St John Paul College II explores the impact of social media in their performance. Photo: Art Atelier Photography.
Each year, hundreds of secondary school students participate in the Youth Dance Festival produced by Ausdance ACT. Affectionately known as ‘Dance Fest’, this highly anticipated event provides young people in the region an opportunity to perform on stage in a professional theatre.
In recent years, Ausdance ACT Director Dr Cathy Adamek has offered the young dancers a provocation to theme their work around. This year she asks: is dance a source of entertainment, just a pretty distraction and display of physical feats? Or can art and dance be a powerful vehicle for social change? Can it be both?
Melrose High student Sam explained that the theme is based on the phrase “let them have bread and circuses and they will never revolt” by the Roman poet Juvenal.
“The phrase is often used in a political context and refers to the act of pacifying the public by providing them with their bare necessities and entertainment, or bread and circuses.”
“For us, dance is both entertainment and a way to convey powerful messages and we decided to compare this concept to the idea of embracing our femininity and demonstrating our strength and individuality as women.”
Other students are looking to social media in their interpretation of the theme.
“In Roman times, people were distracted by food and entertainment – bread and circuses,” said Tristan from St John Paul II College.
“In the modern era, people are increasingly distracted by social media. Our dance work explores society’s relationship with social media. As members of society, we realise that what is posted online is often just an illusion and distracts us from reality.”
Melrose High School’s performance proves how insightful students can be. Photo: Art Atelier Photography.
“The teachers and students are really tapping into the theme,” Dr Adamek said.
“It isn’t difficult for them to relate to these concepts. All these young dancers are used to using their bodies to express and if they are not, this [Dance Fest] is an opportunity for them to begin using dance and embodiment to express ideas, emotions and concepts.”
As part of the production process, Ausdance ACT coordinates a team of professional dance artists to visit schools, offering support to students in the development of their own work.
“Dance Fest is student-led, which means that the entire process of choreographing, teaching and performing is a group effort,” Sam said.
“Like any group project, it takes effort to collaborate and after weeks of working together the reward is a wonderful performance that everyone is proud of.
“Getting to see other schools’ different interpretations of the theme and the resulting pieces serves as inspiration for future choreography.”
Tristan agreed: “It’s been a really good experience all round, and we haven’t even performed yet.
“I’ve really enjoyed getting a better idea about some of those aspects of a performance that I’m not often involved with, such as editing the music. I also like seeing our dancers having fun during rehearsals, and encouraging each other… we’ve got a great vibe going on.”
“But, as a dancer, there’s nothing I love more than performing, so I am going to say that dancing on stage at Canberra Theatre will be the highlight of Dance Fest for me!”
ACT Youth Dance Festival is on 18 and 19 October at 7:30 pm at Canberra Theatre. Tickets are $38 and can be booked online. Buy tickets and find out more on the website.
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