02 Dec 2024
After almost a year of preparation, our ALEC girls took to the stage in front of a crowd of 10 000 for the 2024 School Spectacular.
The seven girls (Danika Broome, Jada Dickens and Yalarah Simpson from MRHS – Griffith and Armani Coe, Thalia Singh, Ruby Gullifer and Leteischa Billing from MRHS - Wade) set off Sunday 24 November for the adventure of a lifetime only to return a week later changed people.
The rehearsal schedule was gruelling, with Bangarra running the students through the routine from 9am to 6pm in the lead up to the performance. The days of the performance were even longer, with the girls entering the arena at 9am and leaving at 11pm.
The students had primed themselves for the Spectacular in the year leading up to the event, having auditioned for the troupe in Term 1. They then had to complete regular rehearsals via video chat throughout Term 2 and 3 before meeting the rest of the dancers in the week before the show.
The girls joined some 80 dancers from 28 NSW Schools for the Spectacular. The piece, titled Yirimi Gundir, was put together by the Bangarra Dance Company Rekindling program. It was directed by Sidney Saltner and Sani Townson. Amy De Paola choreographed the dance and Fred Leone performed the music.
Yirimi Gundir tells the story of three animals a young person will see before they are old enough to go into the bush by themselves: the guruman (kangaroo), the budjar (eagle) and the ngurunj (emu). The performance brought the song cycle to life through vibrant costumes, cutting edge stagecraft and a mix of both modern and traditional choreography.
“The friendships our kids made with students from other schools throughout rehearsal will last a lifetime,” exclaims Allison Stewart, head teacher of ALEC, “And working with the legendary Bangarra Dance Theatre was an incredible opportunity for them.”
“But the experience of walking out on stage,” Mrs Stewart continues, “With an audience of 10 000 people screaming for them will likely never happen for these girls again.”
The girls will be able to relive this once in a lifetime performance when it is broadcast on Channel Seven on 14 December. Be sure to check the tv guide closer to the air date.
Well done to our students and a huge thank you to staff members Allison Stewart and Khloe Favero for their Herculean effort feeding and looking after our dancers and to Ken Townsing for his masterful abilities behind the wheel of the bus.
