In an exciting development for The Knox School’s performing arts program, our Year 4 students will be stepping into the spotlight in 2025 as participants in the Wakakirri Performing Arts Festival. This marks the first time in many years that TKS has entered this national event, and it opens up a world of creative opportunity for our young performers.
What is Wakakirri?
Wakakirri is a nationwide festival that invites Australian schools to tell stories through a unique art form known as Story-Dance – a 3 to 7 minute performance combining dance, acting, music, creative movement, and often film. Schools can get creative with sets, costumes, and a wide range of dance styles as they bring their narratives to life on stage.
Held during Term 3, the festival is a celebration of student voice and imagination. It provides an exciting and professional platform for students to explore storytelling in an expressive and collaborative way.
Engaged Learners, Rich Curriculum Links
The Year 4 students are not just performing – they’re shaping the entire creative process. From selecting themes to designing costumes and props, students are involved every step of the way. Their Wakakirri experience also links directly to classroom learning:
- In Humanities, students are exploring Media by creating a marketing campaign for their performance.
- In English, persuasive writing has become more meaningful as students learn to write and present pieces designed to engage an audience.
A Story Full of Imagination and Heart
This term, students have brainstormed story ideas and settled on a thrilling, dance-filled adventure: two friends are pulled into a video game and must dance their way through various levels to complete the game. Along the way, they discover that teamwork is key, learning a valuable lesson about friendship and cooperation.
To prepare, students recently took part in dance and drama auditions. In dance, they learned and performed short routines, while drama sessions saw them bring fairytales to life in creative mini-performances for their peers.
Artist in Residence: Stefanie Grogan Joins the Team
The students recently had their first rehearsal with our Artist in Residence, Stefanie Grogan, who brings a wealth of experience guiding schools through their Wakakirri journey. Stef will be working with the Year 4 students weekly throughout Term 2.
The first rehearsal was a hit! Held in the Auditorium, students began learning the high-energy finale to “Celebration” by Kool & the Gang. The room was full of energy, enthusiasm and smiles as students embraced the dance and the joy of performance.
With Stef’s guidance and the students’ growing excitement, we’re eagerly looking forward to building on this momentum in the weeks ahead. By early Term 3, our Year 4s will take the stage in a professional theatre to share their story – and their hard work – with a wider audience.
This is more than just a performance. It’s a chance for our students to grow in confidence, creativity and collaboration, and we can’t wait to see where the journey takes them.
