The Competition
Dance Rites 2019
Join us for the heats and finals of the Dance Rites competition as hundreds of the greatest First Nations dancers from around Australia come together to share their cultural knowledge and compete to win!
Groups representing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island nations from across the country will present three dances: a welcome and a farewell dance - one of which must include a chant in local language – and a ‘wildcard’ dance of the group’s choosing.The groups will be judged by our expert panel with the top 8 performances moving on to the Finals on Sunday evening.
On the Forecourt
Discover the Competitors
Docker River Maruku Mob
Nation: Pitjantjantjara
Location: On the border of Northern Territory and Western Australia|
Dyiraamalang
Location: New South Wales
Gracie’s Grannies
Location: Western Sydney
Meaning: In honour of Nanna Grace, the Muruwari matriarch
Jannawi Dance Clan
Nation: Darug
Meaning: ‘With me, with you’
Kawadji Wimpa Dance Group
Location: Lockhart River, east coast of Cape York
Meaning: ‘Sandbeach’
Kurruru & Iwiri Dance
Nation: Pitjantjatjara
Location: APY Lands
Meaning: ‘Circle’
Mutitjulu Maruku Mob
Nation: Pitjantjantjara
Location: Central Deserts
Of Desert and Sea
Nation: Kaurna, Ngarrindjeri, Narungga, Yarliyandi, Adnyamathanha, Yankunytjatjara
Location: South Australia
Rina Dancers
Nation: Lutruwita
Location: Tasmania
Swan Hill Aboriginal Dance Group
Nation: Wemba Wemba
Location: North Western Victoria and South Western New South Wales
Tiwi Sistergirls
Location: Tiwi Islands, Northern Territory
URAB Dancers
Nation: Kulkalgal
Location: Poruma Island, Central Torres Strait
Wagana
Nation: Wiradjuri
Location: Blue Mountains, Central West, NSW
Wati Kutjungka Men
Nation: Kukatja, Jaru, Walpirri, Nyardi
Location: Tanami Desert in Balgo, Western Australia
Yiiliwiyay-gurra Yuludarla-biin
Nation: Gumbaynggirr
Location: Mid-North Coast of NSW
Meaning: ‘Dances the stories’
Find out more on each competitor in our Guide to Dance Rites
DANCE RITES
A CELEBRATION OF FIRST NATIONS DANCE
Witness the powerful coming together of traditional customs and contemporary culture, with hundreds of First Nations dancers from around Australia and performers from around the world.
Join us on the forecourt, a First Nations meeting place for thousands of years, to share in this free festival of live dance, music and community.
Frequently Asked Questions
More Dance Rites...
Dance Rites 2019 Acknowledgements
A very special thank you to Yuwaalaraay artist Lucy Simpson for the creation of the 2019 Dance Rites artwork.
Thank you to our donors for their commitment and ongoing generosity to the Dance Rites Travel Fund.
* Founding Dance Rites Donor
~ Sydney Opera House Idealist
Help open the House to children with a disability
The Opera House is a not-for-profit organisation.