Celebrate social life before social media with a tribute to Australia's iconic dance halls, The Rivoli.
Let nostalgia take the wheel when Dance Makers Collective’s The Rivoli hits Geelong West Town Hall this November to round out Geelong Arts Centre’s incredible ‘Our Season 2022’.
Arriving from November 9 to 12 2022 for five special shows, The Rivoli pays tribute to iconic Australian dance halls of 1930 – 1960, when to meet was to talk, laugh and move to music together.
Stay up to date with what’s happening in and around the region here.
In Dance Makers Collective’s most ambitious work yet, The Rivoli story centres around The Rivoli Dance Palace in Parramatta, which was long Western Sydney’s favourite dance hall. The action at the Rivoli Ballroom was broadcast on radio stations across Australia’s eastern seaboard for over a decade during the 50s and 60s. It was a place where entire families could gather to share in dancing and music. Demolished in 1973 to make way for office development, now nothing remains of ‘The Riv’ except the stories of the people who danced there.
Development of The Rivoli performance began by imagining what such a venue would look like if it existed today. What kinds of communities would come together to reaffirm their shared identity through bodies and rhythm and music?
The result is a poignant ode to a bygone dance era, where throughout the performance audiences will hear the voices of people who danced at the Rivoli, as well as the voices of those who dance now, in Geelong.
Featuring some of Australia’s best dancers and a stellar live band, The Rivoli encourages audience members to be swept into an immersive exploration of mid-century nightlife, desire and social connection.
To celebrate the show’s arrival in the Geelong region, we’re giving away two double passes (two tickets each) to 7:30pm performance of The Rivoli at Geelong West Town Hall on Wednesday, November 9 2022. To be in the running, all you have to do is enter your name and email address.
The competition closes Wednesday, November 2 at 6pm and winners will be notified by email. By entering, you agree to receive marketing collateral from Forte and competition partners. For more info, check out our privacy policy.
Find out more about the show here.
