Categories: News

Faster and fresher

The sensational youth dance version of the international short-form performing arts festival Short+Sweet takes a big leap forward as it enters its 4th year this November at Riverside Theatres in Parramatta.


Fast+Fresh Dance cultivates talent and performance by choreographers and dancers aged 21 and under.

It inspires young performers to strive for artistic excellence and encourages active participation in dance at all levels and styles including ballet, hip-hop, jazz, contemporary, tap, physical theatre and lyrical. This year, it has again drawn entries from schools – and individuals – all over Sydney and NSW regional centres.

All works must be five minutes or less in duration and choreographed and performed by people who are 21 years of age or younger. Winning performances from each heat on 16 and 17 November, selected by a panel of dance industry judges, proceed to the Final Showcase on 19 November to battle it out for rich prizes (including Summer/Winter Camp with Brent St Studios and a 2012 Project Secondment with youMove Dance Company and artistic director Kay Armstrong) and coveted awards including Best Male Dancer, Best Female Dancer, Most Outstanding Choreography, Best New Talent and the Audience Choice Award.

This year’s entrants present works about first love, the effects of idle gossip, living with Cerebral Palsy, a contemporary take on Shakespeare’s The sensational youth dance version of the international short-form performing arts festival Short+Sweet takes a big leap forward as it enters its 4th year this November at Riverside Theatres Parramatta.

Fast+Fresh Dance cultivates talent and performance by choreographers and dancers aged 21 and under. It inspires young performers to strive for artistic excellence and encourages active participation in dance at all levels and styles including ballet, hip-hop, jazz, contemporary, tap, physical theatre and lyrical. This year, it has again drawn entries from schools – and individuals – all over Sydney and NSW regional centres.

All works must be five minutes or less in duration and choreographed and performed by people who are 21 years of age or younger. Winning performances from each heat on 16 and 17 November, selected by a panel of dance industry judges, proceed to the Final Showcase on 19 November to battle it out for rich prizes (including Summer/Winter Camp with Brent St Studios and a 2012 Project Secondment with youMove Dance Company and artistic director Kay Armstrong) and coveted awards including Best Male Dancer, Best Female Dancer, Most Outstanding Choreography, Best New Talent and the Audience Choice Award.

This year’s entrants present works about first love, the effects of idle gossip, living with Cerebral Palsy, a contemporary take on Shakespeare’s Macbeth and overcoming barriers caused by deafness. An array of explosive dance styles including hip hop, contemporary, lyrical, tap, jazz and ballet will keep audiences (and judges!) on the edge of their seats.

Fast+Fresh Dance – Riverside Theatres
Heat 1: Wed 16 Nov 7:30pm
Heat 2: Thur 17 Nov 7:30pm
Gala Final: Sat 19 Nov 7:30pm

Tickets $15 Adults / $12 Concession
Bookings: (02) 8839 3399.

Erin James

Erin James is AussieTheatre.com's former Editor in Chief and a performer on both stage and screen. Credits include My Fair Lady, South Pacific and The King and I (Opera Australia), Love Never Dies and Cats (Really Useful Group), Blood Brothers (Enda Markey Presents), A Place To Call Home (Foxtel/Channel 7) and the feature film The Little Death (written and directed by Josh Lawson).

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