Each year hundreds of schools partake in Australia’s largest performing arts festival, expressing stories through dance at Wakakirri to reflect their thoughts, ideas and aspirations in an effort to win Story of the Year.

This year four Catholic schools within the Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn were finalists in the ACT Region, winning multiple State and Performance Awards.

Rosary Primary School Watson received the Best Adapted Story Award for their production ‘Diamond in the Rough’, combining dancing, acting and creative moment to retell the story of Disney classic Aladdin.  

St Anthony’s Parish School Wanniassa received Best Inspirational Story for their creative performance about uncoordinated Gerald the Giraffe who gains confidence in dancing through finding music that he loves.  

Panel member Mike Smith said that the production titled ‘Giraffes Can’t Dance’ was a heart-warming discovery of finding a way to march to the beat of your own drum.

St Francis of Assisi Primary School Calwell won the Best Original Story Award and the Spirit of Wakakirri for their performance titled ‘Look Inside Yourself’ that told the story of a fly who longed to be someone else before finding happiness within herself.  

St Gregory’s Primary School Queanbeyan were awarded Best Blockbuster Story for an entertaining and enchanting rendition of a bedtime ritual that came alive on stage through song and dance.

After glowing reviews from the panel members the hard work payed off for all four schools who were invited to perform again on Awards Night.  Congratulations to all schools who entered the competition and represented Catholic Education!