WA Dance Trip
Late last term our incredible Year 12 Dance students spent a week at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA).
Darwin High School has more Year 12 Dance students than any other school in Australia. This excursion gives students the opportunity to attend performances and participate in workshops with WA Ballet, Co3, WAAPA and Ausdance WA.
The first day of the 2017 WA Dance trip saw Darwin High School senior dance students visit the WA Ballet Company and an in situ performance at St George's Cathedral. On day two students workshoped in the morning with Imanuel 'Manny' Dado
Teacher Sarah Calver said
it was inspiring watching the students take on new information and actively apply it and witnessing committed students take on challenges and working with mentors like Manny who have continued to have a pivotal influence on the dance culture at DHS.
Students were then treated to a sneak peak preview of Joanna Noonan's duo choreography with professional dancers in Studio 1 and in the afternoon to a performance of WAAPA musical, 42nd Street.
On Day Five students took a balanced yoga class with Dawn Jackson, followed by contemporary classes with Rachel Arianne Ogle. Floeur Lucette Alder took students through floor barre. Each class presented DHS students with pivotal insights into further developing themselves as dancers.
Day Six saw students working with the motivational and talented Kynan Hughes and attend a presentation of choreography by the third year WAAPA students. The day ended with some Bollywood fun with Raj from the Temple of Fine Arts.
Day Seven included classes in contemporary dance and ballet, watching solo pieces by second year Advanced Diploma students and finally more Bollywood magic with Raj.
Day Eight of the WA dance trip saw students pushing boundaries with a combined BA and DHS contemporary class with Rachel, then hip hop with the energizing Storm, into a quirky, innovative, uplifting and fun - capital FUN - session with the dynamic and contagiously fun and effervescent Scott. To complete the day the group watched Joanna Noonan work with the BA Dance students and celebrated the end of the week with cheers and laughter.
