| The Sydney Opera House honours our First Nations by fostering a shared sense of belonging for all Australians, and we acknowledge the Gadigal people, traditional custodians of Tubowgule, the land on which the Opera House stands. |
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| Dunghutti dhariiyn duriayi (Dunghutti Figtree Dancers) during the filming of their Dance Rites submission on Dunghutti country. Image credit: BKE PhotographyDownload images here |
| SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE PRESENTSDANCE RITES 2020 |
| “Community, Culture & Country: Why we need Dance Rites”– FBi Radio“Dance Rites 2019 rocks the Sydney Opera House”– The Guardian |
| Event details WhatDance Rites 2020When Heats: Wednesday 11 – Saturday 14 NovemberFinals: Saturday 21 November Where Free to watch live online and available on demand as part of From Our House to Yours |
| Sydney – Thursday 22 October, 2020. The Sydney Opera House will present its sixth annual Dance Rites festival online next month, bringing together 28 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander dance groups in a celebratory digital event with more than 350 performers spanning generations, nations and clan groups. Australia’s annual First Nations dance competition seeks to revitalise vanishing cultural practices and showcase the richness and diversity of First Nations culture. It will be broadcast on the Opera House’s digital channels over four consecutive nights from Wednesday 11 – Saturday 14 November, coinciding with NAIDOC Week. The finals, in partnership with NITV, will air on Saturday 21 November. Sydney Opera House Head of First Nations Programming Rhoda Roberts AO said: “While Dance Rites is coming to you a little differently this year, it has never felt more like a community event. It’s incredible to see groups from every corner of the country rising to the challenge of an online competition and submitting outstanding performances that tell stories of community, connection to land and overcoming adversity. “About 1500 dancers have participated since the festival began in 2015 – and the enthusiasm this year is no exception. We’ve also seen an increase in registrations from groups in remote communities, with many acknowledging the deep cultural significance of performing their dances and songlines on country”. NSW Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and the Arts Don Harwin said: “Though we cannot be together on the Forecourt to celebrate Dance Rites this year, I’m delighted that the Opera House is able to present this significant event online, sharing First Nations cultural heritage on a global stage and enabling communities across the nation to join in this vital cultural exchange”. Dance Rites 2020 will include performances from:Djakapurra Dancers led by Djakapurra Munyarryun, often described as Bangarra’s spirit man and the Songman for the Sydney 2000 Olympics Games;Mornington Island Dance Group, who performed for the opening of the Opera House in 1973;The all-female Dyiraamalang (Wiradjuri for ‘leader’) who came together to reclaim their dance practice and share it with their community; andLuurnpa Dancers led by prominent artist and senior law man Jimmy Tchooga.The broadcast will include two filmed dances from each group: a traditional dance (either a welcome or a farewell) and a ‘wildcard’ dance that may fuse contemporary dance and music with tradition. Groups will be assessed on authenticity, reclamation work, use of costumes and revitalised crafts and cultural materials, along with fusion of language and music. The winning group will receive $20,000, one runner-up will receive $5,000, and $3,000 will go to the highest-scoring ‘wildcard’ dance. The $4,000 Rite of Passage Award acknowledges one group’s outstanding contribution to revitalising cultural knowledge and practices. This year’s competition will be judged by:Daniel Riley, a choreographer, dancer, teacher and producer from the Wiradjuri nation of Western NSW who is a former principal dancer with Bangarra and producer with ILBIJERRI;Katina Olsen, a choreographer who has worked throughout Australia, Canada, UK, USA and Europe with the likes of Bangarra, Sydney Dance Company and Wesley Enoch, hailing from Wakka Wakka and Kombumerri nations;Luke Currie-Richardson, a descendant of the Kuku Yalanji and Djabugay peoples, the Munaldjali Clan of South East Queensland and the Meriam people of the Eastern Torres Strait Islands, who studied dance at NAISDA and the Queensland University of Technology, and has danced with Bangarra; andKirk Page, a Mulanjali man born on unceded country in Tulmur QLD with lineage connected to South East Queensland the Torres Strait Islands and Germany who is a choreographer, dancer and physical theatre practitioner who has worked with Legs on The Wall, the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony, Bangarra and Force Majeure.In 2019, the Opera House became the first major Australian arts institution to announce its commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, which provide a roadmap to address the world’s most pressing challenges by 2030. This is reflected in the Opera House’s fifth Reconciliation Action Plan (2020-2022), which commits to initiatives that will enable our vision for reconciliation – to foster and celebrate a shared sense of belonging for all Australians. For broadcast reminders, sign up here. The Sydney Opera House acknowledges the generous support of Sydney Opera House donors and Major Partner, Energy Australia and Event Partner, Quay Quarter. Additional information for media: Learn more about the participating groups here. Images are available to download here. |
 Jannawi Dance Clan dancing on Darug country.Image credit: Ken Leanfore. Wajaarr Ngaarlu painting up on Gumbaynggirr country. Photo Credit :BKE photography. |
| About Sydney Opera House First Nations programming The Sydney Opera House First Nations program continues the rich traditions of Bennelong Point, formerly known as Tubowgule, which has been a meeting place for the local Gadigal people for tens of thousands of years. Led by the Head of First Nations Programming, Rhoda Roberts AO, the year-round program celebrates the richness of First Nations culture by presenting works that span contemporary issues, retell forgotten stories and revitalise ancient cultural practices that were once outlawed. About Sydney Opera House The Opera House is a masterpiece that belongs to all Australians. It is the nation’s premier tourism destination, a world-class performing arts centre and celebrated community meeting place, welcoming 10.9 million visitors to the site in 2019, including more than 2.1 million performance and tours patrons. A global beacon for creativity, it is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, and Deloitte has estimated its total social asset value to Australia at $6.2 billion. After embarking on a decade of renewal at its 40th anniversary, the Opera House is now more than halfway through a program of major upgrades to ensure this 20th-century icon continues to inspire 21st-century artists, audiences and visitors. |
| Media ContactGeorgia O’Connor Communications Speciliast georgia.oconnor@sydneyoperahouse.com |0432 554 643 Shelley WattersSenior Communications Managerswatters@sydneyoperahouse.com | 0415 901 440 |
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