The Sydney Opera House has announced the full program of competing dance groups, hosts and special guest performances for DanceRites 2024. The free celebration of First Nations dance, song and culture will welcome nearly 300 performers to the Opera House Forecourt when it returns on Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 October.
Twenty dance groups representing over 40 nations and clans will take to the Sand Circle to perform in Australia’s only national competition for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander groups – with half making their DanceRites debut this year. Celebrating the richness and diversity of their cultures, each group will showcase their local storytelling and language in the Cultural Dance and Song cycle, competing in heats on Saturday and finals on Sunday. Many groups will also perform an optional ‘Wild Card’ dance to demonstrate their unique style.
Prizes worth a total of $41,000 will be awarded for the overall winner, runner-up group and the best Wild Card dance. Two Rites of Passage awards will also acknowledge outstanding contributions to revitalising cultural knowledge and practices.
Groups will be marked on dance skills and engagement with culture, language and song by the judging panel: Berthalia Selina Reuben, Gary Lang, Rosealee Pearson, Sani Townson and Tara Gower.
The free weekend of family-friendly events will be hosted by singer-songwriter Naomi Wenitong (Dauwarbara – Gubbi Gubbi), best known as one-half of Shakaya; and hip hop pioneer Shannon Williams aka BrothaBlack (Yiman – Ghungalu); and will also include performances from Maruku Arts Dance Group, Mui Mui Bumer Gedlam and Native Pride Productions.
Sydney Opera House Head of First Nations Programming, Michael Hutchings shared, “We can’t wait to welcome mob back to the Sydney Opera House Forecourt next month. DanceRites continues the traditions of Tubowgule as a meeting place for storytelling, celebration and dance, on the Opera House’s most spectacular outdoor stage. DanceRites creates a truly special space for community to gather, connect and share their cultures with each other and audiences, on site and online across Australia.”
NSW Minister for the Arts, Minister for Music and the Night-time Economy, the Hon. John Graham MLC said, “DanceRites is a special moment on the nation’s arts and cultural calendar – a powerful opportunity to celebrate and learn about diverse First Nations cultures as they perform on the iconic Sydney Opera House Forecourt on Tubowgule. Ten groups will make their debut in front of thousands of people – spectators and competitors, locals and visitors, and those watching the broadcast across the country.”
DanceRites is free for all to attend on the Forecourt and will also be broadcast as a livestream on Sydney Opera House and NITV channels. The full schedule is available here, and for audience information in the lead up to the event, sign-up here.
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