Rehearsals are now well and truly underway in the city of Tel Aviv, which will be hosting this year’s Eurovision Song Contest. Today sees the first day of rehearsals, with the first half of the first semi-final evening taking to the impressive stage of Expo Tel Aviv.

Eight countries are all set to make their debut onstage, 9 days before the live show of the first semi-final. Following their rehearsal, a Meet & Greet session will be coming next. These countries are Belgium, Georgia, Australia, Iceland, Estonia, Portugal, Greece and San Marino.

Having arrived for the other side of the world, Kate Miller-Heidke got on the Eurovision stage, with her song Zero gravity. Will she bring Australia to the final once again?

There is indeed… Zero gravity for the Australian hopeful, as she and her dancers are all hovering throughout their performance. Kate is sticking to the same vibe as in her national final performance. She wears a silver gown, with a large skirt reminiscent of Yohanna’s (Iceland 2009).

The skirt is frilled in a uneven fashion, and looks very much like a wedding dress. The bodice of the dress gives off a totally different vibe, as it is long-sleeved and completely covered in diamantes. The top of the dress is finished with retro-looking shoulder pads.

Her outfit for the national final seemed more ‘together’ than this one, which looks like two different dresses. Kate wears a similar crown as seen in her previous performance, and wears strong silver eye makeup and a red lip. Her dancers are also wearing dreamy looking blue and green floaty gowns.

Gallery of Australia’s first rehearsal