Dance students from the University of Melbourne Victorian College of the Arts performed a powerful contemporary dance work exploring themes of migration, memory and belonging on Saturday, April 1, as part of the Shepparton Festival.
The VCA performed HOME in the Shepparton Art Museum amphitheatre and treated a a crowd of more than 100 people to a view of the performance with the backdrop of Victoria Park Lake.
The performance was part of the University of Melbourne’s partnership with the Goulburn Valley, which dates back as far as 2011.
This partnership, part of the Reconciliation Action Plan April 2018 - December 2022 and incorporated in the University’s Goulburn Valley Regional Engagement Program, aims to contribute to the revitalisation of First Nations cultures and their recognition across the region and develop genuine pathways to education and employment in the region through Melbourne University.
Head of VCA Dance, Professor Carol Brown, described HOME as a celebration of diversity, migration and the power of dance to bring people together.
“So many of our students have a home in dance, it’s all connected,” Prof Brown said.
“They’re all between 19 and 26 years of age and are at that stage of life where they’re really looking to the future, and thinking about what home might look like to them in a few years.
“All of the different aspects of home are together in the performance: the connection, distress, isolation, coming to a new home, leaving home, all of that.”
Prof Brown said this was the first time VCA had taken a group to regional Victoria, and that the group members were excited to translate what they had learnt in the studio to being outside in the elements.
“I thought the setting of the performance was just stunning and glorious; we were right there on the lake next to the art museum, it was a real highlight for me,” she said.
The performance was developed in collaboration with London-based dance company Alleyne Dance.
Choreographers from Alleyne came out to the VCA studio and helped curate the performance all the way through.
Prof Brown said the hybrid dancing techniques implemented by Alleyne Dance reflected the diversity of Greater Shepparton, with styles incorporated from different countries and cultures.
“You can see the inspiration behind the dances and hopefully people from diverse backgrounds can watch and identify with the dance language and see themselves in the movement,” Prof Brown said.
“We wanted to come out and connect with people who were thinking about dance and different pathways into dance.
“Having Abbigail from Shepparton was really important to us and the performance.”
Greater Shepparton native Abbigail Makin, who trained at her local dance studio before successfully auditioning for VCA's prestigious dance program, said she was thrilled to be returning to her home town for this one-off performance.
“Heading back to Shepparton with the VCA is a full circle moment for me,” Ms Makin said.
“Throughout the choreographic process, I’ve reflected on how Shepparton, Melbourne and the VCA have influenced me, as a dancer and person.”
Ms Makin went to school in Shepparton and was involved with local productions and theatre art.
Ms Makin plans to travel to New York and London after graduating this year to pursue her dance career.
“It really comes down to leaders in regional communities to show what’s possible, that something like dance is a viable career option if it’s someone’s passion. Abbigail has demonstrated that it is possible,” Prof Brown said.
“Dance works with rhythm, it’s the great unifier. You can’t help but nod your head or tap your foot, it’s something everyone can connect to.
“We need artists, they promote our human values, connect and unite us.
“Hopefully we planted a seed in the community, and we can come back and continue to grow this relationship we have with the Goulburn Valley.”