Complete the online application form to apply.

Applications close on Tuesday 14 June 2022 at 5:00pm.

What is the Aboriginal Dance Ensemble

The Schools Spectacular proudly showcases Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students from many areas of NSW. Students will work with high profile Aboriginal performing artists to create the item.

Audition Process

Schools involved in the Aboriginal Dance Ensemble will be selected via an online video audition.

Schools are asked to present a dance or movement sequence that will allow the audition panel to assess students’ movement ability, performance quality and skills in spatial awareness. Schools are also invited to include musical elements in this year’s application.

Items should be no more than 1 minute and 30 seconds in length. The sequence may represent traditional and/or non-traditional Aboriginal Dance or a combination of both. The item may include traditional and/or non-traditional Aboriginal music or a combination of both.

The Schools Spectacular Aboriginal Dance Ensemble is open to students in Years 7-12 from NSW public schools who are from an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander background.

Aboriginal Dance Ensemble groups must be made up of no more than 16 students. It is possible that not all 16 students will be selected. Exact numbers will be notified on acceptance.

It is essential that you submit your online audition video link/s with your application by Monday 6 June 2022 at 5:00pm.

Schools involved in the Aboriginal Dance Ensemble will be selected via an online video audition.

1. Read all details and confirm you are available for all dates.
2. Complete the online form. On your application add your YouTube audition video link.
3. Submit your online application to the Schools Spectacular team.

Key Dates for the Aboriginal Dance Ensemble

Please note: Schools will be notified of exact details if successful.

Cost

The costume and prop fee will be $80.

Costume costs will be direct debited from your school. Students will need to pay the costume fee directly to their school once they are notified of their acceptance in to the production. We will advise the exact cost at a later date.

Audition Tips

• Please do not submit a video of the students in a performance (such as a school performance/presentation night or dance festival). Audition videos should be filmed in a school hall or dance classroom with normal room lighting.

• Where possible, students should be dressed in form-fitting dance clothes – not school uniform or sports uniform.

• Where possible, students should either dance in bare feet or be wearing proper dance shoes or sneakers – not dancing in school shoes.

• It is beneficial for the panel to see dancers in groups doing both a standing sequence as well as a travelling sequence.

• It is important that all students are able to be viewed in the video. Students should be rotated during the audition item so that all students are in the foreground at some stage during the video.

• Please film your video in a room that has the window or doorway covered so that light from outside doesn’t interfere with the quality of the video.

• Please film your video in landscape mode.

For more audition tips, visit The Arts Unit website.

Supervision

• All students at the Schools Spectacular must be supervised by a teacher at all times.

• Schools must provide a supervising teacher for the following categories: Combined Dance, Combined Choir, Specialist Ensembles, Aboriginal Dance Ensemble, Combined Drama Ensemble and D’Arts Ensemble students.

• Each group will require their own supervising teacher even if they are from the same school.

• Relief for supervising teachers is the responsibility of the school.

• Teachers are encouraged to provide active supervision at all times and support the production team during rehearsals and show week.

How to upload a video to YouTube

• Ensure your video on YouTube is marked as ‘unlisted’. 
• Please check that your video URL works before submitting it with your application. Video links that cannot be viewed by the panel cannot be considered.

How to upload a video to YouTube