Important information for participants

Groups comprising students of all backgrounds and abilities are encouraged to nominate.

There is no audition video required to be part of the massed choir, massed dance and/or First Nations Dance Ensemble and no upper limit on the number of students each school can nominate. We encourage all schools to extend this opportunity to the widest range of students possible. 

Teachers will be informed of the final numbers accepted into the event once all applications close. Changes to nominated numbers may be required due to considerations around venue capacity for rehearsals and performances as well as ensuring access to the event is open to as many schools as possible.

At this time, teachers will also be informed which show their group has been allocated. As part of the application process teachers will be able to preference dates they are available for rehearsals and performances.

It is not possible for a student to participate with their school group in both massed dance and massed choir. It may be possible for a student to participate in massed dance and First Nations Dance Ensemble as long as the school has a group participating in both categories (each with their own supervising teacher) in the same performance. It is not possible for a student to participate in massed choir and First Nations Dance Ensemble.

If a student is participating as a principal performer or individual dancer (massed dance) / individual chorister (massed choir), they are not also able to participate with their school group.

• All schools involved in massed dance, massed choir and First Nations Dance Ensemble must attend a full day preliminary rehearsal in the weeks prior to Pulse Alive 2025.
• Please check your school calendar and the Pulse Alive rehearsal schedule before submitting your nomination. The online nomination form will allow you to preference specific rehearsal and performance dates to help us in the allocation process.
• Confirmed rehearsal dates will be communicated to schools on acceptance into the show in early Term 4.
• Each school will only be required to participate in one preliminary rehearsal per category they have applied for.
• Schools are expected to attend their preliminary rehearsal in person for the full day. Transport arrangements must be made to ensure that schools arrive prior to the start of the rehearsal and do not leave until the rehearsal has been completed.
• Provision will be made for schools more than 2 hours travel time from Sydney Olympic Park participating in massed choir, massed dance or the First Nations Dance Ensemble to attend preliminary rehearsals virtually if required.
• Specific information on rehearsals for principal performers is detailed on their category pages.

• Performance day includes a compulsory final rehearsal, venue rehearsal and performance.
• Schools should expect to be in attendance from 8:00 am to 10:00 pm on their performance day. Final schedule details will be communicated in early Term 1.
• All schools must attend these compulsory rehearsals in person.

There will be a resource fee of $52 per student for students participating as part of a school group.

The resource fee assists with the costs involved in the conductors, choreographers and tutors working with the students, supports a number of music copyright costs and includes a Pulse Alive t-shirt, which will be worn by all performers as their costume during the event.

For school groups, the resource fee will be direct debited in late Term 4 2024, based on the number of participating students submitted as part of the online nomination process. It will not be possible to issue any refunds if students or schools withdraw after the closing date of the online nomination form.

The resource fee for principal performers (principal vocalists, Pulse Alive Dance Company, principal choir, showband, student comperes, and drama ensemble), individual dancers (massed dance) and individual choristers (massed choir) is detailed on their specific category pages. For these performers, the resource fee will be required to be paid through The Arts Unit student payment portal on acceptance into the show.

Please note, there is no resource fee payable for students participating as part of the Student Crew.

• All students at Pulse Alive must be supervised at all times by a teacher.
• School or representative groups participating in massed choir, massed dance and First Nations Dance Ensemble are expected to provide a teacher to attend all rehearsals and performances. Relief costs must be provided by the school.
• Students participating as a principal performer, individual dancer/chorister or student crew will have teachers on the production team allocated to provide duty of care.
• Schools with groups of students participating in more than one category (for example: a group in massed choir and a group in massed dance) must provide a teacher to supervise each category group (a teacher for massed dance and a separate teacher for massed choir).
• Every group requires supervision as entry and exit points, holding rooms and performance spaces are in different locations across the southern end of Sydney Olympic Park.
• Schools and teachers also need to be aware that teachers must actively supervise their students at all times at rehearsals and performances of Pulse Alive. It is not appropriate for students to be left unsupervised at rehearsals or performances or for teachers to be completing marking or other busy work while students are rehearsing. Teachers are expected to support the conductor/choreographer and the students and participate in the rehearsal process where possible.

A risk assessment for all rehearsal and performance venues, as well as a detailed COVID-19 safety plan for the event will be made available to all schools involved in the event on acceptance.

This program works in conjunction with the Department of Education and is supported by The Arts Unit to ensure that the operation of this program is contingent on the COVID-19 advice provided by the department in consultation with NSW Health.

As COVID-19 information is rapidly updating, procedures and adjustments may be made with short notice prior to the event start date.

Teachers are encouraged to remain up-to-date with the latest COVID-19 advice on the department intranet.

Schools are also required to ensure the consent statement provided by the department is included in permission note paperwork for the festival to seek additional parent or carer consent around the risk of COVID-19.

Pulse Alive is a Department of Education program and as such, just as at school, all students are expected to abide by the Department’s Behaviour code for students. Students are representing themselves, their families and their school whilst being a part of this event.