The vibrant streets of Perth are set to transform into a dynamic stage once more as Perth Moves makes its highly anticipated return to the city's central business district. This exciting initiative, an integral component of the broader Perth Festival, will deliver a full week of complimentary public dance events, complemented by an extensive three-week series of professional workshops. Now celebrating its fourth consecutive year, the festival has evolved significantly from its modest beginnings as a small pilot project into a major cultural platform that actively connects professional dancers, street dance enthusiasts, and the wider community.
A Festival Within a Festival
Co-director James O'Hara proudly describes Perth Moves as "Western Australia's very own dance festival" nestled within the Perth Festival. This year's public-facing activities will be concentrated over one action-packed week at the iconic Forrest Place, with all events offered free of charge to attendees. "Everything we do at Forrest Place is free," O'Hara confirmed, emphasising the festival's commitment to accessibility and community engagement.
Key Events and Highlights
The 2026 program features three cornerstone events designed to captivate audiences of all ages and backgrounds:
- An All-Ages Dance Battle: Scheduled for Saturday, February 21, from 6:00 PM until midnight, this event welcomes participants of every age and dance style. O'Hara characterises it as "an all-ages, all-styles dance battle, an eclectic, electric evening of dance." The battle commences with dancers taking turns entering the circle, after which judges will select a top 16 to compete head-to-head. The event also incorporates open dance moments, actively encouraging audience members to join the fray. "It's a very engaged battle, as opposed to a sit-back-and-watch," O'Hara noted. "You're kind of in and amongst it." Young dancers are particularly encouraged to participate, with teenagers having been involved in previous editions. "We had quite a few young people last year involved, which was very cool," he added.
- Concrete Echoes: This contemporary performance piece is choreographed by the award-winning Aotearoa/New Zealand duo Ta'alili (Aloali'i and Tori Manley-Tapu). It features a cast of eight dancers hailing from Western Australia, other Australian states, and Aotearoa. Intriguingly, the judges for the dance battle are also performers in this work. One such judge, Angie, who won last year's battle, is now performing in Concrete Echoes.
- Cercles: A large-scale participatory work led by renowned French choreographer Boris Charmatz. This piece will involve 150 amateur dancers, who will be supported and guided by professional artists from both Australia and France, creating a unique collaborative experience.
Bridging Communities and Artistic Spaces
A central focus of Perth Moves is to build meaningful connections between street dance communities and more traditional institutional arts spaces. This crossover ethos is vividly reflected in the programming, particularly through works like Concrete Echoes. The festival was initially trialled in 2023, a year when organisers experimented with opening traditional performance venues to broader public participation. "We kind of tested the waters and opened up this idea of what Perth Moves could be," O'Hara recalled. The overarching aim remains to make diverse forms of dance accessible and engaging for everyone.
Behind the Scenes and Professional Development
Perth Moves is delivered by STRUT Dance, co-directed by James O'Hara and Sophie Bergman. Both directors share a long and rich history as dancers and collaborators. "We've had very different careers in dance, and that gives us complementary experiences and perspectives," O'Hara explained. Alongside the vibrant public program, Perth Moves will run a three-week workshop series at the King Street Arts Centre, specifically tailored for professional dancers. Bookings for these workshops are essential.
O'Hara enthusiastically encourages audiences to immerse themselves in the full spectrum of the festival's offerings, from the high-energy battle to the polished contemporary performances and the inclusive participatory works. "Seeing all three things is really special," he said. "They're so different, but equally as special."
Perth Moves events will run from February 21 to 28, 2026. Further details regarding event schedules and registration are available on the official Perth Festival website.
