It’s been an enormous month for the Performing Arts here at Stella.

Year 12 Performance Night at Bucketty's

On Tuesday 26 August, Year 12 had their Performance Night at Bucketty’s. The night was a great success with the students from Music 2 and Music 1 classes performing their HSC repertoire, and a selection of group items to a fantastic crowd. The show was a really positive boost so close to the HSC Performance Exams.

Cabaret - Broadway Through the Ages

On September 4 and 5 we opened our first ever Cabaret show, ‘Broadway through the Ages’. The nights started with drinks and dinner on the ‘Polding Centre Rooftop Sunset Bar’ where fantastic live music was provided by ‘CC Tunes’ from Year 10. The show featured two nights of performances across Dance, Drama and Music, brought together with the support of our Entertainment Industry students and stage crew. It was a wonderful success, and we congratulate all the students involved while thanking the staff for their hard work and creative vision in bringing it to life.

Father’s Day Breakfast Performances

This year for the Father’s Day Breakfast, we invited students to perform a song with their Dad, Grandparent or Caregiver.

The morning was a great success with some lovely performances that definitely had a few of the audience members in tears!

OnSTAGE nominations

A huge congratulations to the following students (and to Ms Nicola) for their nominations into ‘OnSTAGE’ - a selection of outstanding major works by HSC Drama students in NSW.

Group Performances

• Ruby A, Lila L and Isabelle P: Just the Four of Us

• Kaitlin B, Eva L, Sienna S and Minty T: The Lavish Lies of Ladies Lives

Individual Performances

• Kaitlin B: Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

Battle of the Bands @ Barker Spring Fair

Off the back of two nights playing live acoustic entertainment at the Cabaret Sunset Rooftop Bar, ‘CC Tunes’ (Charlotte and Claudia from Year 10) took part in the Barker Spring Fair Battle of the Bands. The competition was fierce with 35 acts from elite private schools across Sydney and Wollongong. The girls held their own and were fantastic taking out third place which included a $250 cash prize and a $450 band mentoring voucher at Big Music.

Japan Music Tour 2026 Information Evening

The Performing Arts department is planning a tour of music students to Japan in 2026. We invite all interested parents and students to an information evening next week, presented by our tour agency partner, Hayllar. Details are as follows:

• Date: Wednesday 24 September
• Venue: The Theatre
• Time: 5.00pm to 6.00pm

For those unable to make it at this time, a recording will be available.

Year 10 Rock Night

Tonight, Thursday 18 September, is our annual Year 10 Rock Night 🤘. A casual evening held in the Music room, the night promises to be a lot of fun and features class items and individual performances and of course, pizza and soft drinks. Don’t forget to wear your favourite rock shirt!

2025 Dance Results

This year has been one of the most successful competition seasons to date. 2025 saw the dance program expand to include five new troupe teams in addition to new competitions to trial. The improvement from the girls’ performances at their first competition compared to their final performance was spectacular! I am so proud of every single student; all the girls have worked very hard and shown much dedication and commitment. I am even more impressed with the sportsmanship they showed to other teams, supporting and cheering them on, as well as to each other.

Highlights of the season include the youngest team, the Year 7 Lyrical Ensemble, receiving 1^st Place at Dancelife Unite, the Jazz Company taking out the Most Entertaining Troupe award at The Hills Dance Spectacular, and the Extension Lyrical Company achieving the Highest Overall Scoring Routine and Regional Champions at Dancelife Unite.

I haven’t told the girls yet, but almost all of our teams are through to the National Finals for Dancelife Unite. This is tremendous achievement, I am absolutely thrilled!

The girls have one final performance – the Semester 2 Dance Night on Friday 14 November. I hope you will come and cheer them on one last time.

Also to be recognised are the outstanding results from the Year 12 HSC Dance Students. Students can receive a maximum of three Callback nominations. CALLBACK is an annual showcase of exemplary performances and compositions by HSC students of dance; similar to Onstage for Drama, or Art Express for Art. This year, four of the Year 12 students received a total nine Callback nominations. This is a phenomenal achievement and a huge accolade for the students. The entire Year 12 HSC Dance class has worked tirelessly for the entire year and deserve this recognition. Congratulations girls!

HSC Dance CALLBACK Nominations:

• Major Study Performance – Kate N
• Major Study Performance – Stella T
• Major Study Performance – Abi T
• Core Performance – Kate N
• Core Performance – Stella T
• Core Performance – Abi T
• Core Performance – Amy B
• Core Composition – Kate N
• Core Composition – Amy B

Dance Competition Results

The Hills Dance Spectacular

• Most Entertaining Troupe Award - Years 7-9 Jazz Company “Toxic”
• 1st Place – Years 7-9 Contemporary Company “Everybody Supports Women”
• 1st Place – Year 9, 200 Hour Elective Dance - “DIVAs”
• 1st Place – Years 7-11 Extension Hip Hop Company “Sticky”
• 1st Place – Years 7-11 Extension Lyrical Company “Power Over Me”
• 2nd Place – Years 7-11 Extension Commercial Jazz Company “JLO”
• 2nd Place – Years 7-9 Jazz Company “Toxic"
• 3rd Place – Years 7-11 Extension Jazz Company “Abracadabra”
• 3rd Place – Years 7-9 Lyrical Company “Better Off Without You"
• Highly Commended – Years 7-9 Hip Hop Ensemble “DNA”
• Highly Commended – Years 8 & 9 Lyrical Ensemble “Scared of My Guitar”
• Highly Commended – Years 9 & 10 Senior Lyrical Company “Something To Someone”

DanceLife Unite

• Overall Highest Scoring Routine & Regional Champions - Yrs 7-11 Ext Lyrical Company “Power Over Me”
• 1st Place – Years 7-11 Ext Lyrical Company “Power Over Me”
• 1st Place – Years 7-11 Ext Hip Hop Company “Sticky”
• 1st Place – Years 7-9 Contemporary Company “Everybody Supports Women”
• 1st Place – Year 7 Lyrical Ensemble “Ocean Eyes”
• 2nd Place – Years 7-11 Ext Commercial Jazz Company “JLO”
• 2nd Place – Years 7-9 Lyrical Company “Better Off Without You”
• 2nd Place – Years 7-9 Contemporary Ensemble “Lose Control”
• 3rd Place – Years 7-11 Ext Jazz Company “Abracadabra”
• 3rd Place – Years 7-9 Jazz Company “Toxic”
• 3rd Place – Years 8/9 Lyrical Ensemble “Scared of My Guitar”
• 3rd Place – Years 8/9 Jazz Ensemble “Miracle Maker”
• 4th Place – Year 9 Elective Dance “DIVAs”
• 4th Place – Year 7 Jazz “Simply Irresistible”
• 4th Place – Years 7-9 Hip Hop Ensemble “DNA"

Dance Spec Challenge (Ensembles & Company Only):

• 1st Place – Years 7-9 Jazz Company “Toxic”
• 1st Place – Years 7-9 Contemporary Company “Everybody Supports Women”
• 2nd Place – Years 7-9 Hip Hop Ensemble “DNA”
• 3rd Place – Years 7-11 Extension Hip Hop Company “Sticky”
• Highly Commended – Years 7-9 Lyrical Company
• Highly Commended – Years 9 & 10 Senior Jazz Company

The Ultimate Dance Challenge

• 1st Place – Years 7-11 Extension Jazz Company “Abracadabra"
• 1st Place – Years 7-11 Extension Lyrical Company “Power Over Me"
• 1st Place – Years 7-11 Extension Hip Hop Company “Sticky”
• 1st Place – Years 7-9 Contemporary Company “Everybody Supports Women"
• 1st Place – Years 7 & 8 Lyrical Company “Better Off Without You"
• 2nd Place – Years 7-9 Jazz Company “Toxic"
• 2nd Place – Year 7 Lyrical Ensemble “Ocean Eyes"
• 2nd Place – Years 7-9 Hip Hop Ensemble “DNA”
• 3rd Place – Years 7-11 Extension Commercial Jazz Company “JLO”
• 3rd Place – Years 9 & 10 Senior Lyrical Company “Something To Someone”
• 3rd Place – Years 7-9 Contemporary Ensemble “Lose Control”
• 3rd Place – Year 9 200hr Elective Dance Class “DIVAs"
• Highly Commended – Years 9 & 10 Senior Jazz Company “MJ"
• Highly Commended – Years 8 & 9 Lyrical Ensemble “Scared of My Guitar"

Extreme Dance Challenge

• 1st Place – Years 7-12 Extension Lyrical Company
• 1st Place – Years 7-9 Contemporary Company
• 1st Place – Years 7 & 8 Lyrical Company
• 2nd Place – Years 7-12 Extension Jazz Company
• 2nd Place – Years 7-12 Extension Commercial Jazz Company
• 2nd Place – Years 7-9 Contemporary Ensemble
• Highly Commended – Years 9 & 10 Senior Jazz Company
• Highly Commended – Years 7-11 Extension Hip Hop Company
• Highly Commended – Years 7-9 Jazz Company
• Highly Commended – Years 7-9 Hip Hop Ensemble

I'd Rather Be Dancing (Extension Company Only)

• 1st Place – Extension Hip Hop Company
• 2nd Place – Extension Commercial Jazz Company
  
• Highly Commended – Extension Jazz Company
  
• Highly Commended – Extension Lyrical Company