Congratulations to the Daily Liberal for encouraging residents and visitors to submit new and fresh ideas which may improve the DREAM Festival.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The foundations for an iconic festival have been built - it just now needs that “spark’’ or key idea or signature event which will capture the imagination of the locals and attract outside visitors.
At the initial public meetings in 2010 one of the constantly recurring themes which attracted a lot of support was based around dance as it was easy to participate in and popular to watch.
Dubbo has a strong dance community of all genres.
This gave rise to the current dance component in the DREAM Festival which has been very successful but may now be ready for a change of direction.
One suggestion which may have merit is to have various dance nights around Dubbo of different genres and for all ages and standards including on a stage in a public street (Church Street and the Rotunda area), on a stage on the riverbank, on the grass at a winery, in the betting ring at the racecourse and anywhere else which might be just a little bit different all anchored by one huge night at the Civic Centre which would be transformed into Dubbo’s own Trocadero Dance Palace.
The original Trocadero had its heyday in the 1940s and 50s with lindy hoppers, swingsters, rockabillies and cha cha-ers dancing the night away in all their finery.
The DREAM Festival would transform the Civic Centre into swing dance heaven featuring a huge dance floor, a fabulous floorshow and sizzling swing music played by a local or big name big band just as it did in its halcyon days but with plenty of 2016 edge.
An inexhaustible team of professional dancers would inspire and challenge you to burn up the floor.
There would even be dance lessons so everyone could join in.
Everyone would be encouraged to shine up their dancing shoes, get frocked up, grab a partner and head on down to Dubbo’s own newly created Trocadero Dance Palace to soak up the atmosphere and energy of a unique night club.
Other features might be :
❏ Pre-show dance lessons from 6.30pm to 7.30pm (alcohol-free).
❏ Troc Dance Show from 7.30pm to 9pm ( alcohol-free so young people of all ages can attend).
❏ Troc Party Night from 9pm until midnight (alcohol allowed ) with the best dance bands available.
❏ Big name choreographer brought up from Sydney.
❏ Four big name professional dancers to give the lessons and stay on throughout the night.
❏ Gallery seats available for patrons who want to dress up but would prefer to watch rather than participate in the dancing segments of the show.
The DREAM Festival would, in part, be known as the place to go in October each year to swing (picture monkeys from the zoo) to the music and dance your cares away - Dubbo the Dance Capital of NSW!!!
Sub themes are also only limited by imagination - a Michael Jackson dance-off, best imitation of Fred Astaire dancing, can you be as sexy as Patrick Swayze and so on. Worth some consideration.
Cheers, Peter Bartley
Residents have been encouraged to share their ideas on the DREAM Festival so it not only survives but continues to build into an iconic event that Dubbo so desperately craves.
The Daily Liberal will publish ideas submitted by the community to maintain and boost the festival in its print edition, website and Facebook page.
Residents and visitors can share their thoughts on what they believe needs improving and what can be added to the event to ensure it is a success.
The DREAM Festival faces a withdrawal of funding from Dubbo City Council which could kill it off, according to organisers.
Dream Festival Committee vice-chairman, Anne Field, said ideas from the community were essential to not only the event's survival but its growth to a level where it could rival the Tamworth Music Festival or Parkes Elvis Festival.