenting a unique mentorship opportunity by offering a professional development workshop for dance festival teachers, as well as performing at Friday’s shows.
Over the years performers have become mentors themselves.
“The great part about it is seeing students that have been through the Dance Festival program with their schools and now they’re coming back as choreographers or they’re practising teachers themselves,” Glenda said. “I think that’s a really nice way to see that 360 evolve that they have the passion to remain doing activities in dance.”
Six hundred students have performed throughout the week with the event finishing on Friday (20 June).
For more information visit the NSW Education Department’s Arts Unit website.
