Novocastrians Embrace Artistic Immersion at New Annual Festival

City of Newcastle is offering locals the chance to dive headfirst into this year’s New Annual Festival, with hands-on experiences and opportunities to engage with world-class performances.

In preparation for the festival, 15 local dancers participated in a professional masterclass yesterday, led by members of the acclaimed Dancenorth Australia ensemble. This workshop, aimed at honing the dancers’ skills, precedes the ensemble’s much-anticipated performance at the Civic Theatre later this week.

Adrian Burnett, New Annual’s Senior Producer and Curator, highlighted the festival’s focus on community involvement, building on previous successful collaborations.

“Last year’s Noise performance, which brought together 60 local drummers alongside Dancenorth’s dancers, became a cornerstone for this year’s approach. We wanted to expand on that sense of community and participation,” Mr Burnett explained.

“From the masterclasses with Dancenorth to interactive events like the Truth to Power Café and the hands-on Scrub Club at Megan Cope’s Ngumpi Kinyingarra Oyster House, we’re giving Novocastrians a chance to actively participate in the festival.”

Dancenorth’s Associate Artistic Director Amber Haines shared the importance of their workshops in bringing people together through movement.

“Wayfinder, our upcoming performance, is about rediscovering connection, joy, and optimism. These dance workshops offer a chance to experience that on a physical level,” said Ms Haines.

“While we’d love to see participants at our show, it’s just as rewarding to connect with the community through shared dance experiences.”

The New Annual Festival will run from 27 September to 6 October, blending dance, music, circus, visual arts, and theatre in a unique celebration of creativity. Dancenorth’s Wayfinder performance is scheduled for Friday, 27 September at the Civic Theatre. Tickets are available now via the New Annual website.

For more details on the full festival line-up, visit newannual.com.