The Victorian Dance Festival (VDF), Australia’s premiere dance event, is set to break a World Record next Saturday, March 18, at the Melbourne Town Hall, for the most dancers en pointe for one minute in one place. With over 4,000 dancers set to be in attendance for a weekend of dance classes from Australian and International dance leaders, the Festival plans to have at least 300 pointe dancers partake in the record-breaking attempt, snatching the title from dancers in Orlando, Florida, who set the record on May 22, 2011, with 245 dancers.
Lucinda Dunn. Photo by Erik Sawaya.
The Australian Ballet’s longest serving ballerina, Lucinda Dunn, who now resides in Sydney, is flying to Melbourne for the event, and will teach a free ballet class to all participating dancers before the record attempt, celebrating the art form of ballet in the heart of Australia’s ballet capital – Melbourne. After the record breaking event, dancers can join in the fun of VDF by also enjoying a free contemporary class from Kathryn McCormick, direct from Los Angeles, who is known for starring in the film Step Up Revolution and So You Think You Can Dance U.S.A.
VDF is now taking registrations for the World Record attempt. Dancers are asked to bring their pointe shoes as well as their tutu, and to arrive no later than 1:30pm, if they are not already attending the Festival.
Registrations can be made at tickets.myguestlist.com.au/v2571a02dcab4a1/the-2017-victorian-dance-festival/evs571a02dcb8dc4/. Dancers must register through the above link to be included in the official count. Dancers must currently be training in pointe.
About Victorian Dance Festival
Victorian Dance Festival, now in its fifth year, is Australia’s premiere dance event, bringing together dancers from all over Australia for non-competitive workshops, a performance gala, expo and dance teacher development day. Winner of an Australian Events Award 2016, VDF expects around 4,000 dancers at this year’s Festival. Sponsored by Energetiks dancewear and Dance Informa magazine, the festival will be held at the Melbourne Town Hall from March 18 to 19. Instructors include Kathryn McCormick of Step Up Revolution and So You Think You Can Dance fame, direct from Los Angeles, as well as international guests Tate McRae and Rhee Gold, along with renowned Australian choreographers and instructors like Lucinda Dunn, Yvette Lee, Daniel Jaber, James Barry, Lauren Seymour, Paul Malek and more.
About the Pointe World Record
The most ballet dancers on pointe was 245, and was achieved by Dr. Phillips High School Dance Magnet, the Orlando Ballet and area dance schools (all USA) at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida, USA, on 22 May 2011. 250 dancers participated, but five dancers did not stay on pointe for the full minute.
Watch the record being set in New York in 2010
And here’s the current Orlando World Record, 2011:
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