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Join the Western NSW Secondary Aboriginal Dance Ensemble
Join the Western NSW Secondary Aboriginal Dance Ensemble
Take your dancing to the next level!
Take your dancing to the next level!
Are you a passionate and skilled dancer looking for an opportunity to increase your technique, creativity, and performance quality skills?
The NSW Public Schools Western NSW Secondary Aboriginal Dance Ensemble is an elite performance experience where students are immersed in advanced choreography, professional rehearsal environments, and the collaborative creative process of developing an exceptional contemporary dance work.
Open to students in Years 7 to 12 from NSW Public Schools across Western NSW.
Why join the ensemble?
Why join the ensemble?
⭐ Advanced Training and Technique Development: Take your dancing to the next level with specialist choreographers and educators who will challenge and inspire you. Develop refined musicality, dynamic control, spatial awareness, and expressive artistry, skills that go far beyond what’s typically explored in a school setting.
⭐ Collaboration with like-minded dancers: Connect and create with other passionate young dancers from across Western NSW. Together, you’ll build trust, teamwork, and creativity, essential qualities that shape every outstanding performer.
⭐ Performance Opportunities: Feel the thrill of the stage as you perform in a high-calibre production at the Bathurst and Dubbo Western NSW Dance Festivals, with the chance to audition for the State Dance Festival, one of NSW’s most prestigious dance events.
⭐ Confidence and stage presence: Learn how to captivate audiences with confidence and authenticity. Develop your stagecraft, express yourself fearlessly through movement, and experience the power of performing as part of a united, expressive ensemble.
⭐ Pathway to Future Opportunities: The Western NSW Secondary Aboriginal Dance Ensemble is your springboard into the next level of dance, whether you’re aspiring to study dance further or pursue professional performance opportunities. The experience you gain here will set you apart as a skilled and confident artist.
If you are ready to challenge yourself, grow as a dancer, and be part of something extraordinary, apply now to audition for the Western NSW Secondary Aboriginal Dance Ensemble!
Enquiries
Enquiries
Please contact Alison Buckley
Arts Coordination Officer - Western NSW should you have any further questions or concerns:
E: alison.m.hall@det.nsw.edu.au
P: 0408 967 712
Important information and how to get involved
Important information and how to get involved
How to apply
How to apply
Interested students must have a parent or carer complete the Western NSW Secondary Aboriginal Dance Ensemble application form
by Friday 20 February 2026 (Term 1 Week 4).
After applications close, school principals will be contacted to endorse the participation of nominated students.
All applicants will be invited to attend the audition rehearsal
Wednesday 25 February (Term 1 Week 5) - 9:30 am to 2:00 pm - Venue TBA (Wellington NSW)
Following this rehearsal, the choreographers will nominate students for selection into the 2026 Western NSW Senior Musical Theatre Ensemble.
Only selected ensemble members will be required to attend all subsequent rehearsals and performances.
Students will be notified of their selection by Friday 20 March 2026 (Term 1 Week 8).
Cost
Cost
A $50 participation fee is required for each student selected into the Ensemble. This fee will cover tuition, ensemble t-shirt, and costume.
Students who attend only the first rehearsal will not be required to pay.
Students will be required to pay this fee to their school upon acceptance into the Ensemble, and schools will be debited for student participation. Payment will be due by Friday 8 May 2026 (Term 2 Week 3).
Please advise the school that you are paying for Western NSW Secondary Aboriginal Dance Ensemble 2026 when making payment.
Students may also be asked to supply accessories to go with their costume.
Workshop rehearsal dates
Workshop rehearsal dates
Ensemble members must be available for all of the following workshop rehearsal days:
Thursday 14 May (Term 2 Week 4) - 9:30 am to 2:00 pm (2-day comprehensive workshop)
Friday 15 May (Term 2 Week 4) - 9:30 am to 2:00 pm (2-day comprehensive workshop)
Host venue for rehearsals: Wellington High School. Whiteley Street, Wellington NSW 2820
telephone
State Dance Festival rehearsal date (if selected): Thursday 11 September (Term 3 Week 8)
Students must commit to the Ensemble and attend all scheduled rehearsals for the entire length of time.
Students will be supervised by Department of Education staff at all times.
What to wear to auditions and rehearsals
What to wear to auditions and rehearsals
Students should wear either dancewear (leotard and shorts) or their school sports uniform to all rehearsals. Bare midriffs and tops with large logos are not permitted. Dancers may wear jazz shoes or dance barefoot as preferred.
Western NSW Dance Festival
Western NSW Dance Festival
Students in the Ensemble will also need to be available to perform at the following:
Western NSW Dance Festival - Dubbo Showcase on Monday 25 or Tuesday 26 May 2026 (Term 2 Week 6)
Please note that students will only be required for the Western NSW Senior Aboriginal Dance Ensemble for one of the above dates, TBA.
Rehearsal on the designated date TBA - 9:30 am to 2:00 pm - at Dubbo Regional Theatre and Convention Centre
Western NSW Dance Festival - Bathurst Showcase on Tuesday 16 or Wednesday 17 June 2026 (Term 2 Week 9)
Please note that students will only be required for the Western NSW Senior Aboriginal Dance Ensemble for one of the above dates, TBA.
Rehearsal on the designated date TBA - 12:30 pm to 3:00 pm - at Bathurst Memorial Ent Centre
Please note, the Dubbo Showcase is a new and exciting addition to the Western NSW Dance Festival and will allow the ensemble (especially those from the Dubbo region) to showcase their talents to the broader Western NSW community.
Ensemble members may also perform with their school in a school item at either of the festival showcases, if applicable.
Choreographer - Jo Clancy Wiradjuri woman Jo Clancy is a First Nations choreographer, dancer, and mentor with a career spanning over three decades. Founder of Wagana, she has created works for international festivals including Glasgow, Copenhagen, and Hawaii, and is currently Head of Cultural Practice at NAISDA. As the Western Choreographer for the Western NSW Secondary Aboriginal Dance Ensemble, Jo brings her community-focused, spiritually grounded practice to inspire young dancers and celebrate Aboriginal culture through movement.
Choreographer - Jo Clancy Wiradjuri woman Jo Clancy is a First Nations choreographer, dancer, and mentor with a career spanning over three decades. Founder of Wagana, she has created works for international festivals including Glasgow, Copenhagen, and Hawaii, and is currently Head of Cultural Practice at NAISDA. As the Western Choreographer for the Western NSW Secondary Aboriginal Dance Ensemble, Jo brings her community-focused, spiritually grounded practice to inspire young dancers and celebrate Aboriginal culture through movement.
State Dance Festival
State Dance Festival
The Western NSW Secondary Aboriginal Dance Ensemble will submit a nomination to perform at the State Dance Festival, held at the Seymour Centre in Term 3 Week 9 (14 to 18 September 2026). If selected, the ensemble will perform on one night of the festival, representing the incredible talent and dedication of dancers from across Regional and Rural South and West.
The State Dance Festival brings together the best student ensembles from across the state to perform in a professionally produced showcase. This is an extraordinary opportunity for our young regional dancers to:
Perform on a professional stage in front of a state-wide audience
Represent and celebrate regional and rural excellence in dance
Connect with top student performers from across NSW
Be part of a high-calibre festival known for its artistic and technical excellence
Being selected for the State Dance Festival is a remarkable achievement, providing dancers with invaluable experience, confidence, and exposure. The Western NSW Senior Aboriginal Dance Ensemble will be proud to stand alongside some of the best young performers in the state, showcasing the power of regional and rural talent.
If selected, an additional rehearsal will be scheduled in the lead-up to the festival.
Third-party content attributions
Third-party content attributions
Photography by Hatch Media.
Western NSW Senior Dance Ensemble
artsunit.nsw.edu.au/local-arts-program/western-nsw-senior-dance-ensemble
Western NSW Dance Festival
artsunit.nsw.edu.au/local-arts-programs/western-nsw-dance-festival
The Arts Unit
artsunit.nsw.edu.au
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