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DanceRites

19 & 20 October 2024

On the Forecourt

Dance

Join hundreds of performers on the Sydney Opera House Forecourt for this free festival of live dance, music and community that celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

Useful information

Celebrating First Nations dance groups from across the country

DanceRites continues the traditions that have taken place over tens of thousands of years on Bennelong Point, known to its traditional custodians as Tubowgule. 

This year almost 20 dance groups will take to the Sand Circle to perform at Tubowgule, showcasing the richness and diversity of their cultures. Each group will showcase their local storytelling and language in the Cultural Dance and Song cycle, competing in heats on Saturday and finals on Sunday, with many groups also performing an optional ‘Wild Card’ dance to demonstrate their unique style.

Witness the powerful coming together of traditional customs and contemporary culture, as hundreds of First Nations dancers from more than 40 nations and clans across Australia perform on the Forecourt. Both days are free to attend and fun for the whole family.

If you can’t cheer on the dance groups in-person, the events will also be broadcast as a free livestream on Sydney Opera House and NITV channels.

Presented by Sydney Opera House

Watch the trailer

DanceRites hosts and judging panel

Acknowledgements

Global Goals Partner

  • Honeywell

Event Sponsor

  • Harbour Trust

Event Media Partner

The Sydney Opera House thanks Global Goals Partner Honeywell, Event Sponsor Sydney Harbour Federation Trust, Event Media Partner NITV and donors to DanceRites and its Travel Fund for their generous support of DanceRites 2024.

A very special thank you to Yuwaalaraay Wirringgaa artist Lucy Simpson for the creation of our DanceRites artwork.

Plan your visit

DanceRites Deadly Moments

For almost 10 years, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have travelled to Sydney to take part in Sydney Opera House’s various First Nations Festivals and our principal Festival now known as DanceRites.

  • On-demand
  • Dance

Deadly Voices from the House

A podcast that takes intimate interviews with First Nations artists and leaders to the world. Acclaimed presenter, journalist, actor, producer and arts guru Rhoda Roberts AO presents Deadly Voices from the House, recorded live from Sydney Opera House. Featuring a diverse selection of guest appearances from prominent First Nations leaders from the music, arts and culture sector. Deadly Voices from the House provides an important platform to discuss critical issues and explore the vibrancy and diversity of contemporary culture.

  • Podcast
  • Talks and Ideas

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