SFCC Students Perform in 4Cs Showcase

Our students and staff experienced an incredible day of culture, art, music and dance, travelling to Bunjil Place in Narre Warren last Monday to perform in the 4C’s Showcase.

The 4C’s Showcase is a performance program for secondary students in years 7 to 12 that centres around Cultivating Creative Cultures with Communities. The aim is to celebrate the different cultures in our local community and support VCE-VM student outcomes.

More than 40 of our students participated in the Casey Future Reset Summit and 4C’s Cultural Dance Showcase alongside students from Yan-Yan Yaruk Youth, Lyndhurst Secondary College, Lyndale Secondary College, Carrum Downs Secondary College, Cranbourne College and Le Teine Polynesian Dance School.

The day started with a welcome to Bunurong country by a local elder and a traditional smoking ceremony.

Students were then separated into groups to participate in VicHealth Reset Summit workshops and activities, which they thoroughly enjoyed. They made new friendships, shared amazing stories, created artwork, made delicious smoothies, danced, rapped, clapped, ate traditional Samoan cuisine and had so many laughs along the way.

In no time, it was showtime.

Our Indian dancers took centre stage first, with a vibrant and energetic expression of their rich cultural heritage with various dance forms, each with its unique style, rhythm, and significance. They displayed strength, beauty and resilience.

Next was the Chin dance, originating from the Chin ethnic group in Myanmar (Burma). This is a traditional form of dance that reflects the cultural and spiritual life of the Chin people. The movements in Chin dances are graceful and rhythmic, often mimicking the natural environment, such as the swaying of trees or the movements of animals. The dances include coordinated steps, hand gestures, and body movements performed in unison by groups of dancers.

The Congolese dance group were third on the stage with fluid movements involving the entire body, featuring the hip and torso, creating complex and captivating patterns. The dance was high-energy and sensual, emphasising the connection between body and music. Congolese dance is a form of entertainment and a vital expression of identity, resilience, and community.

We were thrilled to welcome our solo dancer from South Sudan, whose performance demonstrated strength, bravery, and readiness for battle. The dance involved vigorous stomping and jumping, mimicking the actions of warriors, hunters, and animals and reflecting the connection to nature.

The solo Tongan female dance, known as the Tauʻolunga, is a graceful and elegant traditional dance deeply rooted in Tongan culture. It is a dance showcasing Tongan women's beauty, poise, and cultural pride.

Our finale was a performance by our Samoan dance group. The girls danced the Siva, a graceful and elegant dance that expresses cultural identity, storytelling and beauty through movement. The boys ended the performance with a lively, energetic performance that showcased the strength, agility, and cultural pride of Samoan males.

Student reflections

The 4Cs event was a beautiful experience because it allowed people to showcase their culture through dance. Watching different dances was amazing because it demonstrated each culture's unique styles, music, and movements. This is especially powerful in a multicultural country like ours, where dance globally has become a universal language that connects people, celebrates diversity, and fosters understanding. The event highlighted how dance can be a joyful expression of culture and identity, bringing everyone together to appreciate the variety and vibrancy of different cultural traditions. Dut, Year 10

I felt so excited when I saw the venue. I have never performed in such a big place. The workshops were awesome. My parents enjoyed watching us on the big screen like a concert. They were proud. Marilyn, Year 11

The podcast workshop was my favourite. We had to host a podcast and ask questions to the panel of other students. This workshop made me feel open and comfortable to share my opinion. Telesia, Year 11

I loved the lunch and dinner; we had beef sapa sui, chicken curry and potato salad. It was good. The street art was cool; we got to spray paint a picture. Nela, Year 10

I made so many smoothies; it was fun. We made a rap song with Rhyme on Time, and working with the groups was very good. I enjoyed the Bike and Blend. Leeara, Year 11

My favourite thing about the experience was seeing all the other cultural dances and having fun with my friends. Jarosha, Year 10

My favourite thing about 4C’s was seeing different cultures participate and dance. I also loved seeing the other schools performing. Ava, Year 9

4C's was an interesting and amazing experience that exposed everyone to many cultures. The time we spent preparing allowed us to become one giant community, with more and more people joining our dances daily to create a beautiful showcase of our cultures. Before the showcase began, we participated in various activities, from street art and podcast creation to rapping. Although we were all unsure about the activities, they kept us on our toes, and everyone laughed and enjoyed themselves, which also helped calm everyone's nerves before the performance. All in all, the night was a great success thanks to the performers and the teachers. We are all so grateful for every teacher who took time out of their day to attend the performance, help us prepare, and ensure our day ran smoothly. Sneha, Year 10

The experience of witnessing the many dances, traditions, and cultures was quite exciting. Since everything went so well and I made new friends throughout the rehearsals before the big day, I'm genuinely sad it ended so quickly. I want to thank Ms Joyce and all the other teachers involved for making this happen. Janet, Year 11