Students and staff at Marri Grove Primary School in Byford are the proud winners of the best multicultural story award when they performed in the Wakakirri Primary School Challenge earlier this month.
Established in 1992, Wakakirri is Australia’s largest story and dance festival involving more than 20,000 students across every state and territory each year.
A Wakakirri story dance is a three to seven minute performance by a group of students, which theatrically tells a story using a combination of dancing, acting and creative movement to pre-recorded music.
Marri Grove Primary School performing arts teacher Siubhan Bridge said the signature theme of this year’s performance was ‘the gift.’
“We wanted to incorporate something to do with the gift into our song and dance routine,” she said.
“So we decided to give the gift of multiculturalism.”
Ms Bridge said a total of 90 students were involved in the production.
She said the performance involved five children being sent to different countries around the world by the world fairy.
“Each country was discovered through dance,” she said.
“We had Africa, Australia, India, New Zealand Scotland.”
Ms Bridge said each of the students were given a puzzle piece when they visited their country and at the end of the performance the puzzle pieces were put together to form a map of Australia.
“Our school is very much a reflection of Australia as a country,” she said.
“We are very multicultural.”
Ms Bridge said students, parents and staff all pitched in to help make the production possible.
She said everyone has been very positive about the performance and the buzz around the school has been amazing.
