Congratulations to our HSC Dance students who were the first HSC Performing Arts subject to have the practical components of the course assessed by NESA. Examiners were at the College on Monday 18 August to assess our dance students. Thank you to Ms Hannah Johnson for preparing these students and congratulations to all of our dancers.
Good luck to our HSC Drama students who will be assessed next - Friday 5 September. If you would like to see the Year 12 Drama Monologues and Group Performances, there will be a showcase evening held on Monday 1 September from 5:30pm to 7:30pm in the BDC Theatre. The evening will feature the students’ final HSC performances, showcasing the incredible dedication, creativity and talent they have developed throughout the year. The students would appreciate the support so please come along if you can. Thank you to Ms Gudgeon for preparing our Drama students.
Music HSC Exam dates have also been released. Music Extension will be held on Monday 15 September; Music 2 will be on Tuesday 16 September and Music 1 on Thursday 18 September. As the practical examinations will occur in the Music department, there will be no instrumental tuition on those days and no ensemble rehearsals to ensure our HSC students have the best examination venue possible. Tutors have been notified of this as well. There will be a recital evening for Music 2 and Extension students on Tuesday 9th September in M1 from 5:30pm.
In week 3 we welcomed alumni student Kate Clerkin back to work with our World Options Dance class. Kate has recently graduated from full-time dance training at Ev & Bow and is already making waves in the dance world. Her creativity and unique style were an inspiration to our students. The workshop focused on contemporary dance technique, followed by movement generation tasks and improvisation. Thank you, Kate, for sharing the knowledge and experience you've gained from working in the industry. It was such a pleasure to have you back in the studio.
Our annual Performing Arts Awards Evening will be held on Thursday 13 November in the Branson Centre. Save the dates have been emailed last week and information on how to purchase tickets will be shared soon.
For your planning, groups performing at this years event include:
Wind ensemble
College Orchestra
Secondary Choir
Jazz Band
Secondary Dance Academy
Year 11 Drama
Battle of the Bands Judges Choice
It is going to be another spectacular evening so we hope to see you there.
Callum Walraven (Year 6) has won first place in the 11-13 years Junior Piano Championship at Gold Coast Eisteddfod. The Championship was at an incredibly high standard and lasted for more than 3 hours for all the competitors to play their pieces.
Special thanks to his extremely dedicated and talented teacher, Mimia Margiotta.
The return of our lunchtime concert series has been a resounding success. The Year 12 Music 1 students performed at the last concert to a full M1 - standing room only!
In week 6, we will hear Tim Hardman, Ollie Bond and Lillian Cruwys. In week 8, Adelaide Robinson and Matthew Healy will perform.
Thank you to all of our performers as well as the students who attend to support our Performing Arts students.
On Sunday 17 August, students from the BDC Secondary Dance Academy performed at the Jetty Memorial Theatre alongside local community groups and the amazing Heart Farm Rural Company. What a celebration of dance and community!
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Thank you to Ella Chowdhury and Olivia Gruber Styles (Year 12) for their performance of “Shut Up and Dance With Me” at the week 5 Secondary Assembly.
At the week 5 Secondary Assembly our new Arts Captains, Lillian Cruwys and Stan Watson, presented their Senior Spotlight. Please see their speech below. I am excited to have these amazing students leading the Arts for our student body.
Good morning students and staff. I am Lillian Cruwys, and I am Stanley Watson, and we both feel so honoured and privileged to be standing in front of you all as your 2025 to 2026 Arts Captains.
Together, we have agreed to encompass many leadership values to create a safe and empathetic environment for all to come and talk to. To us, leadership means guiding with integrity, lifting others up, and creating opportunities for everyone to shine. It is about setting an example through our actions, listening to those around us, and encouraging every student to explore their creativity with confidence. Recognising and empathising with others through art is one of our greatest gifts, and it should be appreciated for its beauty.
Our greatest wish is for everyone to find comfort in art, whether it's an escape from schoolwork, an expression of who you are, or simply a drawing in the back of your book. A chance for all to express their uniqueness, and knowing that it is praised and appreciated. We hope to create spaces and opportunities where students can experiment freely, share their ideas, and be inspired by the creativity of others.
Growing up, I wasn’t always involved in performance and art. I was introduced to the world of dance first, thanks to my sister. I started in a boys' hip-hop class, and now I dance five days a week. It's crazy how much my life changed from that one class. My appreciation for self-expression and self-confidence has blossomed through art. I had to become vulnerable towards myself, see it all as a big picture and build it up from there. My love for dance evolved into drama, then textiles, and finally singing, until I was completely immersed in the arts. It has shown me the strength within vulnerability, and it acts as an escape when things get tough. It hasn’t been an easy journey, and I definitely still have my doubts, but it's normal to take breaks and return to it later. Art and performing, especially, have taught me how to roll with the punches and not to dwell on the bad moments, but instead find the beauty in what I created. If you take anything from my story, I hope you can see that you don’t need to be born “Gifted” if you have a passion and a dream, chase it.
My artistic journey began in the BDC Theatre when I was eight, auditioning for The Sound of Music. I was expected to stand in front of a table of directors and perform to a room full of experienced singers. I remember standing when my name was called and telling my mum, ‘please don’t make me do this’. Before waiting for a reply I walked down the stairs to the stage. What felt like a small moment at the time became a turning point, one that has guided my path and shaped the person I have become. That experience taught me that the hardest part is often taking the first step. From that moment, I discovered that courage doesn’t mean the absence of fear, but moving forward despite it. The Arts have given me confidence, resilience, and the ability to connect with others through performance. It has shaped the way I approach challenges; reminding me that every opportunity begins with the decision to try.
Looking ahead, our goals as Arts Captains are to create more opportunities for students to participate in and showcase the arts. We want to strengthen the visibility of music, drama, dance, and visual arts across the school, encourage collaboration between different artistic areas, and support initiatives that allow students to explore their passions fully. Our vision is to cultivate a culture where every student feels inspired to express themselves, take risks, and contribute their unique talents to the wider school community. One of our main priorities is to help everyone reach their full potential and individual goals, offering our support and giving guidance in any way we can. We aim to be approachable and insightful, so if you have any questions, suggestions, or need guidance, don’t hesitate to reach out. The Arts have given us so much, and through our leadership, we aim to give back.
We believe in celebrating the arts in all their diversity, recognising their power to inspire, connect, and bring people together. They inspire, connect, and challenge us, helping us to understand ourselves and others in meaningful ways. And the moral we want to share as leaders is simple— The essence of the arts is creating opportunities for every student to be seen, heard, and valued, so that together, our creativity can flourish. Like Ratatouille said, “Your only limit is your soul”.
Rebecca Day
Head of Performing Arts
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