Western NSW Dance Festival

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

It’s time to dust off those dance moves and get your students ready to hit the stage.

The Western NSW Dance Festival is a vibrant celebration of talent, creativity, and dedication, bringing together public school students and teachers from across Western NSW. Featuring performers from Kindergarten to Year 12, the festival showcases their passion and skills as they explore the art of dance.

The festival aims to:

  • Support the growth and teaching of dance programs in schools.
  • Recognise dance as a vital and inspiring art form within schools and the wider community.
  • Provide opportunities for students and teachers to deliver high-quality performances in professional venues.
  • Create positive, lasting memories with an original and entertaining event.

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Enquiries

Sue Dawson
Arts Coordination Officer
susan.i.dawson@det.nsw.edu.au
0402 992 897
Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre

105 William St
Bathurst NSW 2795
Australia

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Dubbo Regional Theatre and Convention Centre

155 Darling St
Dubbo NSW 2830
Australia

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students on stage dressed in black with black gloves with window projection behind

2025 new venue

Exciting for 2025!
We’re thrilled to announce the addition of the Dubbo Regional Theatre as a performance venue alongside the Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre. Schools can now choose the venue that best suits their needs:

  • Dubbo Regional Theatre
  • Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre

Join us in celebrating the incredible achievements of our students and teachers through the transformative power of dance. Explore this page for all the details on participation, rehearsal schedules, and performance venues.

Let’s make the 2025 Western NSWs Dance Festival an unforgettable experience for everyone involved.

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2025 festival dates

  • Bathurst showcase: Monday 16 and Tuesday 17 June (Term 2 Week 8)
  • Dubbo showcase: Thursday 19 June (Term 2 Week 8)

There will be 2 shows each evening:

  • Evening show A – 5:00 pm to 6:15 pm
  • Evening show B – 7:00 pm to 8:15 pm
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How to apply

Applications now open

Applications for the festival are now open and close on Friday 28 March 2025 (Term 1 Week 9).

Teachers, for full details on the festival go to the WNSWDF25 teacher information site.

Go to the WNSWDF25 school participation form to register your school today.

Item information

  • Each school may nominate a maximum of 3 items for the festival.  We will make every effort to include all nominated items.
  • Schools are welcome to explore any style of dance they prefer.
  • We encourage the inclusion of students with a disability and are committed to working with schools to accommodate any required modifications or special provisions.
  • 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.
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Western NSW Dance Festival 2023 photos

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
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All Arts Unit programs are inclusive. If support is required to participate in the Western NSW Dance Festival, please email susan.i.dawson@det.nsw.edu.au so that we can assist.