In-step Sydney dances ‘The Sydney?
By Michael Gormly
Sydneysiders and visitors from around the world were united on Saturday night as crowds at ten open-air stages danced ‘The Sydney’, specially choreographed for the opening of the Sydney Festival by Australian Dance Theatre’s Garry Stewart.
After a coaching session from instructors on each stage and a countdown in unison, the music pumped and the crowds jumped, turning the city into one giant dance floor.
An estimated 300,000 people packed the city for the free entertainment, creating a night to rival the Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.
The brainchild of Festival Director Fergus Linehan, Festival First Night made its debut in 2008 but this year’s event truly put the city on the world’s festival calendar.
The tab was picked up by the NSW Government and The City of Sydney with ANZ Bank the major sponsor.
The atmosphere of the night was typified by Sunny Abbas, originally from Somalia, who plied our photographer with vodka and orange and expounded his view of Sydney.
‘Sydney is the most beautiful city on the planet,’ he said.
‘I’d love the people to look after this city and each other. It’s their responsibility. It doesn’t matter if they are gay or lesbian or whatever, I don’t judge people.
‘Everybody’s been kind to me here, when I was struggling and when I was having a good time. Australian people are the smartest on the planet,’ he said.
Below: Grace Jones wowed ’em at the Enmore Theatre
