NSW Public Schools State Dance Ensembles application form 2025

Applications are now open

Applications close on Friday 4 April 2025.

The workshop-based dance ensembles develop high-level skills in dance technique, composition and performance. Training is aligned to syllabus outcomes and ensemble students perform at the State Dance Festival and Schools Spectacular each year.

Audition process

  1. Parents/students must complete the below application form. 
  2. Students will need to watch the video below and learn the movement. The audition choreography linked below is for all students. 
    Choreography with Music 
    Choreography with counts only (no music)
  3. Students are encouraged to modify the movement so that it is appropriate for their technical ability. Students may also select an alternate music track to perform the movement with to accommodate changes in tempo. 
  4. Students will need to attach two video links to the application form below. 
    • A video of the contemporary choreography audition sequence 
    • A video of the applicant performing a contemporary, lyrical or jazz dance (2 minutes minimum)
  5. Upload a headshot image (eg school photo).

To generate video links for your audition videos, please refer to the section How to produce your video audition in the Audition tips for dance resource.

Parents/students will be informed of their audition result by Friday 11 April 2025. 

About the ensembles

The NSW public schools state dance ensemble program aims to foster the development of talented students from Years 4 to 12 in dance from public schools across NSW. Students train and rehearse dance works during 4 intensive workshops in Sydney over the year.

  • Years 7 to 12 – two workshop-based ensembles 
  • Years 4 to 6 – one workshop-based ensemble 

Schedule

Students train and rehearse dance works in Sydney in preparation for performing at the State Dance Festival in September and Schools Spectacular in November. 

  • Workshop 1 – Thursday 22 and Friday 23 May 2025 at Tanya Pearson Academy, St Leonards
    Comprehensive styles-based workshop with various tutors and intensive choreographic tasks to develop their work for the State Dance Festival.
  • Workshop 2 – Monday 28 July to Friday 1 August 2025 at Tanya Pearson Academy, St Leonards
    Intensive choreographic tasks where students will rehearse their work to perform for the State Dance Festival.
  • Workshop 3 – Wednesday 17 and Thursday 18 September 2025 at DUTI Studios, Newtown
    Rehearsals for the State Dance Festival.
  • Workshop 4 – October/November at Sydney Olympic Park
    Rehearsals for the Schools Spectacular (dates TBC).

Performance commitments 

  • State Dance Festival at Seymour Centre – Thursday 18 and Friday 19 September 2025
  • Schools Spectacular at Qudos Bank Arena – Friday 28 and Saturday 29 November 2025
  • Additional opportunities throughout the year as they arise

Ensembles

Expert dance tuition and opportunities to perform.

 

What happens next

The audition panel will review the applications after the closing date. Parents and students will be emailed about the outcome of the audition after Friday 11 April 2025. 

Audition support resources

Contact details

Should you have any queries, please email the Dance Team.

Privacy notice

The information requested in this note is being collected by the NSW Department of Education. The department will use the information in connection with your child’s participation in this event for the following purposes:

  1. administration;
  2. communication with parents/carers; and
  3. for the health, safety and welfare of your child.

The department might share the information requested in this note with health care providers in the event that your child requires urgent medical attention. All personal information will be held securely and disposed of securely when no longer needed.

You have the right to access and correct the information you provide in this note. If you wish to do so, please contact The Arts Unit on 02 8512 1100 Locked Bag 1500, Petersham NSW 2049 

Specific privacy information

The department will use information about your child’s

  • Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander status for the purpose of implementing its Aboriginal Education Policy.
  • Identified additional support information to ensure appropriate learning adjustments are in place.

The provision of Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander status or gender status is voluntary, and not providing either of them will not impact on your child’s participation. All other additional support information requested in this form is voluntary.

Important information

In the event of injury, no personal injury insurance cover is provided by the NSW Department of Education for students in relation to school sporting activities, physical education lessons or any other school activity. The department’s public liability cover is fault-based and limited to breaches by the department of its duty of care to students that may result in claims for compensation.

Parents/carers are advised to assess the level and extent of their child’s involvement in the activity when deciding whether additional insurance cover is required prior to their child’s involvement in the program. Personal accident insurance cover is available through normal retail insurance outlets.

Student details

Please include a headshot or school photo
One file only.
16 MB limit.
Allowed types: gif, jpg, jpeg, png.

Parent / guardian details

Please enter a valid mobile number in the following format 04xx-xxx-xxx

Dance ensembles

Dance experience

In what styles of dance are you trained?
You can select more than one style.
Please provide a BRIEF summary of your previous dance experience, including studio/school groups, performances, workshops etc.
Please include any notes, ie injury or a clash of dates, to help assist the Dance Team in planning for the Selection Panel.

Student background information

Are you of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander origin?
Is a language other than English spoken at home
Is support required for the student due to a disability?
Please select from this list.
Are any educational modifications required to meet learning needs?
Are any other special provisions required?

Video applications

Please refer to the Audition tips for dance resource for instructions on uploading your video files to YouTube and Vimeo.

Permissions

I understand that I must gain approval from a parent/guardian as well as my school principal to participate in the 2025 NSW public schools dance ensembles program should I be successful in my audition.