'You are somebody': Dance Nation hits the stage in Canberra, empowering 800 students

Kids are clapping, jumping up and down and high-fiving Kulture Break founder Francis Owusu.

It's Dance Nation time in Canberra and the energy and excitement are palpable.

The 2026 Dance Nation resilience through movement extravaganza is on at the National Convention Centre on Thursday. The 800 students across 18 Canberra schools were busy with rehearsals on Wednesday. Picture by Karleen Minney

Eight hundred students, from years three to 10, from 18 schools across Canberra are putting on a dance extravaganza to be watched by 2000 people at the National Convention Centre on Thursday.

The way the students clap and scream for each other's performance is electrifying.

Kulture Break founder Francis Owusu gives the dance coaches a final pep talk before the rehearsals start. Picture by Karleen Minney

Even before the kids hit the stage at the convention centre, they walk down a red carpet, lit up with big lights. It's no accident. This is their moment.

"We want these kids to experience, and believe for themselves, that they have worth and value," Francis said.

"So walking the red carpet, even before they start, is a way of saying, 'We celebrate you, as you are'. And that's also the message of Kulture Break, 'You are somebody'."

Dance Nation is a resilience through movement program facilitated in schools by Kulture Break, the Canberra dance and youth wellbeing not-for-profit organisation.

Sudents from 18 Canberra schools gather for the Dance Nation 2026 rehearsals on Wednesday.

The theme of this year's event is "Victorious", the students, teachers and volunteers all rehearsing the big show on Wednesday.

This year's production is the re-telling of the story of the founding of Kulture Break, first told in 2006 by Francis Owusu and another Canberra dance success story, Timomatic aka Tim Omaji, who was also a teacher at Kulture Break.

The smiles were big and the cheers were loud at rehearsals on Wednesday. Picture by Karleen Minney

For the 20^th anniversary of that first Kulture Break production, the 800 participants of Dance Nation this year are re-creating that story and its powerful themes.

"It's a young man's journey to discover what's really important in life," Francis said.

Dance Nation started in 2013 as part of the Centenary of Canberra celebrations.

"It was supposed to be a one-off event but it went so well that people said, 'You need to do this again'," Francis said.

"So it's been going ever since."

The preparation for Dance Nation happens over 17 weeks, Kulture Break teachers going into each school to set up the foundation of the performance.

With the 800 students now primed to take the stage, Francis can't help but beam.

"Just the energy the kids bring makes it all worthwhile," he said.