The SA Dance Festival (SADF) was created to bring the South Australian dance community together. The two-day event not only exposes students to leading industry professionals and choreographers, but it also offers dance educators the opportunity to further their skill as leaders. And it all happens in an environment that is supportive and one without any prejudice or judgement.
Directed by Kim Grant-Taylor and Pep Rigano, this year’s SADF will be held 12 – 13 June, at Westminster College. The festival will be bigger than ever, after a two-year break and with eight of the nation’s best choreographers, including Blake John Wood, Sophie Holloway, Chris Tsattalios, Luca Dinardo, Alysha Percy, Jarryd Byrne, Taneikah Wescombe, Alex Miedzinski and Marko Panzic.
Rigano says he is so excited to see the South Australian dance community come together this year after a long hiatus due to the Covid pandemic. “In previous festivals, we’ve seen hundreds of dancers enjoy an event that has no competitions and is purely about the love of dance. Juniors right through to Seniors can enjoy some of the most amazing teachers, of which many have never taught in SA before!”
And with an incredible lineup of faculty and choreographers – and styles from contemporary and hip hop to Broadway jazz and Latin dance – Rigano says this year is going to be wild and major.
SADF offers tickets for Juniors (ages eight to 13) and Seniors (ages 14 and up), and passes are available for the full two days, one day or a Hip Hop Pass. But groups are also welcome, and are a valuable way to experience this convention opportunity. (Plus, major discounts are available for group bookings of over 10 students.)
“Why wouldn’t you want to attend this festival with all your friends from dance?!” notes Rigano. “Essentially, this event isn’t about a certain studio or a certain dancer; it’s about everyone coming together. I always think that, as a studio owner, we have many responsibilities. Sometimes, going to an event like this festival can inspire students to do even better at their home base.”
With 10 hours of training, eight great choreographers and an inspiring sense of community, SADF is surely something to set our countdown clocks for.
“When we first decided to create the South Australian Dance Festival, it was always about providing opportunities for our community,” Rigano says. “Some students can’t travel interstate to attend amazing events like this, and so we really wanted to bridge the gap and offer something special for our dancers. Plus, I think there is a big advantage for our dancers, especially those wanting to make this a career. Our event is a more intimate style festival, and this means the students can really show these big-name instructors what they’ve got.”
The SA Dance Festival will be held from 12 – 13 June. For more information about the festival, visit www.sadancefestival.com.au. You can also follow SADF on Instagram: @sadancefestival. To book your tickets, head to www.trybooking.com/BYNWM.
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