Natalie Hudono from Russian Choreographic Academy, Hawthorn East, Wurundjeri Country/Camberwell Girls Grammar School, Canterbury, Wurundjeri Country, performing their ballet solo at Top Acts 2022. Photo by Nicole Cleary.
VCE Season of Excellence 2023 begins
The VCE Season of Excellence 2023 has kicked off to applause with Top Talks and Top Class Dance.
Top Talks was held on 24 February in the Conversation Quarter, State Library of Victoria, and livestreamed for audiences in class or at home.
Over the course of the event, four students shared their original and rigorous independent research and findings in 10-minute talks.
Following the presentations, a Q&A panel discussion was held with the presenters, giving the audience an opportunity to learn more about the students’ research topics and methods, as well as their experiences of studying VCE Extended Investigation.
There was a range of topics this year, representing very different areas of enquiry. The students were:
- Bethany Orme, from Camberwell Girls Grammar School on Wurundjeri Country, speaking on microplastics in groundwater
- Sebastian Moore, from Catholic College Sale on Gunaikurnai Country, discussing the ambiguous representations of men in Renaissance portraiture
- Briaelyn Bartleet, from Elwood College on Bunurong Country and Virtual Schools Victoria on Wurundjeri Country, exploring the relationship between media multitasking and executive functions
- Daniel Wang, from The University High School on Wurundjeri Country, reflecting on the risks and returns of Memecoins
Tony Garvey, Wurundjeri Elder, opened the event with an insightful and engaging Welcome to Country. Monica Bini, Curriculum Manager for Extended Investigation and Philosophy, emceed the event and chaired the Q&A discussion.
Guest speaker and Top Talks alumni Kameron Lai presented a passionate keynote speech, and joined the speakers for the Q&A.
Recordings from this event will be available on the
Top Talks page from April.
On 7 March, Top Class Dance exploded onto the stage of Elisabeth Murdoch Hall, Melbourne Recital Centre.
Some of Victoria’s most extraordinary young dancers from VCE and VET Dance graced the stage, performing styles including ballet, lyrical, jazz, contemporary, tap, social and street.
It was Festival and Events Officer Allie Luecke’s first time working behind the scenes at Top Class Dance. Also being a dancer, she had been looking forward to the performance for some time. ‘It was wonderful to see how excited the dancers were and to be a small part of that,’ says Allie.
‘The performers were so talented – they made incredibly complex solos seem effortless. That said, backstage we witnessed the hour of stretching and mental preparation that went into it. The audience witnessed some incredible stamina and resilience, as well as a fantastic show.’
Find out more about the
Season program of exhibitions and events