By Jessica Anstice
Wakakirri’s 2018 performance season is in full swing, with 235 schools and thousands of primary and secondary students taking to the stage at professional theatres across Australia to perform Story Dances that reflect their thoughts, ideas and aspirations through dance and drama.
Pearcedale Primary School has won the Best Environmental Story Award for their dramatic Story Dance production which tells the true story of six endangered red pandas that were taken from their natural environment in the Himalayan forest by poachers, and caught by border authorities in January of this year.
Devon Meadows Primary School is very lucky to be going to the awards night at the Palais for Wakakirri.
“When the students were told they made it through to the State Finals and that we had received many awards at the performance night at Frankston including Best Health and Wellbeing Story Award and Best Teamwork, they were all very excited and we almost had tears from a few of them,” Devon Meadows Primary School staff member Staci Malberg said.
“It puts smiles on the teacher’s faces to see how excited they are to be participating in the finals, all their hard work has paid off.
“We rehearse every Wednesday and have been since April, the dedication and commitment from all the students has been amazing.”
In Victoria primary and secondary schools from all over the state performed at over ten shows at the Frankston Arts Centre, Clocktower Centre and Ulumbarra Theatre.
Students walked the red carpet with VIPs including Alex Papps, Chris Horsey and James Elmer from Wakakirri’s National Panel.
Ten award-winning primary schools have been selected to perform at the Victoria Region Primary Awards Night at The Palais on 12 September, the top performance will be nominated for the national Story of the Year Award decided by Wakakirri’s ‘National Panel’.
Students are telling powerful stories for Wakakirri this year with themes including environmental conservation, mental health, the refugee crisis, and Australian and world history.
Marking the year Nelson Mandela would have turned 100, Jells Park Primary School have won the Best Biographical History Story Award for their performance telling the story of Mandela’s life-long fight for equality.
Carranballac P-9 College won the Best Indigenous Australian Story Award for their Story Dance telling the story of the Gurindji people’s struggle for equality and land rights after their ‘walk off’ at the Wave Hill property in 1966.
The Wakakirri Primary Challenge Awards Night for Victoria will be held at The Palais on Wednesday 12 September.
Tickets are available from September 5 from www.palaistheatre.com.au.
Wakakirri’s Story of the Year Award for the Primary and Secondary categories will be announced on Waka TV on October 17, schools will be watching the announcement live via YouTube.
