They say actions speak louder than words, and this lineup features the movers and shakers to prove it. Tap along or get up and move as you dance the night away with Brisbane Festival.
From stories told through movement, to full out dance parties, these Brisbane Festival events are ready to groove.
18 - 21 Sep
Private View
Performed with joy and fervour, and against the backdrop of an exquisite set, this production is an intimate exploration of unspoken stories and secret longing from Restless Dance, Australia’s leading creator of dance theatre by dancers with and without disability. Private View breaks down societal myths and misinformation and sets the viewer on a path to twist their preconceived attitudes around sexuality and disability.
12 - 14 Sep
Lighting the Dark
Chris Dyke, an artist who champions inclusivity, emanates compassion, transcending limitations and inviting us all into his radiant embrace. Yet, amidst his rich internal landscape of dreams and boundless imagination, the world often fails to see beyond the cover of the book — a book that if we dared to open, would reveal radical inspiration, creative brilliance, hope and love. Join Chris and Dancenorth ensemble as they dance to the very centre of what it means to be human.
11 - 14 Sep
GURR ERA OP
What would you do if you could never go home? Is your culture bound by place or by self? What happens to your identity when the physical place that holds your ancestral foundations disappears? GURR ERA OP (which means 'the face of the sea' in Meriam Mir) is a celebratory sharing of culture and a call to action in the face of climate devastation, interweaving hybrid Torres Strait Islander contemporary storytelling, movement and spoken word.
30 Aug - 14 Sep
Volcano
Crossing the boundaries of experimental theatre, contemporary dance and psychological sci-fi thriller, acclaimed director and choreographer Luke Murphy blurs the lines of form and expectation, reality and fiction in live performance made for the Netflix era.
Sat 21 Sep
Assembly Vol.1
Get hyped to dive into an electrifying fusion of music and dance at The Princess Theatre, where Australasian Dance Collective and 4000 Studios are set to collide for an epic one-night-only event featuring four extraordinary performances. Featuring an extraordinary assembly of talent, Assembly Vol. 1 sees Danny Harley from The Kite String Tangle, Dominik Felsmann from Felsmann + Tiley, Louis Frere-Harvey from $0.003 and the acclaimed dance artists of ADC in the visionary Auto Cannibal created by Stephanie Lake and Robin Fox. These monumental artists come together to deliver a late-night party filled with dance, music, and good times.
Sat 7 Sep
The Alexander Ball
Ballroom families born out of safety and necessity celebrate their existence and authenticity on stage as thousands chant and scream for their chosen families for a night of drama, chaos, notoriety and status. Returning to the spacious beauty of The Tivoli, Meanjin’s groundbreaking ballroom house, The House of Alexander, promises an extravagant night of unapologetic excellence.
14 - 15 Sep
Us And All of This
Unfolding momentarily on the Brisbane Powerhouse Forecourt, this largescale sculptural performance offers a rare moment of calm reflection, gathering 100 people from all walks of life to move together as one. Us And All Of This rejects the positioning of humans as something separate to the environment and challenges the fast-paced, isolated structure of society.
Sat 21 Sep
Common People Dance Eisteddfod
Be bedazzled and booty shake along to the hilarious and wildly creative Eisteddfod performances at South Bank Piazza! For the sixth year in a row Common People Dance Eisteddfod is back and bigger than ever! Teams from across South-East Queensland will battle it out to see who will reign supreme in 2024!
Fri 6 Sep
Urban Elegance
The Aboriginal Centre for the Performing Arts (ACPA) proudly present Urban Elegance, a collection of musical, dance and movement items showcasing emerging First Nations Arts Practitioners and their ambitions to amplify a bright, new generation of Storytelling. This production showcases the experiences of various emerging arts practitioners and showcases the diversity of their lived experiences, artistic prowess and cultural fierceness.
18 - 20 Sep
Cirque Bon Bon Le Retour
Prepare to be swept off your feet as the sell-out show brings an all-new, all-star cast of contortionists, acrobats and dancers hosted by Brisbane favourite and Bon Bon’s frontman, Mario Queen of the Circus! The brainchild of former Cirque Du Soleil Assistant Creative Director Ash Jacks (McCready) and Choreographer Julieann Nugent — both Brisbane natives – Cirque Bon Bon blends beauty with bravery into 60 minutes of electrifying action.
Sat 21 Sep
Pasifika Made
From across the Australian and Pacific Island diaspora, a dynamic line up of artists ignites the stage in the spirit of the Moana, weaving together a vibrant fabric of cultural and contemporary Pasifika dance, music and storytelling with a bit of quirk and island humour! Pasifika Made is more than just a show; it's a celebration that amplifies the voices of Polynesian, Melanesian, Micronesian, Māori and Indigenous artists. Enjoy live performances, demonstrations and more across two stages, alongside an Island marketplace where you can find handmade treasures and delicious island food.
