Murmuration Dance Theatre

Murmuration Dance Theatre based in Marrickville is Sydney’s first integrated dance company. Using a combination of artists and teachers with and without disabilities. Located at Addison Community Centre, Murmuration is currently doing dance workshops for everybody to showcase their love of dance and to express themselves through movement.

In its first year, Murmuration aims to support dance with a difference. While they hold value in both the classical and the traditional method of dance, artistic director Sarah-Vyne Vassallo is interested in hearing those voices heard and seeing those bodies move.

Sarah-Vyne Vassallo has worked in commercial and contemporary dance for two decades. Highlights of her career include working alongside Doug Jack as the assistant choreographer for the Sydney Olympics and the Rugby World Cup opening and closing ceremonies. It is her work on the community level that she is most proud of and passionate about. Her Arts Development Manager role with Accessible Arts, NSW peak body for arts and disability where she was able to create the Catalyst Dance Program. Sarah-Vyne has said she always knew she wanted to own her own dance company and Murmuration is what she is most happy and passionate about.

Murmuration Dance Theatre is the first integrated dance company in the state. Currently with ten artists in residency who each bring a different form of movement and dance. Matt Shilcock is one of these artists, he began performing professionally in 2009 with the No Strings Attached Theatre for Disabilities Preparing the garden training program and in 2013 was the recipient of the JUMP Mentoring program. This program is dedicated to the first stage development of his unique movement scoring system called Osteogenuine. He says that Murmuration and dancing give him an option of escapism, a voice and room to create and be something.

Sarah-Vyne Vassallo agrees with this notion as dance is a way to empower people both with and without a disability. The artists that are chosen for the residency program at Murmuration Dance Theatre all have strong professional experience and individuality. She states it is a way for them to be a leader in the community.

With ongoing cuts to disability support services on both a national and state level, the work being done by Murmuration Dance Theatre on a community level is extremely important. 1 in 3 people in this country has or knows someone with a disability. 2.1 million people of a working age have a disability. The employment rate for people with a disability is 39.8% compared with 79.4% for people without a disability. 90% of disabilities are unseen.

Murmuration Dance Theatre works with people with all disabilities both invisible and visible. Starting from the 21^st of April, Murmuration will be holding workshops at the Gumbramorra Hall at Addison Road Community Centre. These workshops are for everybody including those in aged care. This integrated dance company uses the workshops to bring joy to people from all walks of life. Each workshop can hold twenty people and they will be running all the way through to Tuesday the 4^th of August.

When creating this dance company and workshops, Sarah-Vyne knew she wanted artists and teachers that were are as passionate about her vision as she was. She found that person in her artistic associate Dan Daw. Dan is an Australian dancer based in the UK, he was recently awarded the BBC Dance Performing Arts Fund Fellow. In the UK, he works at the forefront of disability and dance through his ongoing teaching and performance work as a disabled artist.

As the landscape changes with our new government, it is community groups like this that help to empower both people with and without disabilities. Aged care has also seen an impact in cuts to support services. It is a wide know fact that disabilities increase with age. 31% of people aged between 55 and 64 are living with a disability and 90% of people aged over 90 have a disability. Murmuration Dance Theatre workshops and community events are open to this older demographic as well as their carers.

There are a few things that you can tell about Sarah-Vyne Vassallo as you speak to her. First, she is so passionate about what she does and second, that you are made aware that she wants no one in the community to be left behind when it comes to Murmuration Dance Theatre. This dance company has so many talented artists for the public to watch and great workshops for all to participate in. With the first workshop occurring this Tuesday at 6pm it is a great contact them to book your place because once word gets out you will want to be able to say you were one of the first who discovered this amazing organisation.

The inclusive Dance and Theatre workshops kicked off on Tuesday 21 April. More information available at murmuration.com.au

By Lauren Bell