“Over the years, we’ve all faced challenges to overcome the odds. That’s what makes Little Murmur feel so relevant and timely.”
Little Murmur is a new dance theatre show for everyone age 7+. The show explores dancer and choreographer Aakash Odedra’s relationship with learning. Aakash found school very challenging, and, after his eventual diagnosis of dyslexia, he learned to communicate through dance. In Little Murmur, Aakash uses dance, projections, sound, and a blizzard of paper to show the challenges of dyslexia and how he overcame the odds. This Festival, Aakash Odedra Company and The Spark Arts for Children will also facilitate a workshop, developed in partnership with the British Dyslexia Association, inviting children to explore their own personality and find their own style of movement - no dance experience necessary!
We caught up Behind the Scenes with Little Murmur dancer Subhash Viman Gorania to find out more.
Where did the inspiration for Little Murmur come from?
In 2014, a show called Murmur 2.0 by Aakash Odedra Company explored Aakash Odedra’s experience of growing up with dyslexia. The team at The Spark Arts for Children were blown away with the performance and their director Adel Al-Salloum longed to share the piece with children. She wanted to enable them to access this story told in the most mesmerising way. Working in partnership with The Spark Arts for Children, Murmur 2.0 was reimagined for young audiences and a new show, Little Murmur, was born. Based on the true story of one child’s struggle with letters and words, Little Murmur is about facing challenges and overcoming the odds. Over the years, we’ve all faced challenges to overcome the odds. That’s what makes Little Murmur feel so relevant and timely.
How would you describe Little Murmur in three words?
Thought-provoking. Captivating. Beautiful.
What would you like people to take away from Little Murmur after they’ve watched it?
I’d like them to understand how movement can be used to express life's difficulties; that you can explore the world in your own creative way and celebrate your individual abilities. I’d also like them to have been absorbed in a world of beautiful movement, immersive sound and amazing technological design.
How are you feeling about bringing Little Murmur to Brighton Festival?
We’re excited to meet with the local people of Brighton and to immerse them in our creative world where individual abilities and difficulties can be explored.
Little Murmur, 13-14 May, Attenborough Centre for the Creative Arts (ACCA)