The 2011 Castlemaine State Festival sweeps into Castlemaine’s Mostyn Street with Pageant & Pandemonium — a free opening night dance pageant — followed by a weekend choc full of performance pandemonium in and around Victory Park.

For the Festival’s opening night dance pageant, you are invited to bring a seat and slip on your street shoes. You’ll be tapping your feet as we celebrate the abundant dance and musical talent of our region. Then as the show moves into the whirling climax of a street dance fiesta, you’ll be swinging with the street beat.

Part show ride, part street procession, and all danced, the Opening Night Pageant draws upon our long history of show parades and processions, and melds it with the spin of a ride, the dynamics of dance and the spirit of a country street.

Beginning with a Wominjika welcome to country, and a dance specially created in collaboration with Jaara Jaara elders and hip hop dancers, more than 150 central Victorian dancers will be joined by Rocco Grimaldi and his Pandemonium Band.

Motorists, street sweepers, road crossing supervisors, cyclists and exceptional dance makers, will create a sparkling procession of dance moves infiltrated by street pandemonium, and a grande finale that will bring everyone to their feet … dancing.

Co-producer Punctum

Dance moves and marvels from our legendary makers, the acme of beat, motor magic from our street, and processions and pandemonium in the sweep of feet