On Saturday 1st April dance students from the Victorian College of the Arts (VCA) at the University of Melbourne took a new contemporary dance work with themes of migration, memory and belonging to the Shepparton Art Museum Amphitheatre and surrounds.
This ‘HOME’ performance, choreographed by Alleyne Dance, at Shepparton Festival is part of a University of Melbourne initiative connecting the next generation of artists from the Goulburn Valley region with a career pathway into the arts, as part of its place-based partnership.
For VCA dancer Abbigail Makin this one-off performance in Shepparton has special resonance. After training at her local Shepparton dance studio, Amy Newton Dance Studios, Makin successfully auditioned for VCA's prestigious dance program because she could not imagine doing anything else as a career. Makin credits her time at VCA for broadening her knowledge of dance and shaping the person she is today.
"Heading back to Shepparton with the VCA is a full circle moment for me," said Makin. "Throughout the choreographic process, I've reflected on how Shepparton, Melbourne and the VCA have influenced me, as a dancer and person. I can't express how excited I am to perform with my VCA peers in Shepparton, where it all began."
Makin hopes to travel to New York and London after graduating later this year to pursue her dance career.