Dance hall days live again in The Rivoli

Let nostalgia take the wheel when Dance Makers Collective’s The Rivoli hits Geelong West Town Hall from November 9-12 November to round out Geelong Arts Centre’s Our Season 2022.

The final installation in this year’s Geelong Arts Centre season, The Rivoli pays tribute to iconic Australian dance halls of 1930-1960, when to meet was to talk, laugh and move to music together.

The Rivoli Dance Palace in Parramatta was western Sydney’s favourite dance hall. Demolished in 1973 to make way for an office development, now nothing remains of “The Riv” except the stories of the people who danced there.

Development of The Rivoli 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?

An ode to a bygone dance era, 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.

The Rivoli features some of Australia’s best dancers and a stellar live band, encouraging audience members to be swept into an immersive exploration of mid-century nightlife, desire and social connection.

“We could not be more pleased to see Our Season 2022 conclude with The Rivoli,” Geelong Arts Centre head of programming Penny McCabe said.

“To showcase a piece of work that celebrates a critical component of our country’s dance history, while also providing opportunities for local Geelong dancers to perform and share their stories in the modern era, feels like a poignant end to a phenomenal season.”

The Rivoli will be performed at Geelong West Town Hall, 153 Pakingston Street, Geelong West from November 9-11 at 7.30pm, and on November 12 at 1pm and 7.30pm.

Entry is at the rear of the Geelong West Town Hall building, via the shared access car park (accessible via Weller Street or Albert Street).

Tickets are on sale now at geelongartscentre.org.au/our-season-2022/the-rivoliThe Rivoli features some of Australia’s best dancers and a stellar live band.

Development of the performance began by imagining what such a venue would look like if it existed today.