The 38th annual South Coast Public School Dance Festival is underway at the Illawarra Performing Arts Centre, running from May 26 to 29, 2026. Students from across the region have taken to the stage in vibrant costumes, with hairspray and stage makeup adding to the spectacle.
Pleasant Heights Public School teacher Emily Gatwood choreographed a piece based on the Disney movie Coco for her Year 2 students. She said the festival teaches skills beyond dance, including coordination, composition, storytelling, and appreciation.
“They learn coordination, they learn composition, storytelling, and appreciation, which are all part of the dance curriculum and they learn it on such an amazing level,” Ms Gatwood said. She noted that students develop confidence and happiness through hours of practice from the start of the year until the performance in term two.
Festival coordinator Louise Morgan described the event as a memorable experience for teachers, students, and the community. “Each performance reveals the determination of students and teachers to explore the art of dance and to achieve performances of the highest quality,” she said.
The festival features a range of music styles and movements, with performances based on strong themes. Teachers from all participating schools go above and beyond, handling meetings, music editing, costumes, and prop building for the love of the event.
