Registrations are now open for Dance Rites, a new dance competition that aims to reinvigorate aspects of Indigenous culture through the reclamation of age-old song-lines, stories and dance practices. Dance Rites will be held on Sunday 22 November 2015 on the Western Broadwalk at Sydney Opera House. Registrations are now open and will close on Sunday 6 September.
The competition is open to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across Australia who have, or would like to develop a dance group. The winner will receive $15,000 and the opportunity to perform at Homeground at Sydney Opera House in 2016, an annual celebration of First Nation music, dance and culture attended by more 10,000 people. One runner-up will receive $5,000 in prize money.
Each group will present three dances – a welcome and farewell dance, one of which must include a chant in local language, and a third ‘wildcard’ dance of the group’s choosing.
For more information, head to the the Sydney Opera House website: www.sydneyoperahouse.com/Dancerites