Sydney Opera House Presents DanceRites 2024

The Sydney Opera House 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.

Nineteen 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 more than 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.

The competing groups are:

1. ALLKUMO Malpa Paman (QLD: Ayapathy, LamaLama, Kaantju, Umpila, Mungkanhu & Oolkolo)
2. Babilali Dancers (NSW: Northern Coast region, Bundjalung country)
3. Boigu Island Kayn Kuap Dance Team (QLD: Boigu Islands, Torres Strait – Shark/Egret)
4. BuujaBuuja Butterfly Dancers (NSW: Bundjalung & Wiradjuri)
5. Deadly Brothers & Sisters (NSW: Murrawarri)
6. Dhanggati Baayati (Male) (NSW: Dunghutti)
7. DIDG – Deaf Indigenous Dance Group (QLD: Gimuy Walubara Yidinji)
8. Kebi Ngagalyg Kab Le Buway (QLD: Bamaga)
9. Koey Poeypiyam Dance Group (QLD: Boigu Islands, Torres Strait – Moegi Buay, Koedal)
10. Maarli Nhuuhngkhus Pikilarna maarni (VIC: Barkindji)
11. Mackay Torres Strait Islander Cultural Group (QLD: Torres Strait – Meriam)
12. Midnight Dreaming (NSW: Karuah/Newcastle Awabakal & Worimi)
13. MINJIL (QLD: Yidinydji)
14. MIPLA AFL Cape York Aboriginal Dance (QLD: Cairns & Cape York)
15. Mura Biri Gururu Aboriginal Dancers (QLD: Muruwarri)
16. Ngambaa Dhalaay (NSW: Gamilaraay)
17. Wadumbah Aboriginal Dance Group (WA: Noongar)
18. Wagana (NSW: Wiradjuri)
19. Yangkay Cultural Connect (NSW: Gamilaroi & Murawarri)

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 (Peiudu and Samsep, Darnley Island)
  An independent performing artist facilitating Torres Strait Island cultural exchange in all her professional disciplines, Selina also works at NAISDA Dance College as a Cultural Sessional Trainer;
• Gary Lang (Larrakia)
  After touring nationally and internationally with some of Australia’s premier dance companies, Gary founded the Gary Lang Northern Territory Dance Company in 2012 and currently serves as Artistic Director;
• Rosealee Pearson (Yolngu, Manggalili, Yirrkala)
  Rosealee is an interdisciplinary artist including work as a cultural dance tutor, cultural consultant and professional dancer. Her first work Wanha! Journey to Arnhem was presented at the Sydney Opera House in 2022;
• Sani Townson (Koedal, Dhoeybaw, Samu Saibai Island Zenadth Kes)
  An award-winning dancer, Sani is currently Bangarra Dance Theatre’s Youth Program Coordinator, and has worked as a choreographer, writer, theatre-maker and mentor; and
• Tara Gower (Yawuru)
  Following her 15-year career as a professional dancer with Bangarra Dance Theatre, Tara returned home to Yawuru Djugun Buru to share her skills with the next generation. Tara works with Elders to share culture and stories with youth as a part of her dance crew ‘Burrb Wanggarraju Nurlu’ in Broome.

The free weekend of family-friendly events will be hosted by singer-songwriter Naomi Wenitong (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 – having last performed as DanceRites competitors in 2019, the Anangu dancers will bring INMA back to the Forecourt and showcase some of the most ancient dance and songlines from the Central Desert region;
• Mui Mui Bumer Gedlam – the winners of DanceRites 2023, who originally formed near Newcastle on Wonnarua land to connect children living away from their homeland with the traditions of the Torres Strait Islands; and
• Native Pride Productions – led by two-time World Champion Fancy Dancer Larry Yazzie, this group from the United States will make their DanceRites debut, sharing Native American cultural traditions, following performances at past Olympics, The Kennedy Center and the Smithsonian Institute.

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.