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
Dance Rites Judging Panel
Meet the incredible Australian creatives who make up the judging panel of Dance Rites 2019.
Find out more on each competitor in our Guide to Dance Rites
A guide to Dance Rites
Your handbook for the song and dance of Australia's ancient cultures
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
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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