On April 13th, 14th and 15th the Energetiks Victorian Dance Festival returned for it’s seventh and most awe-inspiring festival yet, with thousands of dancers converging on Coburg’s Batman Royale event space for a weekend that was packed full of exceptional classes, unforgettable performances and priceless moments of connection, growth and celebration. This year marked a turning point for VDF, with Dance Informa’s Deborah and Daniel Searle taking the helm as the Festival’s new owners, and guiding the event onwards and upwards with the singular goal of celebrating the love of dance with one and all. Event attendees were once again in the capable hands of VDF’s returning Artistic Director, Yvette Lee, who saw an unrivalled lineup of highly respected instructors take to the stage throughout the weekend, and whose own closing class blew the roof off the venue with a palpable energy of euphoria emanating from every dancer in the room. Not a single fraction of floor remained empty as Yvette began the Festival’s closing routine, seeing attendees of every age and skill level joining in on the final exhilarating class of the weekend. Spectators were treated to one synchronous, swelling sea of dancers, united by a shared passion, and the priceless experience of celebrating it together. And as the event drew to a close for another year, VDF had not only reaffirmed and solidified the love of dance in every individual attendee, it had left behind a more connected community with freshly strengthened bonds.

With The Victorian Dance Festival just today announcing dates for their 2020 event (April 3rd - 5th), and as the proud ongoing sponsors of VDF, we thought it was the high-time to bring you all the highlights and most extraordinary moments from Energetiks VDF 2019 to help tide you over until the magic returns! See below for the highlights reel, and click through to our VDF gallery for more photos from Victoria’s most incredible weekend of dance.

Day one of classes kick off with the Joffrey Ballet School’s Masterclass, taken by Mathew Prescott for Senior dancers, and instructors Nadia Tornese and Blake John Wood taking the Junior and Professional dancers for Hip Hop and Commercial.

Above: Instructors Mathew Prescott, Nadia Tornese and VDF dancers during the opening classes of the festival.

Day 1: Sam Bateson assists returning international instructor Travis Wall during his Saturday morning class

Lineup - Top Left: VDF Artistic Director and instructor Yvette Lee during her closing class, Top right: Mitchell Woodcock taking Senior Musical Theatre. Bottom left: Travis Wall wows during his contemporary workshop, Bottom right: Joel Burke, the 2019 Energetiks VDF Ambassador on stage assisting Travis Wall.

The beautiful Lucy Doherty assisting Sarah Boulter during her Saturday afternoon Senior Contemporary class. Doherty also returned with partner Rob Mclean on Sunday to lead a cathartic and self-exploratory More Than Movement masterclass.

F E E L T H E P A S S I O N

Industry greats Matt Lee, Kate Wormald, Paul Malek, Juliet Doherty and Jason Coleman were amongst the incredible list of instructors who came from around Melbourne, interstate and overseas to share their knowledge and skills across every genre with this year’s VDF dancers. Attendees also had the opportunity to audition for the Joffrey Ballet School and Travis Wall’s contemporary company ‘Shaping Sound’, as well as watch performances by guest artists, rising talents and a showcase that featured a plethora of Australia’s most diverse and talented dance schools.

What a feeling: Elle Dimos and Blake John Wood on stage during his Senior Commercial Class

Above: Dancer Brodie Chesher caught in the moment during Travis Wall’s Shaping Sound audition.

A new chapter for The Victorian Dance Festival: Dance Informa’s Deborah Searle takes to the stage to address excited 2019 attendees. This year marks the first of many dance festivals to come with new owners Daniel and Deborah Searle set on raising VDF to new heights.

Show-stealer: Dancer Kallee Richardson (SCIMM Dance Company) performs Travis Wall’s choreography during his Professional/Full-Time Contemporary class on Day 1.

Guest of Honour: Energetiks VDF 2019 Ambassador, Joel Burke. The talented Brisbane based dancer spent the weekend meeting attendees, assisting classes and taking part in many of the workshops on offer. Pictured: Joel on stage with Travis Wall, assisting during the Shaping Sound audition class.

Above: Samantha Bruzzese feeling the energy during the Closing Class of VDF 2019.
Below: Yvette Lee on stage with her assistants for the final, electric class of the year, bringing energy levels to a whole new high and ensuring that the Energetiks Victorian Dance Festival 2019 finished on the most memorable and uplifting note imaginable.

View all the photo highlights from Energetiks VDF 2019

See the Gallery

The Victorian Dance Festival is proudly sponsored by Energetiks.

For more news and info about the next Energetiks Victorian Dance Festival visit www.victoriandancefestival.com and keep up to date with the latest announcements on the VDF instagram.

Article and photography by Elly Ford.

Energetiks VDF 2019 | The Highlights Reel