More than 2,500 students from hundreds of schools across New South Wales will come together at Qudos Bank Arena on Monday, October 30, to perfect dance, drama, circus, and drumming routines at the Schools Spectacular’s first combined rehearsal.
Just one month away from the performances on November 24 and 25, the students will be rehearsing 19 mass dance routines that vary from ballet to tap, and hip hop to Bollywood – and includes the showstopper Finale involving the entire cast.
Executive producer Richard Spiewak said the rehearsals for the show were well under way and the first combined rehearsal was a key milestone in the show’s schedule.
"This is the first opportunity for the cast, for teachers, and for choreographers to work in the actual arena in a floor space equivalent to what they will be performing on come show time,” Mr Spiewak said.
“We get to see how rehearsals have been progressing to date and look at working on formations and entrances to the arena floor. It is also the first time that the Finale is put together at a large scale.
“It’s no mean feat getting thousands of performers dancing in unison and moving seamlessly onto and off the arena floor,” he said.
Schools Spectacular celebrates its 40th anniversary this year and Mr Spiewak said the first combined rehearsal was a sneak peek into the awe-inspiring talent of everyone involved.
“The show is looking exciting and will be a fabulous 40th birthday tribute to everyone who has been a part of Schools Spectacular or attended over the past four decades,” Mr Spiewak said.
“The first combined rehearsal is a very exciting time, and from this point on the pace of rehearsals and the buzz surrounding the show just keeps building to show week.
“It also a good time to remind everyone that they shouldn’t delay any longer in purchasing their tickets to one of the four performances.”
Tickets are available through Ticketek and the audience is encouraged to book tickets early to ensure they don't miss out on this unforgettable showcase of talent and creativity.
The Schools Spectacular is proudly supported by sponsors and supporters: Telstra, NSW Teachers Federation, School Bytes, RØDE, Smartsalary, Teachers Health, Colmed Group, Steinway Australia, Sony Australia and Event Partners: Qudos Bank Arena, Seven Network and Ticketek.
MEDIA OPPORTUNITY:
Media are invited to attend the rehearsal to interview students, teachers and staff involved in key roles of the show. Please find below a list of schools involved on Monday.
Date: Monday, October 30, 2023
Best time for media - Finale rehearsal (entire cast): 12pm to 1pm. We are happy to arrange other times if this time is not suitable.
Time: 8am to 4.30pm
Location: Qudos Bank Arena, Edwin Flack Avenue, Sydney Olympic Park. Media can park at the Service Yard behind Qudos Bank Arena and enter through security. Please contact us to arrange parking and access to the arena.
Schools attending the First Combined Rehearsal:
Anson Street School
Armidale Secondary College
Ashfield Boys High School
Asquith Girls High School
Avalon Public School
Balgowlah Heights Public School
Banks Public School
Banora Point High School
Bathurst Public School
Bathurst South Public School
Bathurst West Public School
Baulkham Hills High School
Beacon Hill Public School
Bella Vista Public School
Bellevue Hill Public School
Blairmount Public School
Blayney High School
Bletchington Public School
Boronia Park Public School
Buninyong Public School
Burraneer Bay Public School
Burwood Public School
Busby West Public School
Caddies Creek Public School
Calare Public School
Callaghan College
Cambridge Gardens Public School
Camden Haven High School
Campsie Public School
Canobolas Rural Technology High School
Carenne School
Caringbah High School
Casula Public School
Cecil Hills High School
Chalmers Road School
Chatswood High School
Chipping Norton Public School
Colyton Public School
Como West Public School
Connells Point Public School
Coogee Public School
Cootamundra High School
Cowra High School
Cowra Public School
Crestwood Public School
Cromer Public School
Cronulla High School
Cronulla Public School
Crookwell Public School
Crown Street Public School
Curl Curl North Public School
Darcy Road Public School
East Hills Girls Technology High School
Elderslie Public School
Emu Heights Public School
Endeavour Sports High School
Engadine High School
Engadine West Public School
Epping North Public School
Erskine Park High School
Erskineville Public School
Faulconbridge Public School
Fernhill School
Finley High School
Forbes High School
Forbes North Public School
Forestville Public School
Forster Public School
Freemans Reach Public School
George Bass School
Girraween High School
Glen Innes High School
Gralee School
Grays Point Public School
Gulgong High School
Gymea Bay Public School
Gymea Technology High School
Hambledon Public School
Harbord Public School
Heathcote Public School
Holsworthy High School
Homebush West Public School
Horsley Park Public School
Hoxton Park Public School
Hunter School of Performing Arts
Inverell High School
James Busby High School
Jannali East Public School
Jordan Springs Public School
Karabar High School
Kareela Public School
Kariong Public School
Katoomba High School
Kellyville Public School
Kellyville Ridge Public School
Kings Langley Public School
Kingscliff High School
Kingscliff Public School
Kingswood Park Public School
Kirrawee High School
Kirrawee Public School
Kooringal High School
Laguna Street Public School
Lake Albert Public School
Leeton High School
Leeton Public School
Leura Public School
Lidcombe Public School
Lithgow High School
Liverpool West Public School
Lucas Heights Community School
Lurnea High School
Macquarie Fields High School
Maitland High School
Marrickville High School
Matthew Pearce Public School
Menai High School
Middleton Grange Public School
Mimosa Public School
Mulyan Public School
Murrumburrah Public School
Murwillumbah Learning Community High School
Narara Valley High School
Narrabeen North Public School
Narrabeen Sports High School
Narromine Public School
NBSC Mackellar Girls Campus
Nepean Creative and Performing Arts High School
Newbridge Heights Public School
Newtown High School of the Performing Arts
Normanhurst Public School
North Wagga Public School
Northern Beaches Secondary College Cromer Campus
Northmead CAPA High School
Nyngan High School
Oatley Public School
Oran Park Public School
Orange High School
Orange Public School
Oxley High School
Pitt Town Public School
Queanbeyan West Public School
Randwick Girls High School
Randwick Public School
Riverbank Public School
Riverside Girls High School
Roseville Public School
Rouse Hill Public School
Russell Lea Public School
Rutherford Technology High School
Samuel Terry Public School
Sarah Redfern High School
Schofields Public School
South Grafton High School
St Andrews Public School
St George School
St Ives North Public School
Strathfield North Public School
Strathfield South Public School
Sutherland Public School
Sylvania Heights Public School
Sylvania High School
Sylvania Public School
Tharawal Public School
The Jannali High School
The Ponds School
Toongabbie Public School
Tweed River High School
Victoria Avenue Public School
Wagga Wagga High School
Wangee Park School
Warnervale Public School
Wattle Grove Public School
Wilberforce Public School
William Stimson Public School
Wollongong High School of the Performing Arts
Woollahra Public School
Woolooware Public School
Woy Woy South Public School
Yarrawarrah Public School
Young North Public School
Key Facts:
Website: https://artsunit.nsw.edu.au/schools-spectacular
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SchoolsSpec
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/schoolsspec/
X: https://twitter.com/SchoolsSpec
Contact details:
For more information and to arrange interviews please contact:
Alyssa Terese - 0418 874 473, alyssa.terese@det.nsw.edu.au
Julee Brienen - 0411 280 784, julee.brienen@det.nsw.edu.au
