By Jed Lanyon
Dance ARC’s youth performance ensemble took part in the Global Water Dances at Coronation Park, Healesville on Saturday 15 June.
The Global Water Dances are performed in 170 locations across the world and aims to inspire action and international collaboration for water issues through the universal language of dance.
Dance ARC artistic director Viv Rogis said, “The theme is dancing for safe and clean water everywhere. It’s a very broad theme and they ask you to localise it.
“We chose to look at a local issue of our river ways, particularly because they are important to the helmeted honeyeaters.”
Ms Rogis said 17 young dancers took part in rehearsals for five weeks to perform a dance called ‘Feeding and Seeding Future’.
“I hope that they will see their landscape differently and more creatively,” she said.
“I hope it’s reframed for them as not just a familiar river but something that is precious and important.”
Ms Rogis said the Boronia dance school focuses on project based events.
“We look at dance as an art form or form of self-expression and ways to connect with community and place.”
Dance ARC aims to develop strong, joyful, resilient dancers by providing high quality dance experiences in a disciplined and caring environment.
Their youth performance ensemble focuses on dance as an art form through which young people can express ideas and have a creative voice in the community.
