Reflection: Primary Performing Arts Mini-Conference
ALISA PORTEOUS AND SUE ARNEY, ASME VICTORIA COUNCIL MEMBERS
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Building Collaborative Pathways in Performing Arts Education:
Building Collaborative Pathways in Performing Arts Education:
The Evolution of the Primary Performing Arts Mini-Conference (PPAMC)
The Evolution of the Primary Performing Arts Mini-Conference (PPAMC)
Introduction
The delivery of Performing Arts education within the Victorian Curriculum 2.0 continues to evolve as schools respond to changing curriculum requirements and the diverse needs of students. As educators seek practical strategies for implementing Music, Dance and Drama programs, professional learning opportunities that foster collaboration across disciplines have become increasingly important. The Primary Performing Arts Mini Conference (PPAMC) emerged as a response to this need, bringing together educators, organisations and practitioners to explore innovative approaches to Performing Arts education and curriculum implementation.
Background
Background
The origins of PPAMC can be traced to an evening webinar presented by ASME Victoria in partnership with Ausdance Victoria, Drama Victoria and the Victorian Department of Education. The webinar arose from a shared recognition that all five Arts disciplines need to be taught and reported on at Levels 3 and 4 of the Victorian Curriculum 2.0. For Performing Arts teachers, a new focus on addressing the requirements of Music, Dance and Drama had seen some teachers being stretched beyond their comfort zones.
Educators across the state were seeking practical support, examples of effective implementation, and opportunities to connect with colleagues facing similar challenges. The strong interest generated by the webinar highlighted a broader need for collaborative professional learning that extended beyond individual arts disciplines. This momentum ultimately led to the development of a dedicated mini conference designed to support teachers in delivering high-quality Performing Arts education.
Planning for the Collaboration
Planning for the Collaboration
The vision for the PPAMC was developed through a collaborative planning process led by an organising committee consisting of Alisa Porteous (ASME Victoria), Elise Brennan (Ausdance Victoria) and Kelly McConville (Drama Victoria), with Jordan Pollard (Ausdance Victoria) later joining the team.
Bringing the event to life required significant planning, consultation and coordination, with preparations extending over the course of nearly a year. The committee worked collaboratively across organisations to develop a professional learning experience that would be practical, engaging and accessible for both specialist and generalist primary teachers.
A significant milestone in the planning process was the support provided by the Victorian Department of Education. Led by Felicity O’Halloran, the Department generously funded attendance fees for government school teachers and covered the cost of Casual Relief Teachers (CRTs) for the day. This support ensured greater accessibility and enabled a broader range of educators from across Victoria to participate in high-quality Performing Arts professional learning.
The conference was hosted in partnership by ASME Victoria, Ausdance Victoria and Drama Victoria, with Dancehouse serving as the venue partner.The mini-conference was designed specifically for Prep to Year 6 educators and focused on strengthening teacher confidence, curriculum understanding and interdisciplinary collaboration within the Performing Arts.
The Initial PPAMC
The Initial PPAMC
Friday 8 May 2026
The inaugural Primary Performing Arts Mini Conference brought together educators from across Victoria for a full day of immersive professional learning centred on Drama, Music, Dance and interdisciplinary Performing Arts practice.
The conference featured four dynamic workshops designed to provide practical, classroom-ready strategies while also encouraging creativity, collaboration and artistic exploration. Supported by Dancehouse, the event hosted 40 teachers from Victorian government and independent primary schools.
The Drama workshop, led by Kelly McConville and Katherine Zachest, explored imaginative and play-based approaches to the Drama curriculum. Through roleplay, improvisation and collaborative storytelling, participants examined how Drama can support student confidence, empathy, creativity and critical thinking while fostering connections to identity, place and belonging.
The Music workshop, presented by Dr Sue Arney on behalf of ASME Victoria, focused on the Elements of Music and the underpinning principles of Victorian Curriculum 2.0: Performing, Listening and Composing, along with practical examples of how to address each of the stands. Participants engaged in practical strategies for teaching songs, incorporating composition into classroom routines, guided listening activities and creative uses of voice and body percussion to support music learning in accessible and engaging ways.
The Dance workshop, led by Jordan Pollard and Dr Katrina Rank from Ausdance Victoria, introduced participants to “GAME PLAY: Imagination in Motion.” Through movement improvisation, character creation and choreographic tasks inspired by virtual and interactive worlds, teachers explored how Dance can support autonomy, teamwork, creativity and embodied learning.
The conference concluded with an interdisciplinary workshop collaboratively facilitated by all three organisations. This session invited participants to explore the powerful connections between Music, Dance and Drama through the co-creation of adaptable classroom units that integrated multiple artforms in meaningful and practical ways by responding to the text and illustrations of Shaun Tan’s book “The Lost Thing”. Each participant received a copy of the book compliments of the Department of Education to support their implementation of the ideas generated on the day.
Beyond the workshops themselves, the conference provided a valuable opportunity for educators to connect with colleagues from diverse school settings, share ideas and reflect on contemporary Performing Arts pedagogy. The collaborative nature of the event reflected a growing recognition that interdisciplinary approaches can strengthen student engagement, deepen creative learning and support authentic curriculum connections.
The structure of the day, from the sung Welcome and Acknowledgement of Country (Dr Sue Arney) through to the final collaborative session reinforced the central goal of the conference; placing creativity, artistic expression and professional collaboration at the centre of primary Performing Arts education.
PPAMC 2.0
PPAMC 2.0
Wednesday 3 June,2026
The response to the PPAMC was overwhelming, with initial places filling up almost immediately and a waiting list building quickly. It was agreed that to address the obvious need of Performing Arts teachers to engage in practical strategies for teaching all three artforms, a second PPAMC be held soon after the first.
As a result, the PPAMC 2.0 took place just one month later at the Department of Education’s Performing Arts Unit in Collingwood, home of the Victorian State School Spectacular! The larger venue allowed two concurrent streams to run, catering for the additional 60 teachers wanting to attend. The structure of the day was repeated, with three discrete disciplinary sessions culminating in an interdisciplinary workshop at the end of the day.
As with the first event, participants received a digital folder with all resources from the day and a copy of Shaun Tan’s book. Participants in both iterations of the PPAMC have been added to a closed, monitored social media group where they continue to network and engage in conversations about implementing the Performing Arts Curriculum.
Another very successful day!
Conclusion
Conclusion
ASME Victoria was so pleased to be involved in this initiative that highlighted the power of partnership, innovation and shared expertise. A huge thank you to all involved, with special acknowledgement of the Department of Education whose funding support made it possible for 100 teachers to access this much needed professional learning in a timely manner.
Click here to watch a short video of the day: PPAMC 2026
Ailsa Porteous and Sue Arney
ASME Victoria Council Members
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