Festival week
Festival week
Embedded Files
Rehearsal organisation
Rehearsal organisation
Each item will be allocated a rehearsal time. Please arrive 45 minutes before your allocated time, and allow a minimum of 1.5 hours from arrival time until departure.
Arrival is by the stage door only. After registration, staff and students will be escorted to the dressing rooms by a committee member to prepare for their rehearsal. Students are to arrive ready to rehearse in full costume including hair and make-up, covered with a tracksuit or dance uniforms. All required props must be used during the technical rehearsal.
Rehearsal time will be at the discretion of the festival coordinator. This rehearsal is primarily to establish lighting requirements. Please note that rehearsals may run over time. It is important that you adhere to your rehearsal times. If you are late, your rehearsal time may be shortened. For all rehearsals and performances at the IPAC, students enter stage left (prompt) and exit stage right (opposite prompt).
Social media
Social media
Please refer to the NSW Department of Education's social media policy, before posting to your school's social media platforms.
Photography
Photography
A professional photographer will take portrait and stage photos during the Festival. Supervising staff and volunteers are not permitted to take photos or videos during their groups photographic session.
Please note - that any students without permission to publish or be photographed MUST be managed accordingly by the school and supervising staff.
RG Photography Pty Ltd are the official photographer for the South Coast Dance Festival. All official images from the South Coast Dance Festival 2025 will be available from www.rgphotography.com.au
In 2026, on completion of the festival, all schools with students without permission to publish will be sent a Google Drive link of stage photos taken during the festival. It is the school's responsibility to remove any photos of students without permission to publish within 1 week of receiving the email.
Photography and videography by the viewing public is strictly prohibited due to child protection and copyright regulations - please ensure parents and caregivers are made aware of this regulation.
Students are not permitted to film or photograph within the theatre or dressing rooms during the Festival.
Teachers, please be mindful of other schools, when photographing or videoing your students.
Festival item video
Festival item video
Due to the high cost of a professional videographer, there will be no video available. Teachers will have the opportunity to video their own item during the closed performance. Schools who are nominating for State Dance Festival, will be responsible for filming their own item either at school or during the closed performances.
Dressing rooms
Dressing rooms
Dressing room spaces will be clearly allocated to each school. Tidiness, patience and tolerance should be shown towards all performers and their teachers. Water is permitted in the dressing rooms however no food should be consumed.
In line with safe working practices, all dressing rooms should be cleaned on arrival and departure.
Due to the limited space in dressing rooms, all students must arrive in costume with hair and make up done. In line with safe working practice, all corridors must be kept clear of students, staff and equipment.
Supervision
Supervision
A maximum of three teachers, volunteers and adult helpers can accompany a school group. If any additional supervisors are required, please see prior approval from the Backstage Manager prior to Festival Week.
In line with DoE guidelines, schools must adhere to a ration of 1:20 for supervision requirements. Two staff members must be in attendance for each primary school item during technical rehearsals.
Principals are to certify that all supervising staff have current WWCC and mandatory training. All volunteers and/or parent helpers assisting backstage during the festival must have a current WWCC.
Form 7: Student list, publicity consent and show week supervisor details
Conditions of entry
Conditions of entry
Dance groups must be supervised at all times in the IPAC, including the dressing rooms. The backstage door will open 30 minutes before each show starts. It is the teacher's responsibility to gather the entire group of students together at the stage door before you ring the door bell to enter the backstage area.
Once your dance group is taken to the dressing room, they are to remain there until a committee member arrives to escort them to line up at the door that leads to the wings or side stage. No students are allowed outside their dressing room. They are required to stay in their dressing room with the supervising staff.
The door to the stage is a one-way entry only. Staff on the prompt side are to cross the stage during blackout as the students exit. The person who crosses the stage must wear dark clothing and footwear so they are not seen during the blackout.
Once students have performed, staff are required to return to the dressing rooms with them. At the conclusion of the show, a committee member will escort the group out of the IPAC via the stage door.
If parents need to locate or get a message to a person backstage, they must notify the committee member at stage door and they will assist them. Please note for safety and security reasons, only performers and authorised crew will be able to access the backstage area.
Please inform students to bring as little with them as possible. We recommend that performers bring no values and keep their baggage to a minimum. It is the supervising teacher's responsibility to ensure that students obey the rules and guidelines.
Backstage arrival and performance times
Backstage arrival and performance times
Theatre etiquette
Theatre etiquette
All students must observe the rules of the theatre. Students are not to meet or wait inside the theatre or use the foyer area as a waiting or dressing area. Students must not wear their costume in the foyer area. Students who are arriving dressed and ready to perform should go straight to the backstage door.
Out of respect for the choreographers and performers in the show, please advise parents to stay for the duration of the show.
Friday closed performances
Friday closed performances
Students will have the opportunity to perform in a Closed Performance on Friday 29 May. It is a free performance and an opportunity for professional development for all teachers involved in the Festival. Teachers are invited to watch both Closed Performances as part of their professional development.
Please indicate to the backstage manager via email if you would be interested in attending both closed performances. Please adhere to theatre etiquette at all times to support schools who require videoing of their item.
Friday closed performance (A) - Arrival at 8:00 am
Friday closed performance (B) - Arrival at 11:30 pm
NSW Public Schools State Dance Festival
NSW Public Schools State Dance Festival
In 2026, State Dance Festival will take place from Monday 14 - Friday to 18 September in the Seymour Centre, Sydney, showcasing choreographed dance works from NSW public school students. Encompassing different dance styles, items explore the art of dance to achieve high-quality and engaging performances reflecting the diversity of learners across NSW. Items are underpinned by creativity, safe dance practice, technique, confidence, cooperation and respect for one another.
The State Dance Festival provides schools with the experience of performing in a professional performance space, supported by a professional theatrical production. During the festival, schools can engage in student dance workshops and teacher professional learning.
Featuring students from Kindergarten to Year 12, each performance will display the passion, skills and creativity of students and teachers as they explore the art of dance.
Detailed information concerning the 2026 NSW Public Schools State Dance Festival will be posted on the Arts Unit Site in Term 2.
https://artsunit.nsw.edu.au/program/nsw-public-schools-state-dance-festival
Further information including nomination guidelines for all school items may be found there.
Enquiries can be directed to Joanne King -
Dance Performance Officer at The Arts Unit via phone - 02 8512 1179 or email Joanne.Gilmour2@det.nsw.edu.au
South Coast Dance Festival
https://artsunit.nsw.edu.au/local-arts-programs/south-coast-dance-festival
Third party content attributions
Third party content attributions
Images 1, 2 and 3 - RG Photography
Image 4 - South Coast Dance Festival Committee
Image 5- Merrigong Theatre Company
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