Sonya Stephen presents free dance performance to connect diverse communities

Choreographer Sonya Stephen will lead a free outdoor dance performance titled Mudh at Bina Parkland in Balga.

The performance features a group of women from First Nations communities, migrant backgrounds, and local areas. They use movement to explore themes of nurturing, belonging, and what it means to have a home. Stephen, a Torres Strait Islander woman, developed the project through an 18-month process.

This included workshops across the City of Stirling and at organizations like the Edmund Rice Centre WA, MercyCare, and ISHAR Multicultural Women’s Health Service. The project grew from the Locale initiative, where 20 artists originally worked with producer Annette Carmichael. Stephen and two other artists were then chosen to develop pilot projects, leading to the creation of Mudh. The dancers have practiced together several times a week over the past month to prepare for the show.

The performance takes place at a beginner BMX track and aims to reach people who might not typically attend contemporary dance in a traditional theatre. The organizers plan to offer a free sausage sizzle and food trucks to make the event accessible to families.