This show belongs to the Adelaide Fringe 2025 season. This season is now over.

Pink background, women who have had alterations to their faces.
A group of seven dances in a straight line. They have their hair up and are wearing black leotards.
Five Sailors in a triangle doing a final pose in a dance.

Dance Nation

Theatre and Physical Theatre • Comedy
South Australia • Adelaide Fringe Premiere

Clare Barron’s play dives into the chaotic and transformative experience of adolescence, following a group of middle schoolers on a competitive dance team striving for national glory. Beneath the surface of sequins and routines lies a raw, visceral exploration of identity, ambition, and the messy reality of growing up. With dark humor and surrealism, it unpacks the intensity of puberty—shame, joy, rage, and self-discovery—while challenging societal expectations, especially for young girls. The characters’ experiences blur the line between childhood and adulthood, embodying the awkward, monstrous beauty of transformation. It’s a celebration of resilience, vulnerability, and the unbridled power of youth.

Presented by: Flinders Drama Centre

Flinders was the first university in Australia to offer actor training. Now with over 50 years’ experience teaching acting, directing and the skills required to bring to life live and digital performance projects, Flinders is an established leader and innovator in performance education.

Whether you’re interested in acting, directing or the creativity and planning that goes on behind the scenes, you’ll study with like-minded students and teachers in a supportive, collaborative environment.

Where to park: Carpark 5 is the closest car park to the Drama Centre. Look for the big purple wall that says DRAMA.