Forget brunch – Melbourne's about to get sweaty before 10am when global morning dance movement Daybreaker lands at Abbotsford Convent on 7 February.
Started over a decade ago in New York, Daybreaker has convinced more than 800,000 people across 66 cities that dancing at sunrise beats scrolling through your phone in bed. Now it’s Melbourne’s turn to see what all the fuss is about, with the first of three planned events transforming the Abbotsford Convent Oratory into an early morning dance floor.
Here’s how it works: rock up at 8am (yes, really), warm up with some guided movement courtesy of co-host Simba, get loose to a DJ set from Katie Hill, then wind down with breathwork and sound healing from Eliza Hilmer of Feel Good Flows. You’re done by 10am, buzzing with endorphins.
Daybreaker at Abbotsford Convent
- Where: Abbotsford Convent Oratory, Melbourne
- When: Saturday 7 February, 8-10am
- Tickets: here
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Three Melbourne wellbeing entrepreneurs are bringing Daybreaker down under after experiencing it firsthand in NYC. Hayley Rose, Bryony Cole, and Andy Lee reckon Melbourne, with its creative energy and community spirit, is the perfect Australian city to kick things off.
There’s zero alcohol involved, which is kind of the point. Daybreaker is built around the idea that you can have a genuinely good time, meet people and dance like nobody’s watching without needing drinks to loosen up. Attendees apparently leave feeling energised rather than destroyed, carrying that post-dance glow through the rest of their day.
Each event will feature local artists and wellness brands, with occasional guest appearances from Daybreaker’s international roster. Everyone’s welcome regardless of age, fitness level or whether you consider yourself a “morning person” (spoiler: you might become one).
Melbourne gets three events before Daybreaker expands to Sydney and Brisbane. After enduring the world’s longest lockdown, there’s something fitting about this city being first to access a new way of connecting with strangers in real life. No small talk required; just show up, move your body and see what happens.
Sessions follow the same three-part structure that’s worked globally: movement to wake up your body, dancing to elevate your mood, then grounding practices to bring you back to earth. It’s designed to hit all the right notes before most people have even left the house.
Whether this becomes your new Saturday morning ritual or just a one-off experiment in early rising, Daybreaker promises an experience that’s worlds away from both traditional nightlife and your standard fitness class. Think less structured workout, more spontaneous dance party with intentional vibes.
For more information, head here.
