The Australian Dance Festival is an annual celebration of Australia’s best in dance, with workshops with Australia’s best choreographers, show nights and competitions, and auditions for Australia’s top full time dance schools. It is an absolute whirlwind of energy, talent, and teamwork – and Physio Club were right in the thick of it providing physio and first aid coverage.
Across three jam-packed days, our team of 10 physios and volunteers covered both the Quay Centre and Netball Courts, supporting dancers from warm-up to curtain call. We came prepared with 100 ice packs – and by Sunday night, only 4 were left. We also delivered around 20 physiotherapy treatments, countless tapings, and fielded everything from splinters to suspected fractures.
With so many moving parts, it was a big job coordinating staff across two venues, keeping coverage smooth, and making sure dancers had support whenever and wherever they needed it.
Day 1: Highlights
Friday kept us on our toes with a wide variety of presentations. We used the blood pressure cuff and sats probe to monitor vitals, managed a handful of cuts that needed wound care and dressings, and were called to assess a suspected wrist fracture, a possible meniscal tear, and a couple of acute wry necks. Alongside these cases came the more familiar muscle strains and plenty of strapping to keep dancers moving and supported throughout their performances.
The night ended dramatically: a serious knee injury on stage and an allergic reaction that escalated from a red mark to a full red arm. Ambulances were nearly called, but parents stepped in and helped de-escalate both situations.
Day 2: Saturday Surge
Saturday was a big day of teamwork and bonding.
At the Netball Courts, our physios were absolute machines- handing out ice packs, taping knees, hips, and ankles, and even performing a splinter extraction with no tweezers!
Meanwhile, at the Quay Centre, the day was filled with taping, a couple of nasty knee injuries, and managing the usual scrapes and grazes.
Day 3: Sunday Finale
By the final stretch, the weekend’s toll was showing on the dancers – more sore necks and backs needed treatment, alongside the steady stream of taping requests. Our ice pack stash dwindled to four by the closing hours.
The night finished on a high with the Dream Creative 10-year reunion show, a stunning reminder of why we love being part of the dance world.
It was a privilege to be part of such a hardworking crew and to help oversee the coverage from start to finish. The Australian Dance Festival was a true showcase of not just dance talent, but also teamwork, resilience, and care. A massive thank you to every member of our crew who’s effort kept dancers safe, supported, and ready to shine under the spotlight. Here’s to another unforgettable year at the Australian Dance Festival!
At Physio Club, we have physio who have a special interest and skills in treating dancers of all kinds.
Get in touch with us, or check out our website for more details.
Author – Lisa Schaup, Senior Physiotherapist at Physio Club Sutherland
