Thousands of students from across the state are gearing up to take to one of Melbourne’s biggest stages as the State Schools Spectacular returns for its 30th year.
Whether performing as part of the mass dance or choir ensembles, in a lead role singing or dancing, or ensuring all runs smoothly behind the scenes, it’s the highlight of the year for all involved.
This year, performers from across the Yarra Ranges will descend on John Cain Arena on 13 September for two shows.
Alfie from Upwey High School has been tasked with the role of rehearsal stage manager, Leonard from Lilydale Heights College will perform as part of the orchestra playing the alto saxophone, Jade from Lilydale High School and Rosie from Yarra Junction Primary School are performing specialty acts, and Talal from Melba College will perform as a principal vocalist.
Croydon Primary School and Healesville High School will perform as part of the mass choir, while Upper Ferntree Gully Primary School, Upwey South Primary School, Wattleview Primary School, and Ferntree Gully North Primary School are all performing in the mass dance group.
In total, 2500 Victorian students from 200 government schools will have the privilege of showcasing their talent to an arena-full audience.
Getting to that point will have taken seven months from initially learning everything, rehearsing at school and home, and then coming together for two dress rehearsals.
On Friday 15 August, the mass dance collective of students had one of its major rehearsals before the dress rehearsal at the arena.
For Wattleview Grade 6 students Ayla, Abbi, Milla, Maia, Kayla and Lené, the experience so far has been “fun”, “fantastic” and “mesmerising”.
Abbi said, “At my old school, we didn’t do this, so it’s been very, very fun…and I’m so excited to be on the stage”.
Ayla, who took part in the 2023 show, said, “It’s definitely improved”, while Milla said, “I love the costumes better” compared to the previous show.
Lené said, “It brings back memories” of being out there rehearsing and preparing for the show.
Not only has learning the dances been a fun experience, but having “seen a lot of people from other schools” has also been incredible, as has the social aspect.
Most looking forward to having the lights on them on stage and the cheering from the crowd, Abbi said it will be amazing, “just being out there, (knowing) everyone is coming to see you”.
Macey, Blake and Bryce from Upper Ferntree Gully Primary School echoed this, saying they’re most looking forward to just being there, in the arena and seeing how everyone performs.
Of the eight dances, there are some favourites, being 99 Red Balloons, Move Your Feet, Free From Desire and Learning to Fly.
In one part, “when (we’re) doing the circle thing, you just feel like you’re united, having a great time. It’s just a pause to look at everyone’s faces and see how much fun they’re having”.
So far, Blake said, after rehearsing separately, “seeing it all come together with all the different puzzle pieces” has been the best bit.
Macey, Blake and Bryce confirmed they’ve been rehearsing at school since April but having all done the Schools Spectacular before, Bryce said it does “make it a bit easier and less nerve-racking”.
With Ayla, Abbi, Milla, Maia, Kayla and Lené all having done some form of dance or callisthenics in the past or currently, Abbi said “the muscle memory really helps”, but so too have the Thursday rehearsals at school.
Mass dance choreographer Hara Papoulias said she has been so impressed with this year’s cohort for their excitement and enthusiasm.
“We get four rehearsals with the kids throughout the year before we see them in the arena. So they’ve done a really, really great job. There’s a lot of enthusiasm. There’s so much excitement this year,” she said.
“There are six to eight songs that they’re predominantly dancing in, and it’s a mix of genres, also a mix of props.”
From massive hearts to wings to umbrellas, Hara said, not only do the props provide a point of difference for each dance, they help the students feel like they’re telling a story.
“We have so many things to keep them stimulated and also to help them focus on each dance. So there’s a point of difference. Nothing is becoming too same, same for them.
“We’ve got so much diversity within the cast that they’re connecting to the different song lyrics, or they’re connecting to the story with the props. Come Alive is this beautiful garden that comes to life. And so some of them, as dancers, have these umbrellas that are flowers.
“So we talk about it being like a time lapse of a flower blossoming, opening up, and so they can easily connect to it, so they don’t feel like they’re doing dance steps, they’re actually telling a story.”
Hara begins choreographing the dances in January, ready for the show in September.
“To see it evolve and adapt, and how they bring it to life, they always do it better than I could ever imagine,” she said.
Celebrating 30 years, Hara said, is a special milestone, and several alumni have come back to help behind the scenes, which helps students see what they could be doing post-school.
As her eleventh year involved in the Schools Spectacular, Hara said that with one of the props being hearts, it’s the perfect symbolism for what mass dance and choir bring to the show.
“It’s ironic that we’re doing hearts, and they get to be the hearts, because they are the heart of the show. The quiet mass choir and mass dance bring so much life to it. I hope they know how important they are.”
