Archive - Strictly Football
Halftime Performance NRL Grand Final
Sydney Football Stadium (1992)
Large-Scale Ballroom Dance Production
Selected Archive Credit
In 1992, Raymond Mather choreographed and directed a large-scale ballroom dance performance presented as halftime entertainment at the Sydney Football Stadium, performed to Love Is in the Air, performed live on stage by John Paul Young during the halftime presentation.
The performance took place during the 1992 Winfield Cup Grand Final, contested between the Brisbane Broncos and the St George Dragons. The Brisbane Broncos defeated the St George Dragons 28-8 in the match, which was the first rugby league grand final played outside the Sydney Cricket Ground since 1928.
The performance occurred on the same weekend as the South Pacific Ballroom and Dancesport Championships at Homebush. As many Sydney-based dancers were unavailable due to championship commitments, performers were sourced from Newcastle, Wollongong, and regional centres across New South Wales. Many of the participating dancers had never previously performed in a theatrical or stadium environment, particularly within a ballroom context.
The work was rehearsed and staged under live event conditions on the day, navigating multiple unknown production variables, limited rehearsal time, and a fixed broadcast schedule. The performance was presented to an audience of approximately 41,560 spectators as part of the football match halftime program.
A full production video of the event was produced under the title Strictly Football.
Ensemble entering the field for halftime performance, Sydney Football Stadium, 1992. Large-scale ballroom ensemble performing live during the Winfield Cup Grand Final.
Promotional flyer for Strictly Football, produced following the 1992 halftime performance and subsequent release of the full production video.
Ballroom ensemble exiting the field during halftime at the 1992 Winfield Cup Grand Final, Sydney Football Stadium.
Additional Notes
The day commenced with rehearsals at Fox Studios (now Disney Studios Australia), located adjacent to the stadium. The rehearsal space was cavernous, and without access to a microphone, direction was given using a small portable CD player, resulting in significant vocal strain.
The ensemble was then relocated to the members area of the Sydney Cricket Ground, where rehearsals, spacing checks, and final preparations continued in a holding area until the group was called for performance.
Managing the movement of a large cast across multiple venues on the same day added considerable logistical complexity to the production.
The 1992 Winfield Cup / NSWRL Grand Final (Brisbane Broncos vs St George Dragons) was played on Sunday, 27 September 1992 at the Sydney Football Stadium.
ART1 Archive Context
This page forms part of the ART1 Archive, documenting professional work and cultural contributions prior to the launch of ART1.
See more performances, projects and professional experiences in Selected Credits.