First Nations dance competition kicks off this weekend

ABC NEWS (Australia)

'Dance rites' is making a grand comeback at the Sydney Opera House, with Head of First Nations Programming Michael Hutchings expecting thousands of spectators despite wet conditions in Sydney.

Transcript

00:00 We have dance groups coming from all over the country from up to Torres Strait, Queensland,

00:07 WA, SA, Victoria and New South Wales. So it's really exciting.

00:11 And it's not just a festival, it is a competition. So people will be putting their best foot

00:16 forward this weekend in every sense. So just how tough will it be for the judges to select

00:22 the winners this weekend?

00:23 Oh look, it's going to be tough because the competition's important but more importantly

00:27 it's about community and generational exchange. And we have five judges from, expert First

00:34 Nations dance judges from around the country as well. So they have the toughest job of

00:38 the weekend I would say.

00:39 Yeah, but audiences love this don't they?

00:42 Yeah, yeah. Look we will get thousands of people with or without the rain so it's going

00:46 to be fantastic.

00:47 Yeah, and like elders and kids come along as well with family groups. And you know it

00:52 has been a pretty tough year for our mobs in the referendum year. But we can see so

00:57 much resilience can't we in art and culture and how important is it?

01:00 Well I think what's great about dance rights is it's not only a celebration, it's also

01:05 a sign of solidarity amongst First Nations people and communities. And yeah, it really

01:12 brings forward the idea of resilience I think.

01:16 And have you got a particular favourite this weekend?

01:17 I'm not allowed to have a favourite. But I'll probably have a favourite at the end of the

01:22 weekend I'm sure.

01:23 Yeah, well thanks so much Michael for joining us.

01:26 Thank you.

01:27 And you can get down this weekend, it's free. Come down to the Sydney Opera House Forecourt

01:32 for this fantastic festival, Dance Rights.

01:34 [BLANK_AUDIO]

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