An expectant crowd slowly gathers on the gentle slopes of Adelaide’s Elder Park, surrounding a large section of lawn that leads down to the River Torrens.

Out of nowhere, a lone dancer appears, his gestures suggesting a sun salutation, a welcome and an invitation. In response, dancers of all ages dressed in white tops and black pants appear from all directions.

Some circle the Elder Park rotunda shoulder to shoulder; others cross the pedestrian bridge and approach along the riverbank. Another cohort zigzags in single file through the onlookers gathered on the steps between the Festival Theatre and Dunston Playhouse.

In no time at all, they seamlessly converge to create an undulating ocean of humanity that engulfs the cordoned-off lawn. So begins Stephanie Lake’s latest creation, Mass Movement, co-commissioned by the Adelaide Festival and The Australian Ballet.

Mass Movement at the 2025 Adelaide Festival. Photo © Andrew Beveridge

Of the 1,000 performers, only 23 are professional – 12 independent dancers, seven from Stephanie Lake Company and four members of TAB.

The rest are volunteers between the ages of 12 and 88 who have come from all over South Australia, initially learning the 35-minute routine online before...