Grand Avenue State School impressed the judges at the annual Wakakirri, Australia’s largest performing arts festival for schools. The students won Best Diversity Story with their original, inspirational and well-executed dance routine.
The Wakakirri Head Panel said Grand Avenue State School‘s story-dance had “great performance energy balanced with moments of focus and stillness, to create effective dramatisation.” The routine was commended for its “excellent opening scenes to establish character, context,” and the dancers had “lovely expressive skills.”
The primary school’s presentation also had a fantastic story and a great soundtrack to deliver a strong emotional message: “Whether your disability is invisible like autism, or visible like a wheelchair, everyone needs to be valued for their differences, not seen as less.”
Established 28 years ago, the Wakakirri Challenge traditionally takes place in professional theatres across the country. However, the 2020 festival was restructured into an online-only format due to Covid-19 restrictions.
“In a year like this one, it’s incredible that students and teachers have created such solid stories and performances. Despite all of the unexpected obstacles this year, these Story-Dances are every bit as moving and inspiring as the ones performed in theatres at previous Wakakirri Festivals,” Kat Hoyos of the panel said.
Wakakirri helps the students develop their skills, wellbeing and confidence by participating in performing arts. Every year, schools across the country spend months on their routines to covet that prestigious National Story of the Year Award.
For more about this year’s winners, visit the Wakakirri official site.
Meanwhile, the Wakakirri has opened for 2021’s competition. Details are in the video below: