Horizon Festival Workshops
Led by acclaimed artists, the festival’s workshops offer immersive experiences across theatre, photography and dance, delving into storytelling, creative practice and high‑energy movement. Designed for beginners through to experienced creatives, these sessions create space to experiment, collaborate and be part of unforgettable festival moments.
Flash Mob Workshops with Bring A Plate Dance
Join Bring A Plate Dance for a large‑scale flashmob performance as part of Horizon Festival Opening Night at Kings Beach. In this workshop, participants learn a fun, high‑energy routine, connect with others and prepare to perform together in a vibrant celebration of dance, music and community. Designed for all ages, bodies and experience levels, the process includes one workshop, a dress rehearsal and a collective performance on Opening Night, Friday 1 May. Suitable for beginners and experienced movers alike.
Workshops
When: Sat 18 April, 10-11:30am
Location: Pomona Art Gallery (Pamona Hall if it rains)
When: Mon 20 April, 6:15-7:30/7:45pm
Location: Northshore Community Centre (Pacific Paradise Hall)
When: Wed 22 April, 3:30-5pm
Location: Maleny RSL
When: Thu 23 April, 5-6:30pm
Location: Caloundra Bellvista Meeting Place
Dress Rehearsal
When: Sat 25 April, 4-5:30pm
Location: Kings Beach or Kawana Hall (if it rains)
Register
Common People Dance Workshop
The Common People Dance Workshop invites people of all ages and abilities to learn a high‑energy group dance routine and perform it on stage as part of the Dance Hall event at Horizon Festival. Led by Neridah Waters, Creative Director and founder of the internationally renowned Common People Dance Project, participants will experience playful choreography, infectious energy and the joy of dancing together in costume. Originating from a spontaneous flash‑mob at a circus festival, Common People has grown into a global movement touring festivals worldwide, offering an inclusive, fun and unforgettable chance to make new friends and help Horizon Festival 2026 go out with a bang.
When: Sat 18 April, 10am-1pm
Location: Hungerford Hall, Nambour State College
Contemporary Dance Workshop with The Butterfly Who Flew Into The Rave
The Butterfly Who Flew Into The Rave presents a 90‑minute dance masterclass led by performers Oli Mathiesen, Lucy Lynch and Sharvon Mortimer. Participants step inside the world of the rave, unpacking the details behind its iconic moments. Through relentless movement – seamless, high‑energy and precisely timed – this session breaks down choreography beat by beat. Discover how intensity, endurance and atmosphere are built on the dancefloor, and experience the physical and expressive language of the rave firsthand.
When: Sat 2 May, 2-5pm
Location: Frankx Studio, Warana
Watchable Theatre Workshop with Nancy Denis
Discover new ways to create watchable theatre with M'ap Boule Writer, Creator & Performer Nancy Denis. This intensive workshop invites local artists to explore creating performance through connection to community and embodied practice. Navy Denis guides participants through exercises, intention setting and conversation to uncover the essence of authentic storytelling with insights into the development of her acclaimed work M'ap Boule. Participants will gain practical tools to gain comfort and confidence in performance and expressing on stage through cultivating connection between audience and performer. Limited capacity.
When: Sun 3 May, 10-11:30am
Location: Black Box Theatre, Old Ambulance Station, Nambour
The Business of Photography Workshop with Jo-Anne Driessens
Join photographer and curator of Picture Culture: Here & Now, Jo‑Anne Driessens, for a workshop that looks beyond the glossy image to the realities of professional photography. From managing thousands of digital files on phones and hard drives to understanding copyright in an image-saturated world, the session examines the unseen work behind the lens. Drawing on experience as a practising photographer and arts worker who began in the analogue era, Jo‑Anne shares practical insights into building, sustaining and protecting a photographic practice. Limited capacity.
When: Sun 3 May, 1-2pm
Location: The Old Ambulance Station, Nambour
Music Making Workshop
The Song Shed is an energising, hands-on songwriting workshop that brings people together to create, collaborate and perform. As part of Horizon Festival 2026, the Sunshine Coast Music Industry Collective unites acclaimed songwriters and industry mentors with participants for a dynamic shared writing experience. Over two hours, creatives work in small, guided teams to explore melody, lyrics, rhythm and theme, transforming ideas into original songs that are performed live at the end of the session. More than just a workshop, The Song Shed is a celebration of community, creativity and the joy of making music together.
When: Mon 4 May, 11am-1pm
Location: The MET, Maroochydore
Image credits
Bring a Plate Dance. Photo: Ange Costes Photography.
Common People Dance Project. Photo: Claudia Baxter.
The Butterfly Who Flew Into The Rave. Photo: Mark Gambino.
M'ap Boule. Photo: Jacquie Manning.
Picture Culture: Here & Now. Photo: Aboriginal actress Deborah Mailman on the set of the documentary Black Chicks Talking. Photographed by Jo-Anne Driessens.
The Song Shed. Photo: Georgia Haupt.