DanceRites 2024
Australia’s National Dance Competition for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Groups
Mackay Torres Strait Islander Cultural Group has claimed the top prize at DanceRites 2024 – Australia’s only national dance competition for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander groups – following two days of high-energy competition at the Sydney Opera House over the weekend.
With nearly 300 dancers in action, record crowds gathered to watch the competition unfold on the Forecourt. Eighteen groups shared their local storytelling and language from remote, regional and metropolitan areas across New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, Western Australia and the Torres Strait Islands in a joyous celebration of First Nations music, dance and culture. The dancers showcased the diverse traditions of over 40 nations and clans in the Cultural Dance and Song Cycle category, while 16 groups also demonstrated their unique style in the Wild Card category.
The winners:
- DanceRites 2024 Overall Winner: Mackay Torres Strait Islander Cultural Group (QLD: Torres Strait – Meriam)
- Runner Up: Mura Biri Gururu Aboriginal Dancers (QLD: Muruwarri)
- Best Wild Card Dance: MINJIL (QLD: Yidinydji)
- Rites of Passage Awards to acknowledge outstanding contributions to revitalising cultural knowledge and practices: Kaiyukan Kawuma (NSW: Murrawarri) and Koey Poeypiyam Dance Group (QLD: Boigu Islands, Torres Strait – Moegi Buay, Koedal)
An expert panel of judges – Berthalia Selina Reuben (Peiudu and Samsep, Darnley Island), Gary Lang (Larrakia), Sani Townson (Koedal, Dhoeybaw, Samu Saibai Island Zenadth Kes) and Tara Gower (Yawuru) – marked the competitors on their dance skills and engagement with culture, language and song. The weekend also featured guest performances from Native American group Native Pride Productions, previous DanceRites competitors Maruku Arts Dance Group, and the overall winners of DanceRites 2023 Mui Mui Bumer Gedlam.
Michael Hutchings, Head of First Nations Programming at the Sydney Opera House shared: “Tubowgule is a meeting place where stories have been shared for tens of thousands of years, and DanceRites is an important continuation of those traditions on this land. It’s been an incredible weekend of joy and celebration – congratulations to every group and performer who showcased their culture on the Sand Circle and thank you to every member of the community who helped make the event happen or joined us to watch online or on the Monumental Steps. Bringing mob together from far and wide to share stories, song, dance and our living history is a true honour and privilege.”
It was announced over the weekend that DanceRites will be presented biennially moving forward, with the next competition held in 2026. In 2025, new special events that showcase the richness, vibrancy and vitality of First Nations culture through a range of artforms will be held, mixing deep rooted cultural traditions with contemporary artistic expressions.
