Wakakirri National Story Festival

Dance. Act. Sing. Create. Move. Perform. Tell a story. $5000 first prize

This page is for City Story-Dance schools. Country schools click here

Register for a 2008 Story-Dance Workshop
Looking for great Arts PD sessions relevant to you and your curriculum? Putting together a Wakakirri entry in 2008? Please see below for a description of all the 2008 Workshops that are available for you to attend

Teachers Introduction Session
An overview of all the Festival Competitions and Guidelines.

Story-Dance Beginners Workshop
A beginners guide; all you need to know about Story-Dance.

Specialist Workshop
'Making Magic'- What makes a great Story-Dance? Discussions and tips from the experts on lighting, directing and set design. An advanced course on Story-Dance.

Register for Story-Dance 2009 Registrations closing April 3rd
By registering, you will be sent out an information pack and receive email newsletters that will keep you up-to-date will everything you need to know about your Story-Dance entry. You can register by filling in your details online - click here to register now.

What is a Story-Dance?
A Story-Dance is a 3-7 minute performance, by students, on stage of a story using a blend of creative movement and acting to pre-recorded music and/or live singing. Like all Wakakirri comps, Story-Dance is about telling stories. Story-Dance isn’t a dance routine, it’s a Story-Dance performance. It’s not about ‘themes’ – each item needs to be telling a story (either original or known), delivered on stage with a clear ‘beginning, middle, end’ through a blend of creative movement and acting.

As an affordable and accessible event for all schools nationally, big budgets and specialised teachers are simply NOT required or encouraged – what is encouraged is creativity, resourcefulness and teamwork! The Judging Criteria and Philosophy awards very few points to sets, props and costumes - the message? Focus on the story and creativity not spending money on sets, props and costumes.

Stories have always been a great medium for exploring and learning about the world. The ‘theme’ of our world is in no way meant to limit the stories told by schools. If you look for it, you’ll find all stories examine the worlds around us, both real and imagined.

The stories told can either be original or original interpretations of existing stories.

Schools are also invited to include a signature item in their works. The 2008 signature item is "tap". Schools can represent the signature item as part of their work in any way they choose. It can be used thematically or literally, it be on stage for the entire item or for a second. Awards will be handed out during the festival and competition series.

For example the signature item ‘tap’ could be (although certainly not limited to):
- a water tap ... tapping into something ... tap dancing ...

Students should create stories based on the festival theme ‘Our World’, enabling them to explore and understand their own environment.

The Wakakirri Story-Dance philosophy encourages resourcefulness and minimisation in the design, creation and use of sets, props and costumes. Schools should embrace the concepts of REDUCE, REUSE and RECYCLE when creating sets, props and costumes.

Performance Dates

Allocations
• The number of shows at each venue will be established by the number of entries received.
• Once the dates at each venue are confirmed, schools will be asked to supply us with those dates they CANNOT attend and will then be allocated a date and rehearsal time.

The following rules apply to those schools preparing and submitting their Story-Dance item as part of the Country-Wakakirri competition

Eligible schools
For a school to be eligible for the Country Wakakirri competition they must be more than 3 hours drive from a live Wakakirri venue (or be a School of Distance Education/ School of the Air).

Filming the performance
• ALL Video Wakakirri schools send in a tape of their item filmed live (you cannot record the song and then make a video clip of that song). No editing or specific camera skills are required (though they are permissible)- you will be marked on the song and performance, not on the editing.
• Video Wakakirri item DVDs/tapes can also include credits and a short interview with some of the students.

• Works must posted to Wakakirri (PO Box 607, Newtown 2042, NSW) on a DVD for judging. We will still accept Mini DV Tape for the 2008 Country Story-Dance Competition.
•Entries MUST be filmed in 16:9 widescreen ratio. See more information about 16:9 Widescreen below
• Only works received by the due date (Friday 13 June 2008) will be eligible for judging. Late entries will not be accepted.

Please adhere to the below requirements when sending in your Country Story-Dance entry on DVD.
Ensure that you check the quality of your DVD by playing it back in a DVD player before you send it to us.
You can record your film on any disc you wish EXCEPT DVD-RAM.

Quicktime file (MAC or PC)
File extension: .mov or .dv
Size: 720 x 576 16:9 PAL Anamorphic
Frame Rate: 25fps
Compression: DV PAL
Quality: Best
Scan Mode: Interlaced

Audio will be as follows:
Format: Big Indian(i.e.Linear PCM)
Sample Rate: 48.000 khz
Sample Size: 16 bit
Channels: Stereo (L R)
Estimated File Size: 240mb per 1 minute of footage.

• Entries must be in PAL format (the Australian standard). Some computers have a NTSC (American standard) setting as default. Please check settings before recording or editing
• Must not have ‘picture bars’/ ‘cinema bars’ (the black bands at the top and bottom of screen). This is a setting on some video cameras. Please make sure this is turned OFF.

A miniDV Tape looks like this and is usually used in conjuction with older video recorders.

If you have any questions about tape formats etc please call the Wakakirri office (free call 1800 650 979).

To save any conversion problems from 4:3(fullscreen) to 16: 9(widescreen), we ask that you film your entry in 16:9 widescreen to allow footage to be used in the annual Network TEN TV Special in the event you become a Country Wakakirri Finalist.

Some older digital cameras do not allow you to shoot at 16:9 so make sure you check the functionality of your camera.

As the diagrams above indicate, the picture varies quite significantly when shooting at 16:9, your image will be rectangular rather than the square 4:3 image.
Shooting in 16:9 will allow you to capture landscapes more readily as well as letting you add more dimension to each shot.

Editing time during post-production may also be reduced because you will be able to combine two shots into one, an example of this may be two people conversing. When shooting at 4:3 each person has to be shot one at a time; when shooting at 16:9 however, the entire conversation will be able to be filmed at once without having to film one person then the other.

Please ensure that you bring drop sheets on the day of your performance especially if you are using make-up. These MUST be used in the dressing rooms to prevent make-up from staining dressing room surfaces. SCHOOLS WILL BE CHARGED FOR EXTRA CLEANING BY THE VENUE IF THEY DO NOT ADHERE TO THESE RULES AND FAIL TO BRING ALONG AND USE DROP SHEETS.

Number of Students and items
• Primary schools can have a minimum of 20 students and a maximum of 130 students. Secondary schools can have a minimum of 20 students and a maximum of 80 students. These numbers include backstage crew. Note: All students participating in the primary section must be primary school students. If you have secondary and primary students in the one item, your school must enter the secondary section of the competition.
• A maximum of three separate Story-Dance items may be entered by each primary school. Secondary schools are limited to one story-dance entry per school. Each item must: Contain a minimum of 20 students, none of whom perform in the other items (i.e. no ‘doubling up’ of performers); Be completely different to the other items presented by the school (this includes music, story, creative movement)

Item Duration
• A Wakakirri Story-Dance performance must be a minimum of three (3) minutes and a maximum of seven (7) minutes in length. Timing of the item begins with the first sound and/or movement and concludes with the last sound and/or movement.
• Schools who exceed the seven-minute time limit will be penalised by the loss of two (2) marks from each judge for every five (5) seconds or part thereof over the seven-minute time limit. Items exceeding seven (7) minutes and 30 seconds will not be permitted to go on stage. The item is considered finished when the performers have ceased all movement and the soundtrack has finished. Items under 3 minutes will not be permitted on stage.

Interpreting Indigenous Stories
Wakakirri requires schools to gain permission and take special consideration when interpreting indigenous stories or portraying indigenous individuals or images

Withdrawing from Wakakirri Story-Dance (schools performing live only)
Wakakirri is free to enter however all schools entering Story-Dance at a live venue will be asked to have their Principal sign and return a ‘Confirmation of Entry’ form (Sent to you in INFO PACK 1). This form confirms that if a school withdraws from the competition or fails to turn up to their performance the school has agreed to pay a $550.00 (incl GST) withdrawal admin fee to Wakakirri. We cannot release tickets or other show materials to you until this signed form has been returned to the Wakakirri office. Please advise the Wakakirri office IN WRITING immediately if your school is no longer able to participate in Wakakirri. This rule does not apply to Wakakirri participants sending their entries in via the Country program.

• Music used in Wakakirri Story-Dance must be pre-recorded. Instruments can be used on stage as props but the audio must come from your pre-recorded soundtrack. No microphones or amplification for instruments will be provided. Please note that the audio mix used on the DVDs of the performance will not pick up any ambient sound from the stage eg. Percussion instruments
• Soundtracks used by primary schools must be G rated. Secondary soundtracks must be PG rated.
• All music used must be pre approved by APRA via the form returned to the Wakakirri Office
• Music must be brought to the performance on ONE single mixed CD. Do not include rehearsal tracks on the CD. Poor quality recordings will affect how your item comes across to the audience and also the judges’ scoring

Use of voiceovers/narration
Only simple voiceovers and narration may be used in your soundtrack. Please note that excessive narration will detract from your item and should be avoided. In general, a clearly performed story will not need additional narration. Two cordless hand-held microphones will be provided.

EVERY school participating in Wakakirri STORY-DANCE must complete and return an APRA Music Approval Form. It is very important to complete and send back your APRA Music Approval Form – it is a legal requirement of performing. Primary schools have a general blanket approval of all music but you do still need to submit a form - by the due date – for them to look at. We will contact you if there is a problem but otherwise assume that your music has been approved. Secondary schools DO NEED all of their music choices to be approved. Wakakirri will contact Secondary schools as soon as possible to let you know whether your music has been approved or not. If your music is not approved, you will not be allowed to perform. Please check all music used for lyrical suitability. Neither Wakakirri or APRA can check this for you.

Are there great singers at your school? Could your item be enhanced with live ‘pop’ singing? Schools can use live vocals to accompany and enhance their item.

'Live Pop Singing' Rules
•Lyrics must be G rated as appropriate to the age group performing.
•Students can ONLY sing accompanied by either the karaoke/ instrumental version NOT the original recording.
•You can not change the lyrical content or context of a recording in any way.
•All music used must be included on the APRA Music Performance Statement.
•Schools may use a combination of live singing and original pre-recorded songs in their Wakakirri Story-Dance item. Schools may use and have soloist singers perform as many different songs as they wish. Schools may use as many singers as they wish – however please be aware that the sound engineer won’t be able to keep up with multiple voices and changes.
•The live singer must be on stage at all times.
•Three cordless hand-held microphones will be provided.
•Only one soloist can use a microphone at a time.
•Microphones MUST NEVER be placed on the stage - microphones must always be held , placed in a microphone stand or handed directly to the Stage Manager. (Any damage caused to microphones by placing them on floor will be charged to the school).
•No additional rehearsal time will be available to schools choosing this option.

Story-Dance: Sets & Props Rules

The Wakakirri Story-Dance philosophy encourages resourcefulness and minimisation in the design, creation and use of sets, props and costumes.

GLITTER OR CONFETTI IS NOT TO BE THROWN IN THE AIR AT ANY STAGE OF YOUR PERFORMANCE. It is only permitted at part of makeup or prop decoration and glue must always be used to ensure there is minimal residue left on stage after your rehearsal and performance.

The Judging Philosophy states that “A Story-Dance should have sets, props and costumes that are supportive of the story, are well utilised and are not gratuitous. An ideal Story-Dance set would be REUSABLE, easy to transport and easy for performers to lift and move”.

The Story-Dance Judging Criteria includes 20 marks out of the total 130 for adherence to the philosophy for sets, props and costumes.

Sets and props are restricted by the following:

• No piece may exceed 2.5m in height at any time;
• When off stage, no piece may exceed 2m in width and 80cm in depth. Your piece may extend when onstage, (provided it never exceeds 2.5m in height);
• All of your sets and large props MUST fit safely into a backstage area of 2m x 2.5m. Sets and props can not be stacked above 1.2m for safety reasons;
• Set pieces and props may be placed upon rostra or stage blocks only if it is safe to do so and the total height achieved does not exceed 2.5m i.e. Rostra cannot be used for the sole purpose of increasing the height of the set.
• Sets or props exceeding the height and width requirement will not be permitted to be used in the item. Please be aware that your sets and props WILL BE MEASURED! This rule is enforced for the safety of the performers and the fairness of the competition.
• Only costumes and props you can hold in one hand can be stored in your dressing space;
• Each piece of set MUST be able to be carried effortlessly (not wheeled) by 4 students. Each prop must be able to be carried by one student. This includes lifting on and off the stage, up and down stairs, through narrow corridors, up and down narrow ramps and through standard doorways. Consider that access may be different from venue to venue. Heavy sets are considered too dangerous.
• If a student is standing on any piece of set higher than 1.2m, hand rails will need to be present;
• If you are using steps as part of your set, each step needs to be a minimum of 300mm deep to be safe.
•Changeover time between acts during the performance will be set at a maximum of two minutes per school. i.e. you have two minutes to set up and two minutes to clear the stage of sets, students and any materials that are part of your item. You must provide a backstage crew (students) who are rehearsed in moving the set on and off the stage, safely, in the allocated time. Adults may not help.
• No scenery or backdrops can be ‘flown in’ (ie. hanging from theatre fly bars or from the ceiling). All sets must be ‘free standing’ on the stage.
• The safety of all sets and props, including their appropriate storage backstage, will be determined and approved by the Stage Manager on the day. Unsafe sets and props will not be allowed on stage.
• Sets and props not used in rehearsal cannot be added for the performance. Schools who add items will have points deducted.
• Schools must ensure their sets and props are collected from the venue at the end of each night. Anything left on the premises is done so at the sole risk and cost of the school.

Sets and props will be measured by the Stage Manager. Each school will be given a 2mx 2.5m area in which to store their sets and props.

Prohibited Items

Items NOT permitted to be used in Wakakirri Story-Dance:
• Flying foxes
• Stilts
• Sets requiring mains power. Battery operated lights such as torches are acceptable.
• Pyrotechnics (fireworks etc)
• Flammable liquids
• Naked flame including candles
• Rear or front projection (NO PowerPoint displays. Silhouettes created with torches against fabric are fine)
• Floor electrics (NO PowerPoint presentations, overhead projectors)
• Water-sprayers
• Dry ice
• Fire extinguishers are not permitted for use in creating stage effects
• Straw bales

Corporate Symbols/Logos
Schools must obtain permission from corporations before using their symbols/logos in a Story-Dance item. It is up to each school to seek and gain this approval, forward a copy of this approval to the Wakakirri National Office and retain a record at the school.

Transport, bikes, skateboards, ride on toys etc on stage

These rules apply to the use of transport items and ride on toys - skateboards, roller blades, scooters, billy-carts, bikes and other recreational toys with wheels.

• The rider's feet MUST be able to touch the ground when he/she is SEATED on the transport item. Transport items and ride on toys that prohibit the rider from doing so are not permitted. This includes adult sized bicycles and unicycles.
•All schools who wish to use any transport item within their Story-Dance item MUST obtain permission from the rider's parent and the school principal. There will be provision to do so on the Principal's Confirmation Sheet sent out to registered schools in Information Pack 1. This form can also be downloaded from the 'Forms' page on our website.
• Any student operating a ride on toy must wear appropriate safety gear. i.e. helmets and pads.
•Objects with wheels must be attached with a safety line/rope to the rider in order to prevent the object rolling off the stage.
•The ride on toy must be in good working condition.
•Students cannot ride faster than walking pace.
• Ride on toys can only be used in a direction that propels the student across (wing to wing) stage. Not down (towards front) stage movement allowed for audience safety reasons.
•The transport item may only be used ACROSS the middle of the stage not across the front or rear of the stage.
• No tricks or manoeuvres that may involve potential loss of control of the toy allowed.
• The Wakakirri Stage manager has the right to refuse the use of a ride on toy in a performance if he/she decides it does not comply with Wakakirri rules or is unsafe.

Stage Entries and Exits
Performers must enter and exit through the wings. Entries/exits through the audience ARE NOT permitted.

Lighting
Wakakirri will provide a professional Lighting Technician to operate lighting for your item. Note there are limited lighting effects available.
• A copy of your lighting design sheet must be brought to the rehearsal and given to the Lighting Technician.
• Your lighting rep must KNOW the item, in order to best instruct the lighting technician. The lighting rep should be able to cue the operator (e.g. "5,4,3,2,1 Go UV" or "5,4,3,2,1 Go Mirror Ball”)
• Teachers are not permitted to operate the lighting board themselves.

*NB: adherence to philosophy for sets, props and costumes to be determined by the Head Judge during rehearsals and given to the panel – this equates 20 marks out of a possible 130

In some states the primary school Story-Dance series is divided into a number of divisions depending on the school's previous experience. Participating schools can contact the Wakakirri office if they wish to know what division they have been placed in.

Tasmania, the Northern Territory, Queensland, Regional shows and all secondary competitions have only the one division.

PRIMARY SCHOOLS
•If there are heats in your state, at the end of the series the Head Judge will collate the top ranked schools in each division, these schools are then invited to perform at a Grand Final.
• At the finals, a panel of five judges, including the Head Judge, watch the evening performance and allocate marks in each area of the Judging Criteria to each item.
•The State Coordinator collects and tallies the marks. The State Coordinator plays no part in the allocation of marks or determining the outcome of the competition.
•One overall winner from each division will be selected and awarded GOLD. The remaining finalist schools will receive either SILVER or BRONZE.

SECONDARY SCHOOLS
•The Secondary shows are a one off final. A panel of five judges, including the Head Judge, watch the evening performance and allocate marks in each area of the Judging Criteria to each item.
•The State Coordinator collects and tallies the marks. The State Coordinator plays no part in the allocation of marks or determining the outcome of the competition.
•1st, 2nd and 3rd Place will be announced on the night.

NATIONAL WINNER (TV SPECIAL)
• A National Head Judge will oversee the national judging process along with the Country Wakakirri Series.
•There will be a member of the judging panel at each grand final performance.
•The judging panel use a combination of video footage, live Grand Final performances, and Head Judge reports to assess each Grand Finalist school in line with the Judging Criteria and Philosophy.
•The National Winner is announced during the National Television Special.

Head Judge Recognition Award (presented at Heats)
This award (as a certificate) is presented to each school performing and recognises the achievements of the school in relation to each of the judging criterion (not in relation to other schools).

Each of the criterion will be assessed by the HEAD JUDGE as either Gold, Silver or Bronze. A Gold in the Costumes criterion, for example, means that the school achieved an extremely high standard in relation to the costumes criterion of the judging criteria.

These assessments have no direct bearing on the selection of schools progressing to the finals and will not be read out on stage. Finalist schools are selected by the overall rankings of the entire judging panel for the entire heats series in the state.

Grand Finalist Certificates (presented at Finals)
Each school performing will receive this certificate, which will recognise the Head Judge Grand Final Awards and in a separate section, the overall ranking achieved by the school at the Grand Final. Head Judge Grand Final Awards - The Head Judge will give awards for excellence in each of the six criterions of the Story-Dance judging criteria. (One winner will be selected for each criterion plus up to 3 Distinctions and as many Highly Commended awards for each criterion as appropriate). This means that one school will receive the 'Winner' sticker for Costumes and other schools may also receive Distinction and Highly Commended awards in this area too. These Awards are all recorded as stickers on the school’s Finalist certificate. Overall ranking - Places (Gold, silver or bronze) will be awarded for both the primary and secondary competitions. These prizes are determined by the combined rankings of the judging panel. There will be one overall winner (GOLD), a band of schools in second place (SILVER) and a band of schools in third place (BRONZE). All finalists schools will receive a ranking of either Gold, Silver or Bronze, recognising the great success they have already achieved in making a Wakakirri Final.

‘Offstage’ Awards (presented at heats and finals)
• Teamwork Award
• Best School in Public
• Public Speaking

Environmental Merit Awards (presented at heats and finals)
• Most Creative Reuse of Materials to Make Sets, Props or Costumes
• Most Sustainable Performance

Special Category Awards (optional)
• Live Pop Singing Award
• Most Creative Use of the Signature Item
• Artistic Endeavour Award

N.B. All schools are eligible for selection as state winner of the Environmental and Special Category Awards. Winners may not necessarily be performing in a Grand Final but will be invited to the Grand Final to receive their certificates.

NOTE: In regions where finals take place over a number of nights, the overall ranking will not be announced on the night and schools will receive a Head Judge Recognition Certificate in the place of a Grand Finalist Certificate.

Wakakirri comps are not only lots of fun but you could also win your school some great prizes.

Prizes up for grabs in 2008 include:
• Prize to the value of $500 for each state winning Story-Dance school
• Prize to the value of $5000 for the national Story-Dance winner
• Prize to the value of $100 for each of the state Eco-Zone winners

The Wakakirri Prizes

The Wakakirri Prizes are fantastic special awards given to selected schools for their display of Wakakirri spirit within two areas: The Environment; and Cultural Diversity. This could be in the stories or content they tackle in their works, the artistic leaps of faith they make, the enthusiasm and teamwork of their students or their community spirit and initiative. They are awards that recognise that the true outcomes of Wakakirri can be found at school and within school communities.

The announcement of the Wakakirri Prizes will be made during the national TV Special on TEN.