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Dance

Dance roles not gender roles: How Dance Life star Archer is forging her own career path

One of the stars of Prime Video's docuseries Dance Life is non-binary dancer Archer, who is creating her own space in the gendered world of dance.
A slim dancer with blonde hair wearing sunglasses and a yellow top flings their arms out on stage

Arts veteran looking at stars, watching sunsets and preparing for Adelaide Festival after MND diagnosis

A Motor Neurone Disease diagnosis means time is ticking for arts veteran Roz Hervey, making her determined to make memories whenever she can.
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Roz Hervey sitting on set at a Restless Dance Theatre rehearsal

Kids continue lion dancing tradition

A troupe of children are rehearsing their performances ahead of a busy Lunar New Year.
ABC News Current
Duration: 1 minute 21 seconds

Rarely seen dances set to spiral through town squares in busy run of shows

Lion dances are a regular feature of Lunar New Year festivities, but this year there is increased demand for a more complex routine.
A dragon puppet coiled up in front of a large traditional Chinese gate

ICYMI: Jacob Elordi is very tall on SNL, the most hyped films from Sundance, and Pitchfork gutted

From the Minecraft movie to a juicy Brent Street reality show, here's all the latest entertainment news.
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A collage of brown staffy wearing a 'love is love' hankerchief; Jacob Elordi, plus Katy O'Brien and Kristen Stewart.

Want to go to Sydney Festival but don't know where to start? Here's a bunch of acts we loved

Sydney is chock-full of art and culture right now, with festival shows being staged everywhere from the beach to basements to the best theatres. But how do you choose which to see? We've got some tips for you.
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A group of femmes in colourful outfits and wigs, dance together in a burlesque-style onstage.

Ballet for Veterans program used to treat PTSD

Former combat engineer James Wilfred-Derby is participating in the Ballet for Veterans and says it has had a profound impact on his mental health. 
ABC News Current
Duration: 2 minutes 3 seconds

Ballet dancers try army drills

Queensland Ballet dancers visiting Kokoda Barracks.
ABC News Current
Duration: 27 seconds

After a decade of service, James struggled to adjust to life after war — then he found ballet

Veterans are swapping combat boots for ballet shoes as part of a new program aimed at helping improve their mental health.
Updated
Larissa Fletcher and James Wilfred-Derby dancing

Salsa on the sand, bachata on the beach liberating ways to lift the spirits, say outdoor dancers

After swapping a venue for an ocean-side park, these barefoot social dancers feel connected to the earth as research confirms such activities boost mood, foster social connection and improve mental health.
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A woman looking just past the camera with a group of dancers and the beach behind her.

Mao's Last Dancer Li Cunxin hands over Queensland Ballet reins to Leanne Benjamin

Leanne Benjamin grew up dancing in central Queensland before taking to the world stage, seeing decades of success. Now she's taking up the reins from long-time friend Li Cunxin as the new artistic director of the Queensland Ballet.
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Li and mary

'Work harder than everyone else': Mao's Last Dancer gives his parting words of wisdom on eve of retirement

Before he became the legendary Mao's Last Dancer, Li Cunxin was a peasant boy in communist China with a burning desire to work harder than everyone else.
A chinese man at a graduation ceremony

analysis:When you're on the 'wrong' side of club-ready, where do you go to dance?

This week, singer Jessie Ware re-lit the disco fire in my soul enough to make me want to go out dancing. But where? There's no dance scene for women my age anymore – and maybe it's been ever thus, writes Virginia Trioli.
English singer-songwriter, Jessie Ware

Dance competition celebrating First Nations art and culture, DanceRites will take place at Sydney Opera House

The largest celebration of Australia’s only national dance competition for Indigenous dance groups will take place this weekend at the Sydney Opera House. The Creator of Contemporary Art at the Opera House, Michael Do says audiences are thrilled to have the event back after pause during pandemic.
ABC News Current
Duration: 3 minutes 25 seconds

Australian Ballet reinvents Swan Lake for modern audience

Australian Ballet artistic director David Hallberg has reinvented Swan Lake for a modern audiences.
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ABC News Current
Duration: 6 minutes 49 seconds

Simon is an 'extreme introvert' — yet finds pole dancing in front of a crowd surprisingly invigorating

Simon Ferguson wraps himself around a silver pole and performs a horizontal body ripple. As a male pole dancer, he's in the minority and attracts increased attention, but more men are taking up the sport.
Updated
Man clings to pole horizontally

World's oldest ballerina celebrates 109th birthday

The world's oldest ballerina Sydney woman Eileen Kramer has celebrated her 109th birthday.
ABC News Current
Duration: 1 minute 45 seconds

Draped in white feathers and wearing a pair of sparkly ballet flats, Eileen celebrated her 109th birthday in style

Louis Armstrong was nice, and Ella Fitzgerald was not so nice, according to 109-year-old Eileen Kramer who is not planning on hanging up her dancing shoes.
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An older woman, Eileen Kramer, wears a ballgown while sitting in a wheelchair

Teenage B-boy breaking down the door for spot at the Paris Olympics

Meet the teenage breakdancer who will be representing Australia when the athletic dance makes its debut at the Paris Olympics in 2024.
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ABC News Current

Oceania's Olympian

Jeff Dunne has qualified to be one of only 16 breakers to compete at the Paris Olympics
ABC News Current
Duration: 1 minute 24 seconds

'There's nothing like it': Why OzAsia is the major cultural festival you should know about

Disappearing Cantonese dialects and centuries-old Vietnamese instruments feature alongside bilingual K-rap and punk Malaysian street art in a program that champions freedom of expression.
Updated
A Japanese Australian woman dressed in eclectic clothing and large sunglasses performs onstage.

Professional ballet dancers inspire next generation

Dancers from the Victorian Ballet share tricks of the trade with Darwin's aspiring ballerinas.
ABC News Current
Duration: 1 minute 42 seconds

'Thank you for celebrating age': Retired ballerinas return to the stage and audiences couldn’t be happier

Professional ballet has traditionally been a domain for the young, but retired dancers in their 40s, 50s and 60s are making a comeback.
Woman in white dress dances on stage with back up men dancing behind her

The Grey Panthers - Darwin's over 60 dance troupe

"Dancing is ageless", says Diane Lucas, Grey Panthers dancer.
ABC News Current
Duration: 1 minute 22 seconds

All-inclusive debutante ball held in Coffs Harbour, NSW

Young people living with disabilities make their debut at the first all-inclusive debutante ball, giving young debs with various abilities a chance to participate in their own, special event.
ABC News Current
Duration: 1 minute 56 seconds