2025 Dance Showcase – A Magical Weekend
Once Upon a Time – Celebrating the Success of Our Dancers and Crew
What a magical weekend it has been for our talented dancers, marking a spectacular end to Term 3 for our co-curricular and elective dance students. Over Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 September, more than 300 students from Year 3 to Year 12 took to the stage at NIDA’s Parade Theatre for the annual MLC School Dance Showcase, and what a performance it was. This year marked our first ever double show, giving every dancer the opportunity to shine and allowing our audiences to experience the full breadth of creativity and storytelling on display.
This year’s showcase, Once Upon a Time, invited audiences into a world of imagination and movement, inspired by the powerful messages found in children’s literature. Through dance, our students explored how stories shape character and identity, unlocking the deeper narratives hidden within the pages of a storybook. Their personal insights and creative interpretations added layers of authenticity and emotional depth to each performance.
With over 500 enrolments across 27 weekly classes in our Pre-Kindergarten to Year 12 co-curricular dance program, the showcase is a true celebration of the passion, creativity, and commitment of our dancers. Backstage, our invaluable Year 11 VET Entertainment students, led by 2025 Crew Captain Tiana Robinson (Year 12) worked tirelessly to manage scene changes, costume transitions, and technical operations. Their professionalism and teamwork ensured the seamless execution of the show.
Our dancers were proudly led by 2025 Dance Captain Erin Clowes, (Year 12) whose encouragement and leadership throughout rehearsals helped foster a supportive and unified performance culture. The showcase also reflects the strength of our ongoing partnership with NIDA, which continues to provide our students with a professional venue and our VET Entertainment students with hands-on work placement opportunities, mentored by industry professionals.
I extend my heartfelt thanks to our dedicated Co-curricular Dance team, Jess Dyson (Assistant Dance Coordinator), Kate Drady, Dance, Drama and Entertainment (DDE) Teacher, Alisha Vigna, DDE Teacher, and Dance Tutors, Afamia Moussa (2019), Claudia Willimann, Ivy Brasher, (2023), Jorja Papantoniou (2023), Madison Clemens (2022), and Maya Simpson (2021). Your creativity, care, and tireless investment in our students make this program truly special. Thank you for nurturing a space where every dancer feels seen, supported, and inspired.
A sincere thank you also goes to Lisa Jinga, Head of Department – DDE, Director of Experiential Learning, Sarah Jauncey, and the entire DDE Department for their unwavering support. Your behind-the-scenes contributions have been vital to the success of this production.
To our supervising staff, thank you for your time and care over the weekend. And to our parents and carers, your support in getting the girls to rehearsals and performances is deeply appreciated. You are an essential part of this journey.
We hope you enjoyed an evening that celebrated the transformative power of storytelling and showcased the incredible talent of our dancers. Once Upon a Time was more than a performance. It was a celebration of creativity, connection, and the joy of movement.
– Jenna Skepper
Drama, Dance and Entertainment (DDE) Teacher
Dance Co-ordinator
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Photos by WinkiPopMedia
