Performing Arts

Dance Festivals

Term 2 was extremely busy for our Dance Group. We auditioned two items and we were successful in auditions for two different Dance Festivals. These Dance Festivals provide performance opportunities for students in Kindergarten – Year 12 in NSW Public Schools in a professional theatre venue. Students perform dance pieces driven by the outcomes of the dance syllabus that promote dance as an artform. 

This year we performed two contrasting pieces. ‘Playing to Win’ was a chess inspired jazz piece that saw students from mainstream and support come together in an all-inclusive dance and an emotive contemporary piece called ‘Breathless’ which was based on the impacts of deforestation.

During week 7 and 8, the group performed over two days/nights at the Synergy Dance Festival held at Penrith Panthers Leagues Club. We were also lucky enough to watch a show and develop a love for not only performing but appreciating dance as an artform.

During week 9, the group performed both their dances over two nights at the In the Spotlight Dance Festival held at the Seymour Centre in the city.

Extra-curricular activities such as this are so vital in students making connections, building positive relationships, improving a sense of self and wellbeing, develop interests and create opportunities that students may not otherwise experience. I am so immensely proud of what we have achieved in such a short amount of time. Not only have students grown in dance skill, they have grown in areas that will help them succeed in the future such as organisation, planning, time management, resilience and inclusion. 

It is with much sadness that I acknowledge that this was the last Dance Festival for our Year 12’s. Flavia, Karen, Sytori and Jordyn unfortunately missed out on a number of years of performing due to COVID. I hope the participation in all things dance over the last 12 months has made up for lost time. Watching you grow as not only dancers but as humans, has made me so proud. To be able to say I had the privilege of working with you and was able to give you the chance to experience moments like this, is why I do what I do. Although this may have been the last Dance Festival for you, I am hoping there will be other performance opportunities during your final months as a student at JBHS.

To all the dancers (see list below), congratulations on a wonderful term of dance. You have done yourselves, the school and I immensely proud and I look forward to doing it all again. I hope when you look back at your time at school, it is moments like these that deliver fond memories.

A big thank you to the staff who assisted with getting the students on the stage. Ms Pinder, Julie, Mr Roberts and Mr Swindells for your supervision on the days and nights of the dance festival, Ms Hindi for her help with costume alterations, Karl our GA for helping me make some head pieces, Tony for help with all dance technology and to the office staff for help with all things purchasing. Thank you to the staff and parents who came to watch our students shine.

Participating students - Samantha Mu, Leituposa Mu, Shelly DeGabriel, Karen Keomongchoun, Flavia Carvalho, Sytori Noble, Jordyn Dumont, Maricel Jumawan, Diego Martinez Punzo, Jaylyn Munoz, Jazzlyn Munoz, Scarlett Green, Olivia Luketic, Blade Leeding Newby, Karma Leeding Newby, Yousif Khachik, Sam La, Hugo Tran, Mathew Toma, Kelli Newbold,Alan Ravuvu and B.M.

Shining Stars

Shining Stars Dance kicked off at the start of Term 2. Shining Stars is a creative arts program for Kindergarten to Year 12 NSW public school students with a disability. This year JBHS was accepted in to three artforms – Dance, Art and Music. Our dance ensemble participated in four workshops at Ashcroft Public School and our Art students participated in five workshops at Marie Bashir Public School. Students worked with their tutors on projects and items to be performed at the Shining Stars Showcase held in Term 3 at Campbelltown Arts Centre. Our Music Shining Stars will commence their workshops in Term 3.

Our Shining Stars dance ensemble were also lucky enough to perform at the In the Spotlight Dance Festival. Our ensemble comprises of students from Cecil Hills High School, Prairewood High School, Ashcroft Public School, Cartwright Public School and Middleton Grange Public School. Their dance, ‘I Feel Good’ is a spring cleaning inspired themed dance which entertained the audience with their energy, smiles and collaborative moves. This dance will be performed at the Shining Stars showcase at Campbelltown Arts Centre in Term 3 along with the other Shining Stars art forms. Congratulations Karma, Blade, Allan, Hugo and B. for your wonderful performance.

Other notable dance events throughout Term 2 were;

• NRL Indigenous Round performance at Allianz Stadium – Friday 19th May
• Haka Warriors (performance in Term 3)