Dates and Times
Registration open Thursday 27 July 2023
Registration close Thursday 12 October 2023
Registration Confirmation Thursday 26 October 2023
Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre, Bathurst
Heat Sunday 5 November 5.30pm
Riverside Theatres, Parramatta
Heats Wednesday 15 – Thursday 16 November 7.30pm
Final Saturday 18 November 7.30pm
FILM
FORM website On View Friday 10 November – Monday 20 November
Audience vote closes Thursday 16 November @ 5pm
(a minimum of 3 films will be selected to reach the Final including the Audience vote winner and will be screened in the theatre as part of the Final on Saturday 18 November at Riverside Theatres)
Definitions:
A live performance means the work will be presented on stage in the theatre. Live performances are considered for all the Awards except Outstanding Dance Film Award.
A dance film involves the usage of multiple filming and editing techniques to convey a particular concept. Dance films are considered for all awards .
A recorded performance is a straight forward recording of choreographed movement, it involves quite simple filming and editing techniques. Recorded performances will NOT be eligible for entry in the festival.
Eligibility
- Works must be original (created in 2023) and choreographed and performed by persons aged 21 and under.
- Works must be 5 minutes or less in length.
Registrations
- You have the choice to register your work either as a live performance or a dance film.
- We highly recommend to include in your registration the optional video link to your work in progress, whether a live performance or a dance film.
- Final Dance film submissions will be due by Thursday 2 November and should be submitted as an MP4 video file – Link to upload your film with program notes will be provided upon confirmation of registration. We will ask to ensure the quality of videos is high, that you use a wide horizontal frame for filming (as opposed to vertical) and DO NOT include in your video any title or credit.
Geographical scope
SHARP SHORT DANCE is a Western Sydney-based event that celebrates young talent. Entries however will be accepted from across Australia. Regional NSW young artists are encouraged to apply, notably from the Central West region with our partner Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre.
Content
SHARP SHORT DANCE is an inclusive youth dance festival with a diverse range of genres, abilities and ages. Our aim is to provide all participants with an equal opportunity to participate. Whilst Sharp Short Dance is a youth festival, it is also a family event, and as such, choreography and music must be appropriate for this audience. Please note that lyrics will be checked, and any dance moves deemed unsafe or inappropriate by the Artistic Producer or FORM Dance Projects team may be amended.
Criteria
- The judges will be looking for innovative, newly choreographed dance films and performances.
- Schools may submit up to five works and individuals up to two works of a different style, however with no guarantee that all works will be accepted, pending on registrations numbers.
- FORM encourages entries from a diversity of techniques and practices. All dance styles will be considered as long as the choreography is original.
- Each work submitted must be accompanied by a registration fee ($20 per dance film, $25 per live performance) payable as part of the online registration process on Riverside Theatres website. Submissions not accepted in the festival will be refunded. All submissions once confirmed will be due, regardless of cancellation by the participant afterwards.
Mentorship
- FORM engages an Artistic Producer throughout the Festival, who will mentor participants in the theatre as part of their 15mins tech run. A How to Make a Dance Film guide created by videographer Samuel James is also available on demand following registration (please email admin@form.org.au).
Awards
Finalists will be eligible for the following Awards:
- Most Innovative Choreography
- Outstanding Performer Junior (16 & under)
- Outstanding Performer Senior (17 & over)
- Outstanding Solo Performance
- Outstanding Duet Performance
- Outstanding Ensemble Performance
- Audience Choice Awards
- Outstanding Dance Film
- Regional Award
- School Prize
Company Secondments
Dancenorth Australia, 5 day secondment and $1000 for travel and accomodation
Bangarra Dance Theatre, 3 day secondment
Dance Makers Collective, 1 week Connect Program
AUSTI Dance and Physical Theatre, 1 week secondment
Catapult Choreographic Hub, 1 week secondment
Residency, Space Grant
Critical Path, 3 Day Space Grant
Full-Time Secondments
Sydney Dance Company Pre Professional Year, 1 week
Academy of Music and Performing Arts, 1 week
Brent Street, $500 scholarship to take class for 1 week
Prizes
3x Bloch gift cards, $100 each
3x Bloch gift bags
2x Sydney Dance Company, 10 Class Pass
2x DUTI, 5 Class Pass
10x Dance Australia magazine subscriptions
10x FORM Dance Projects, perFORM double season passes
2x Ausdance NSW memberships
2x Dirtyfeet memberships
Heats and Final
LIVE
- Works may contain movable props however, the performer/s is/are responsible for taking the props on and off stage during a performance. Transport and storage of props will not be provided by the venue.
- The appropriately cut music will need to be emailed to FORM the week prior to the heats as well as brought on a USB at least 30 minutes prior to the beginning of the technical rehearsal for the performance. USBs will be returned after the performance to the entrant.
- FORM Dance Projects will provide a stage manager and a lighting and sound operator.
- There will be a technical run on the day of the heat for each participant of up to 15 mins. Participants must come prepared in full costume with clear notes regarding lighting. If selected for the Final, finalists will attend another technical run on Final day. Technical runs must be attended to be part of the evening performance.
- Performances are in front of a live audience and a panel of judges. Audiences are invited to vote for a work to go through the Final at the end of each Heat in addition to works selected by the panel of judges. Selected finalists will be announced at the end of each Heat. Awards and prizes will be announced during the Final directly after the performance.
FILM
- Confirmed works will be presented in full on FORM’s website. The films will be live for viewing and voting on FORM’ s website from Friday 10 November – Tuesday 14 November.
- A panel of judges will decide which of all the works will be presented during the final and which of the works will be nominated for the Outstanding Dance Film Award.
LIVE & FILM
- The Final will be livestreamed and will include finalist live performances, finalist dance films and the announcement of Award winners, secondments and prizes.
For any questions, please contact FORM Dance Projects on: sharpshortdance@cityofparramatta.nsw.gov.au or call 9806 5609
