Tanilba Bay Public School and Tomaree High School are two of just eight schools from the Hunter region that signed up for Wakakirri this year.

Wakakirri, in its 25^th anniversary year, is the largest performing arts event for schools in Australia.

It involves more than 20,000 primary and secondary students from 240 schools.

The students perform a Wakakirri story dance – a three to seven minute performance – which theatrically tells a story using a combination of dancing, acting and creative movement to pre-recorded music. 

Schools can tell any story and use any combination of dance, creative movement, acting, music, props, costumes, sets, and in some cases, film, projections and singing.

Story dances this year deal with themes including mental health, bullying and the price of fame. 

Works range from wholly original stories to book adaptations and classic tales reworked. 

“The most exciting thing about Wakakirri is seeing the kids so positively engaged and witnessing all of their hard work creating amazing stories,” festival director Adam Loxley said.

“Children travelling from school and performing at a professional theatre is something they may only experience once in their lives and is certainly a highlight for many kids when they reflect on their time at school.”

The Port Stephens students, along with those from Cessnock, Tarro and Wallsend South public schools plus Lambton, Kurri Kurri high schools and Tuggerah Lakes Secondary College Tumbi Umbi Campus, will perform their dances at Civic Theatre, Newcastle on Wednesday, August 30.

From this performance, the schools have an opportunity to progress to the awards phase of the event and perform in front of a panel of industry professionals. 

Tickets to see the Wakakirri performance at Civic Theatre, available from civictheatrenewcastle.com.au or by phoning 4929 1977, cost $35 per person.

The show begins at 7.15pm.