The final night of the SmokeFree Dance Fest 2007 filled Canberra Theatre to the brim. If there was one spare seat it was certainly made up for by the audience’s cheering and the enthusiasm coming from the students on stage.

Dance Fest is one of Canberra’s largest and most successful youth arts events. The festival has grown from one night to three nights of 47energetic performances by over 30 high schools and colleges.

It is a one of a kind experience where students participate in all aspects of the production; including working in teams to develop dance concepts, costumes, lighting, working backstage, performing, filming the event, and hosting the performance evenings.

Dance Fest, which is organised and presented by Ausdance, celebrated its 23rd year with theme Reflection.

Ausdance ACT Director, Roslyn Dundas, she said the theme Reflection was chosen because it was an opportunity to reflect on what dance means to us and the students, as well as to reflect on ourselves.

The 15 schools which performed on the final night interpreted the theme very differently. The dances reflected on the choices teenagers must make between their good and darker side, how beauty and body image is reflected in the media, dreams and the imagination, and the rollercoaster ride that is teenage-hood.

The Canberra Theatre’s curtain opened with an engaging performance by the Youth Choreographic ensemble Quantum Leap. The SmokeFree Live Ad asked the question “Why Would You Do That?” and sent out an important message about the health risks of smoking.

“It is a fantastic event to promote health,” Ms Dundas said.

The students then took to the stage to share their love of dance with a range of dance styles. Campbell High brought out their umbrellas and giant dream catchers representing how dreams reflect pieces of our lives. Other schools danced on chairs and exercise blocks, and Trinity Christian School came out rollerblading and excited with back-flips.

Alfred Deakin High School performing their piece School / Life.

Canberra College threw in some ballroom dancing, whilst St Edmund’s College did what they do best, Hip Hop.

The audience was taken back through time by Wanniassa School reflecting on the evolution of dance from the 60’s to today. They danced to the Age of Aquarius, Madonna’s Material Girl and came out in the 90’s with the Backstreet Boys.

Then pleated skirts were brought back as Radford College reflected on their primary school days. The costumes were as vibrant as the dancers they were on. They included pants painted with peace signs, masks, lab coats, Alice in Wonderland look-alikes, and even some rabbits were seen jumping through mirrors.

The lighting was the icing on the cake, even when the lights were off. A couple of schools danced in the dark, using the effects of fluorescent masks, gloves and clothing.

After the interval the audience was in for more surprises, excitement, and more talented male performers.

Act II kicked off with Canberra College’s performance of ‘Be Yourself’.

St Edmund’s College then stole the show with their Hip Hop performance. The whistling began even before the boys came on stage, and it kept on coming whilst they ripped of their t-shirts, leaped across the stage, spun around on their heads and threw each other into the air.

More great performances by Merici College, Telopea Park School, Lake Tuggeranong College, Melrose High and Copland College kept up the tempo.

The hundreds of parents, grandparents, aunties, uncles, siblings, cousins, teachers, friends and dance enthusiasts remained on the edge of their seats right up until the finale.

The audience acted as groupies as they clapped and cheered for the stars of the night as they danced across the stage with huge smiles on their faces for the last time…until next year.