Western NSW Dance Festival

Region: Regional North and West Rural South and West | Bathurst
Kindergarten to Year 12
Local arts program Dance

The Western NSW Dance Festival is a showcase of creativity and performance skills from public schools across Western NSW for students in Kindergarten to Year 12.

The festival highlights and celebrates the work of students and teachers as they explore dance as an artform. Students enjoy the opportunity to perform at one of the area's foremost theatres with professional staging.

The Festival aims to:

  • encourage the development and teaching of dance programs at a school level
  • provide an opportunity for the school and broader community to recognise dance as an art form
  • provide an opportunity for students and teachers to work towards a quality performance in a professional venue
  • presenting an original, entertaining and professional event, providing a positive and memorable experience for teachers and students.

2024

Festival dates

  • Monday 3 and Tuesday 4 June 2024 (Term 2 Week 6)

How to apply

Applications for the 2024 festival are now open!

Teachers, for full details and how to apply go to the Western NSW Dance Festival 2024 - Teacher information site.

  • Each school may nominate a maximum of 3 items for the festival.  We will endeavour to place all items in the festival.
  • Schools may explore any style of dance they prefer. 
  • We encourage the inclusion of students with a disability and will work with the school to ensure any modifications or special provisions required are met.
  • Indigenous dance groups, multicultural dance groups, and boys dance groups are actively encouraged to participate.
  • Schools requiring assistance with choreography should contact Sue Dawson (0402 992 897) to have a mentor choreographer assigned to the school to assist with preparations.

Length of items

  • Primary - maximum of 4 minutes
  • Secondary - maximum of 5 minutes.

Brand new Ensemble opportunity!

Boyz Crew Western NSW

  • Boyz Crew is a brand new initiative for public school boys from Years 5 to 8.  Aimed at providing boys of all abilities with an interest in Hip Hop the opportunity to work with an experienced choreographer to create a performance piece for the Western NSW Dance Festival.
  • Boys will attend 3 full-day rehearsal workshops in Orange in the lead-up to the festival and will perform as a Crew at the festival. 
  • Applications close: Friday 23 February 2024 (Term 1 Week 4)
  • For full details on how boys from your school can apply go to the Boys Crew Western NSW - information site.

 

 

Enquiries

Jayne Evans
Coordinator
jayne.evans@det.nsw.edu.au
02 6368 2100
Sue Dawson
Arts Coordination Officer
susan.i.dawson@det.nsw.edu.au
0402 992 897

Venue

Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre
105 William St
Bathurst NSW 2795
Australia

Open Map

Resources

large clump of dancers in red bent over with one dancer in middle standing up with arms above head
Western NSW Senior Dance Ensemble

Western NSW Dance Festival 2023 - image gallery

young dancers in sparkly superhero costume knealing on stage doing muscle arms Bathurst South Public School
dancers on stage in colourful skirts and black topw with star headpieces Bathurst South Public School
primary dancers on stage dressed as sheep in clump with girl dressed as little bo peep in front of them Bathurst West Public School
dancers on stage dressed in school uniform (Matilda style) with hands on hips Bathurst West Public School
dancers on stage in centre clump stretching one arm down with other hand running up arm Blayney High School
dancers on stage wearing 60s inspired full red skirts and black tshirts, boy in white tshirt and jeans. Calare Public School
4 dancers in white dresses with heads bowed. 2 dancers in front with one leaning back and other holding their head Canobolas Rural Technology High School
clump of primary dancers on stage in finishing positions wearing pastel coloured dresses Canowindra Public School
primary dancers on stage facing the back with arms stretched up to the sky Coonabarabran Public School
high school dancers on stage facing slightly to side with arms out stretched wearing red dresses Cowra High School
student in group formation on stage moving forward with hands by side wearing black tops and school check skirts Cowra High School
4 dancers on stage working in pairs, one dancer is leaning forward on one foot and other dancer is holding their other foot to allow lean to be accentuated Cowra High School
dancers on stage holding a range of poses wearing black demitards Denison College
3 dancers on stage in blue dresses, one sitting on ground reaching up to the other 2 dancers Denison College
dancer on stage on their knees with right arm extended into air above head. Dancer wearing black leotard and white dress shirt over the top Lithgow High School
dance ensemble on stage dressed as bartenders and flappers striking a pose Lithgow High School
group of boys on stage in black pants and white pants. 5 boys are forming a pyramid and another boy is doing headstand on stage Mulyan Public School
group of primary dancers on stage in black demitards posing with one hand on hip and other over head Mulyan Public School
dancers in circle around centre male dancer. He is in white top and cream pants, girls in cream dresses around him Orange High School
ensemble of dancers on stage in muted grey dresses performing a range of dynamic movements Orange High School
3 dancers on stage in red dresses performing attitude balance Orange High School
group of student dancers on stage wearing jeans and white tshirts posing with both hands together next to their head Orange Public School
group of young dancers on stage in red dresses pointing one foot to the front and holding their dress out ot the side Orange Public School
dance on stage facing to stage left wearing white with heads down NSW Public Schools Senior Ensemble
students dancing in black unitards on stage with hand prints on unitard Wallerawang Public School
primary dancers kneeling on stage in white dresses with one arm out to side Wallerawang Public School
gorup of dancers in dynamic poses wearing black pants and colourful pink and purple tops Western NSW Junior Dance Ensemble
large clump of dancers in red bent over with one dancer in middle standing up with arms above head Western NSW Senior Dance Ensemble