Registrations are now open for the Sydney Opera House’s national Indigenous dance competition Dance Rites. The third annual competition will be held at the Opera House on Sunday 26 November.
Dance Rites aims to safeguard and revitalise vanishing cultural practices – language, dance, skin markings and instruments – to ensure they are shared from one generation to the next. The competition, with a first prize of $20 000, attracts dance groups from around Australia – many spanning several generations. Dance Rites is the community highlight of the Opera House’s annual celebration of First Nations music, art and culture, Homeground.
Last year’s Dance Rites, which saw more than 180 participants from 12 communities compete, may be viewed in a virtual reality clip Dance Rites 360°. The clip was produced in partnership by the Sydney Opera House and SBS Digital Creative Labs and is free to watch by downloading the SBS VR app.
For information about how to register head to the Sydney Opera House website.
Pictured top: Djaadjawan Dancers at 2016's Homeground.