Sydney Eisteddfod’s annual Primary School Dance Day lit up the Sydney Opera House on Sunday 24 August with a vibrant display of talent and community spirit. Across nine events, 150 primary school groups and 3165 dancers filled the stage, celebrating creativity and teamwork through movement.
Among the highlights was the much-anticipated return of the Boys Dance Group section, designed specifically to encourage and support young male dancers. This year, nine all-boys groups competed, with many more boys and boys groups taking part in mixed events. Overall, well over 200 boys took to the stage through the course of the day.
General Manager Heather Campbell said, “Sydney Eisteddfod is committed to creating opportunities for all dancers, and the return of the Primary School Boys Dance Group event is a wonderful way to encourage boys to experience the joy of performance. We were thrilled to see so many young men take to the stage and showcase the strength, energy, and camaraderie they bring to dance.”
The Scots College was particularly well represented, with two groups in the Boys Dance Group section, one in the Musical Theatre Group, and another three groups in the Jazz Group events. Their students spoke with infectious excitement. One captain said he was looking forward to a great performance and for his team to have fun, while another boy explained that dance gave him a way to express his feelings with his mates and that “boys like to dance too.” One student was eager to see the other groups perform, curious about the different styles and costumes, while another said the best part of the day was the "roar of the crowd when something amazing happened." Together they shouted “Boys Dance” for the cameras, capturing the spirit of the event.
The Boys Dance Group event was not only a wonderful opportunity for these young men to perform at the Sydney Opera House, it also marked an important step in shifting perceptions. Australia has always celebrated its dance talent, yet male dancers have often faced a shortage of peers and the weight of historical prejudice. Watching boys from schools across Sydney take to the stage with such confidence and camaraderie was a timely reminder of how vital inclusivity is to the future of the art form.