Pulse Alive

Pulse Alive

Region: Metro Regional North Regional North and West Regional South Rural North Rural South and West | Sydney Olympic Park
Kindergarten to Year 12
Program Dance Drama Music VET
Tags: Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander, All Ability Arts, Disability, Inspire – High potential and gifted education (HPGE), Teacher opportunities

Pulse Alive is a vibrant celebration of creativity, connection, and opportunity in the performing arts, showcasing thousands of singers, dancers, actors, and musicians from NSW public schools. Bringing together students from metropolitan, regional, rural, and remote communities, this exciting arena event celebrates diversity, fosters inclusion, and builds a strong sense of belonging. Pulse Alive isn’t just a show – it’s a life-changing experience where every student has the chance to be celebrated.

Pulse Alive provides performance opportunities for students of all abilities from Kindergarten to Year 12.

Participation in the categories of massed dance, First Nations dance ensemble and massed choir are open to all schools without audition.

This site contains important information around the 2027 event, including expectations of school groups, teachers and participating students. It is vital that all aspects are read and understood before submitting a nomination to participate in Pulse Alive 2027.

Nominations for Pulse Alive 2027 are now open. Please visit the participants page for more details.

On this page

Enquiries

Pulse
pulse@det.nsw.edu.au
Peter Hayward
Arts Coordination Officer
peter.s.hayward@det.nsw.edu.au

Venue

Ken Rosewall Arena

OIympic Blvd
Sydney Olympic Park NSW 2127
Australia

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Performance dates

Pulse Alive reserves the right to modify dates or details should circumstances change.

Pulse Alive 2027 will be held on Monday 15, Tuesday 16, Thursday 18 and Friday 19 March 2027 (Term 1 Week 8) at 7:30 pm.

Nominations to participate in Pulse Alive 2027 are now open.

All school groups participating in Pulse Alive 2027 in massed dance, massed choir and First Nations dance ensemble will be allocated to one performance date, as will students participating as individual dancers (massed dance) or individual choristers (massed choir).  This will be one of:

  • Cast A – Monday 15 March 2027, or
  • Cast B – Tuesday 16 March 2027, or
  • Cast C – Thursday 18 March 2027, or
  • Cast D – Friday 19 March 2027.

In 2027 we have expanded to four performances (in previous years there have been two or three performances).

Students selected via audition to feature as principal vocalists, members of the Pulse Alive Dance Company, principal choir, members of the showband, drama ensemble, student hosts and members of the student crew will be required to perform/participate in all four performances.

 

Future dates (planned)

Pulse Alive is tentatively booked at Ken Rosewall Arena for the following dates in future years:

  • 2028 – Monday 20, Tuesday 21, Thursday 23 and Friday 24 March 2028 (Term 1 Week 8)
  • 2029 – Monday 19, Tuesday 20, Thursday 22, Friday 23 March 2029 (Term 1 Week 8) 
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Venues

Performance venue

Ken Rosewall Arena, Sydney Olympic Park

Ken Rosewall Arena is the main arena of the Sydney Olympic Park Tennis Centre and is located at the southern end of Olympic Boulevard.

Rehearsal venues

  • Massed dance – Netball Central, Sydney Olympic Park
  • Massed choir – Netball Central, Sydney Olympic Park
  • First Nations dance ensemble – Netball Central, Sydney Olympic Park.
  • All principal performer auditions and rehearsals – The Arts Unit, Lewisham

Venue addresses

  • Ken Rosewall Arena – Corner Olympic Boulevard and Shirley Strickland Avenue, Sydney Olympic Park
  • Netball Central – 2 Olympic Boulevard, Sydney Olympic Park
  • The Arts Unit – Corner Toothill Street and The Boulevarde, Lewisham
Ken Rosewall Arena
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Participants

Opportunities available for students and teachers to participate in Pulse Alive

Important information for participants

Please refer to this information regarding your students' application and participation in Pulse Alive.
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Pulse Alive 2027 nominations

Nominations for massed dance, First Nations dance and massed choir will close on Friday 16 October 2026 (Term 4 Week 1).

Teaching resources for massed dance, First Nations dance and massed choir will be distributed to all participating schools in Week 2 of Term 4 2026.

Nominations for principal performers (principal vocalists, principal choir, showband, Pulse Alive dance company, student hosts and drama ensemble) will close on Friday 18 September 2026 (Term 3 Week 9). Live auditions for principal vocalists, principal choir and the Pulse Alive dance company will be held over the weekend of Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 October 2026 (the final weekend of the October school holidays) at The Arts Unit, Lewisham. All other principal performer categories will be selected via video audition.

Individual dancers and choristers (massed categories)

Nominations for students participating as individual dancers or individual choristers will open on Monday 12 October 2026 (Term 4 Week 1) and close on Friday 4 December 2026 (Term 4 Week 10). These categories will only be open to individual students at NSW public schools whose schools have decided not to participate in the massed categories of Pulse Alive 2027.

Student crew

Nominations for students wanting to be part of the crew for Pulse Alive will be open from Thursday 4 February to  Friday 19 February 2027.

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Preliminary rehearsal dates

All preliminary rehearsals for massed dance, massed choir and First Nations dance for Pulse Alive 2027 will take place between Wednesday 17 February and Monday 8 March 2027.

All school groups will be required to attend one preliminary rehearsal, either virtually (for those schools more than two hours away) or in-person at Sydney Olympic Park. The specific date of the preliminary rehearsal will be determined by the category of participation and the performance date. Selection of this date, and indication of dates that are not possible will form part of the nomination process for Pulse Alive 2027.

No preliminary rehearsals will be held on the first three days of the 2027 NAPLAN test window – Wednesday 10 to Friday 12 March 2027.

However, schools should be aware that all performance dates fall during the second week of the NAPLAN window. 

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Tickets

Tickets for Pulse Alive 2027 will go on sale via Ticketmaster at 10 am on Wednesday 10 February 2027.

Tickets sold out in 2025 and 2026, so families, friends and school communities are encouraged to purchase tickets early so they don't miss out.

Students performing in the event and supervising staff do not require a ticket.
Ticketing map for Pulse Alive 2027

 

 

 

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Third-party content attributions

Third-party content attributions

Pulse Alive images photographer: Anna Warr

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Pulse Alive 2026 was proudly supported by Professional Learning Sponsor, Smart, Transport Partner, SIXT, Supporters, Fujifilm and Golf Cart World and Activation Partner Giants Netball, GWS Giants and the NRL.

All Arts Units programs are inclusive. If support is required to participate in Pulse Alive, please email pulse@det.nsw.edu.au so we can assist.