By arts editor Helen Musa

I’ve been going to Ausdance ACT’s Youth Dance Festival since I can remember, and this joyous event continues to be one of Canberra’s most enduring youth arts programs, with its emphasis firmly on student creativity rather than competition.

Coming to the Canberra Theatre Centre’s Playhouse for three nights, the 2026 festival explores the intersection between the digital and physical worlds under the theme The Metaverse.

Creative director Cathy Adamek tells me when I catch up with her that 28 schools and colleges will be represented, with students from Years 7 to 12 creating performances that explore how technology, gaming and social media are shaping their lives.

A metaverse is a network of three-dimensional virtual worlds where people interact through digital avatars. For young people who have grown up immersed in digital culture, it offers plenty to think about, Adamek says.

Some schools are exploring artificial intelligence and the prospect of robots taking over, while other performances examine bullying, perfectionism, conformity and the pressure exerted by social media.

Adamek says students have responded keenly to the theme, reflecting on the power of the digital world and its influence on how they communicate, move and connect with others.

A distinctive feature of this festival is that the choreography and artistic ideas come from the students themselves. The production is developed with school coordinators and teachers, whose involvement varies, but the focus remains on original student work.

Dance films have also become an increasingly important part of the festival. Adamek says the format gained momentum during the covid pandemic and has continued to grow, reflecting a generation accustomed to mobile phones and digital media. At the same time, the festival offers a reminder of the immediacy and shared experience of live performance.

The theme also raises questions about online identity, where avatars allow people to experiment with different versions of themselves.

The Metaverse, Canberra Theatre Centre Playhouse, October 27 to 29.

At a glance

Tuesday, October 27: Burgmann Anglican School, Canberra College, Canberra Grammar School, Canberra High School, Caroline Chisholm School, Lyneham High School, Mount Stromlo High School, Radford College, St Mary MacKillop College and UC SSC Lake Ginninderra.

Wednesday, October 28: Alfred Deakin High School, Black Mountain School, Calwell High School, Canberra Girls Grammar School, Evelyn Scott School, Lake Tuggeranong College, Marist College Canberra, Melrose High School and Monaro High School.

Thursday, October 29: Amaroo School, Erindale College, Gungahlin College, Hawker College, Kingsford Smith School, Narrabundah College, St John Paul II College and Trinity Catholic College Goulburn.

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