Fireflies at Dawn

A Blind and Visually Impaired Inclusive Dance Performance that fosters connections, empathy & breaking down barriers.

Unbound Dance Theatre has developed an innovative project that seeks to create and advocate for greater social and cultural inclusion for Blind & Visually Impaired (B/VI) artists & communities through dance.

Fireflies at Dawn is an emotional journey raising awareness of how we connect with our senses, ourselves and others.

Throughout the show, the experiences of B/VI people are playfully and sensitively revealed. Everyday apprehension, misunderstanding or isolation are depicted through dance, emotionally and sensorily.

Co-created and performed by both visually impaired and sighted dancers, the work investigates ways to create dance with limited visual input and to enhance movement perceptions – using embedded audio description, sounds, lights and touch. echome, a wearable technology for sound and movement interaction is used within the performance as a tool for creating and connecting.

This dance theatre show appeals to audiences’ sense of kinship and capacity for empathy: the B/VI lived experience mirroring deep human fears and anxieties and reflecting how we can conquer them through connection to find freedom. It fosters inclusivity, compassion and a better understanding between sighted & B/VI communities.

The Making of Fireflies at Dawn

Since 2022, supported by Arts Council England and the Genesis Foundation, the creative team has undertaken three-week studio R&D in London, as well as a series of creative workshops for blind and visually impaired people, supported by BlindAid and RNIB.

The first part of the project culminated in an informal sharing at the Bloomsbury Theatre Studio aiming at gathering feedback from an audience made of blind, visually impaired and sighted people. The work developed by choreographer Sandrine Monin and in collaboration with sighted and visually impaired artists was performed on an original musical score created by composer Roberto D. Rusconi.

Following the positive feedback, the work entered its second research stage, with another three-week studio R&D and a series of workshops in Leeds and Bradford in Winter 2022/23. The result of the research was presented in an informal sharing followed by a Q&A, in February 2023, at Stage@Leeds in the University of Leeds' campus.

In the Summer of 2023, Sandrine continued her enquiry into dance and accessibility for B/VI people through a Developing Your Creative Practice grant from Arts Council England, while running regular workshops tailored for B/VI people in Yorkshire Dance, Leeds and Kala Sangam Arts Centre, Bradford.

Fireflies at Dawn entered its final development stage in Spring 2024 and premiered in The Studio, Bradford Theatres on June 11th, 2024, followed by performances in Leeds, Slung Low on 29th June and Wakefield, CAPA College on July 10th, 2024.

Ahead of the Premiere, the company presented the research findings, inviting guest speakers on Accessibility and Inclusivity, Consent, Emotional Safety in the creative process and sound and movement interaction technology in a Symposium at Yorkshire Dance, in Leeds on April 26th, 2024.

Sandrine is leaning on a chair, talking to Maria and Preethi who are sat down.

Mark holding Seona in a hug. She looks away from him while his focus is on her.

Helen, eyes closed, is reaching one arm out towards Melina

Vicky is holding a microphone in front of Helen while she is talking. We can see the back of Sandrine's head looking at them.

Mayowa and Mercy holding each other in a hug while smiling and looking straight at the camera.

Group of dancers in a pool of light. Three of them are on the floor in a clump at the front while three others are standing together at the back.

"I was astonished by the dynamic integration of the sighted and partially-sighted performers, and the level of trust that they afforded each other."

Audience member, Leeds

"I was overcome with emotions, whilst being immersed into the raw emotions being represented."

Audience member, Leeds

"It was a truly impactful piece. Unforgettable for me. It was beautifully and sensitively done."

Audience member, Leeds

"The thought, energy and forward thinking of the choreography was ground-breaking in a world of darkness. I was moved to tears as something said sparked total recognition inside me. The dancers, both sighted and visually impaired were fabulous. Moving without constraints and with such freedom."

Audience member, Bradford

"This excellent , enlightening performance should be shown across so many platforms as it is honest, deep and shows the trauma, happiness and real lives of those with visual impairments."

Audience member, Bradford

A wonderful concept, beautifully delivered by a group of very genuine performers. They and the story conveyed so much about the emotions and issues felt not just by blind/VI people but by people who find themselves outside 'the norms' of the world.

Audience member, Leeds