We listened to your feedback.  It turns out that not everybody who loves to dance loves the idea of making it into a competition, and would rather just focus on the good vibes created by joining with their mates in dance communion, full stop. Dance Mom wants everyone to feel welcome, comfortable and that this event is theirs, so this year we are trialling ‘No Pressure’ rounds to cater for these groups.

Just let us know when you register that you’d prefer not to battle. If you’re not sure what we mean by battle, take a look at the Super Queeros up against the Rural Hot Bitches in 2023!

Dance Mom is feeling crazy (or wait, maybe it’s perimenopause) and throwing caution to the wind. This year, there is no song list. We want you to pick the tuuuune you’ve always wanted to dance to.

The only caveats are:

• it can’t be a song used in HMNPs of years gone by (check out our 2022 and 2023 playlist if you’re unsure).
• if another group chooses the same song, whether or not it’s a different artist or mix, the group that registered and requested the song first will get to dance to it. This is not an eisteddfod – no one wants to hear the same song twice.
• if another group nabs the song first, we’ll ask you to select another. Probs best to suggest a few songs when you register. Note them in order of preference.
• multiple songs edited into the one track  are allowed BUT it is very important that ALL songs to be used for your dance are disclosed at registration time so that we can avoid clashes (and upset) on the night. If this sounds like your thing, you’ll be in charge of cutting it yourself in line with our specs.
• all songs / tracks must be edited to approximately 2 minutes and 30 seconds. If you send us a 17-minute anthem, we won’t care how good your interpretive dance is, we reserve the right to cut your track off at two and a half minutes mid performance!

All successful dance groups must pay a $20 non-refundable registration fee per group.

Dance Mom and her Corp de Disco are all volunteers, committed to throwing a self-sustaining event. Your rego fee along with ticket revenue helps us to pay the creatives (our photographers, DJs and MC) what they fully deserve and ensures HMNP’s survival well into the future.

Experiencing hardship but really want to dance? Who are we to deny dance from your life if you’re doing it tough? Please get in touch.

Registrations are now closed!

Spots for dance groups filled in four minutes, so technically we are full. We have a few groups on the waitlist already, so Mom has closed both registrations and the waitlist so as to not disappoint.

If an outbreak of ebola hits C’Maine and more spots open up we will let you know over at Facebook. Make sure you have hit “interested” or “going” to be in the know.

Successful groups:

When we confirm your registration, we’ll send you two things:

1. Bank details for the group registration fee:

• Registration fee is payable by direct deposit.
• Your group’s spot will be confirmed ONLY once payment has been received.

2. Your song/track for the night:

• Your confirmation email will also reveal the song you have been allocated for the night.

Editing of your song

Last year Dance Mom sat with her Casio double cassette deck and cut everyone’s track herself, but then some groups cut their own track and didn’t let Dance Mom know.

For those groups who’d like their edited track supplied, Dance Mom will send you a high quality, (approx) 2.5 minute track for you and your group to practice to.

If you’d prefer to supply your own edit, Dance Mom will let you know the necessary tech specs, and the deadline. Please let her know so that she’s not wasting her time rewinding cassettes with a pencil – you don’t want to see Dance Mom passive-aggressive clean the bathroom when she’s miffed. If your edited track is not received by the deadline supplied, you will likely end up dancing to Dance Mom’s cut of the track on the night instead, and nobody loves a mistimed moment.

Once you have your dance crew assembled and a copy of your edited track, it’s time to start choreographing. Some groups like to do this together, while some have a Dance Queen who whips everyone into shape (saucy!).

Plan to meet regularly in the lead up to the event and practice, practice, practice. We cannot stress enough how important regular practice is to lock in your dance steps and create some muscle memories for your brain.

Getting together with your mates, listening to some tunes and shakin’ your thang is a massive reason we started HMNP. So get social, get warm, and get creative.

Costumes are the icing on your spectacular dance cake!

Last year brought us harlequins with moustaches, book-loving queens of the night, a skank mom giving birth on stage to fully-grown humans (yes you read that right) AND a fluffy unicorn defecating rainbow sh*t in the middle of the stage. The (clothes-rack) bar is high!

One piece of advice from the HMNP Dance Mom: when you think you’ve added enough sequins, add more. And then some more for luck!

Sprinkly, sparkly glitter

But speaking of sparkles, can we cool it with the glitter please? Not only is it not sustainable, Boomtown find the glitter left on their floor super tricky to deal with and it also clogs their drains. They are a working winery after all – and no one wants bits of microplastic in their pet nat.

Think sustainably

We all know Castlemaine LOVES a good dress-up, so rather than buy new, put a call out to the hive mind to see if that peacock headpiece / gold-fringed bodysuit / sequinned unitard already exists, and ask to borrow it for the night (pretty-please).

And, if that fails, this year we are partnering with local op shops The Good Op Shop and Salvos Thrift Shop to help you and your crew sustainably source your outfits.  There are two ways that you can get involved with this:

The Good Op Shop:

• Send your costume wish list through to Dance Mom (including number, sizes and any other specifications you have) by Friday 12 May.
• The clothing fairies will spend the next six weeks hunting for your looks.
• The Good Op Shop will contact you directly by Friday 21 June to let you know what they’ve been able to find and then you and your dance crew can go in and purchase the items of your choice.

Salvos Thrift Shop:

• Interested crews send through a list of all dancers who would like to receive a $10 voucher to spend in store, towards their HMNP costume, by Friday 12 May.
• This list will be sent through to Salvos.
• Dancers can go in and redeem their voucher and get their name marked off the list of registered dancers.

Happy sustainable shopping!

Boomtown is a large warehouse style room with white walls and a concrete floor.

As Boomtown is a winery, it has large vats in the space, which can smell of wine being processed. There is low lighting in the venue, with most light directed at where the dance groups will perform.

As the event is held in winter, it can be cold in the space. Be sure to bring a warm coat (or dance hard to warm up!)

Toilets are available for all genders and levels of access.

There are no change rooms. If you are performing, please arrive in costume and ready to dance.

No food will be served at the event.

Boomtown is a licensed venue and BYO alcohol is not permitted.

Entry for dance groups

Doors open for dance groups at 6.30pm. There will be a dance briefing at 6.50pm. Please ensure ALL dancers in your group are present for the briefing.

Dance Mom will work with your team contact prior to the event to ensure everyone who is dancing in your group is on our door list. The names of all dancers must be on the door list to make it past our door bitches on the night, otherwise you might be left out in the cold.

Please come ready and dressed to perform

This year, there is no official back-stage area. There are no change rooms. There will be a mirror in the corridor near the public toilets for last minute checks, but this area is not restricted to dancers only.  If you are performing, please arrive in costume and ready to dance.

Props

If you have props, please ensure that this information has been communicated to Dance Mom through the official form. This form has been sent to your dance captain. Mommy will get in touch with you to let you know where you can store your props prior to, and after your dance.

Performance time

We’ll let you know at approximately what time you will be dancing, though we ask that all dancers arrive early to be present for the briefing. Arriving early also gives support to all dancers who will also support you!

All tickets are $25/ $20 concessions

Each registered dancer can reserve 1 ticket for the night. All tickets are $25/ $20 concession, paid at the door, on the night of the event.

The fine print:

• Dance captains will be asked to supply all VIP names for their reserved tickets by Friday 12th of July
• Doors will open for reserved ticket collectors at 7pm
• Reserved tickets must be claimed by 8pm. Tickets not claimed by 8.00pm will be reallocated.

Tickets can be paid for in cash or card. Cash is preferable as this speeds up entry for all.

This is a strictly 18+ event.

The event will be hosted by the wonderful Razz. Razz will make announcements throughout the event.

There will be 3-4 rounds of dance performances where people will sit or stand and watch, with lots of clapping and cheering occurring throughout.

No Pressure rounds

This year we’re introducing the ‘No Pressure’ rounds in response to feedback from last year.  Turns out that not everybody who loves to dance loves the idea of making it into a competition, and would instead rather focus on the good vibes created by joining with their mates in dance communion, full stop.  You will need to specify your preference for this at registration.

The Dance Battles

For the rest of you, the dance battles are still on! During the battle rounds – Group A will battle Group B. Then there’ll be some audience participation led by the MC (aka voting for who they liked best).  This is in no way scientific, nor a measure of talent, and could come down to who has the most mates in the crowd. #NotFairButWeDontCare

Between the dance rounds

Between and after the No Pressure and Dance Battle rounds, DJs will play some dance floor bangers to get everyone moving. So even if you’re not feeling quite brave enough to sign up to dance in a battle round, you’ll still get a chance to shake your booty.

Music will play throughout the entire event. It will be quite loud. The only quiet spaces are outdoors.

The audience can stand, or sit on the floor or available stools / benches.

The event will finish at 11.30pm

The crowd is made up of fellow dancers and allies. The split is about 50/50 which makes for an inclusive, supportive event where everyone shines.

The audience can stand, or sit on the floor or available stools / benches.

This is a strictly an 18+ event.

Everyone’s favourite photographer, Penny Ryan, will be in attendance on the night, capturing all the high-jinx and shenanigans. These photographs will be used in our social channels (Facebook and Instagram), the HMNP website and for future HMNP event promotion.

If you want to share any of Penny’s official event snaps after, please do. Just remember to give credit to Penny Ryan Photography. Tag and link to Penny’s socials and website. She is a talented lady (and can throw a good jazz hand on the dance floor) and deserves credit where credit is due.

If you plan to use Penny’s images beyond a friendly social share, please contact her directly to discuss potential associated costs.

Filming on mobile phones is allowed and highly encouraged. Share all the fun of the night on your socials, just remember to tag us.

#HMNPCastlemaine is the official tag.