I had never considered what training with a dance system designed for blind and vision-impaired people would be like. Recently, I had the opportunity to find out. I was invited by Madhuka De Silva, PhD candidate at Monash University, Melbourne, Australia, to be part of a research project involved in co-designing a dance system to support accessible dance education. When I arrived at the workshop, I was both curious and excited. How could sound replace sight in something as visual as dance?
The set-up
The room was set up with the system, ready to guide us through movement using a combination of sound cues and verbal instructions. At first, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but as the session began, I quickly realised that this was something special. The sounds were layered—each one meant to signal a different movement. Some, like the rhythmic pulses, were easy to follow, but others were more challenging. I struggled to distinguish between the raindrops and the wind sounds, while the other participant, a younger dancer, seemed to have no trouble at all. It was a reminder that, just like with any new skill, practice and familiarity would make a difference.
Despite those small challenges, the experience was nothing short of incredible. The system relied almost entirely on hearing, making it an ideal tool for blind dancers. The fully qualified dance teacher guided us through each step, and I could see the potential for this technology to truly transform access to dance.
The importance of detailed verbal descriptions
One thing that stood out to me was the importance of detailed verbal descriptions. Some movements were difficult to grasp without additional explanation. Fortunately, our teacher was extremely skilled in this area. It was obvious he had a great understanding of descriptive communication for the vision impaired. But it also highlighted, that dance teachers may benefit by having some vision loss awareness training to teach ‘the system.’ This would give them understanding how to describe movements clearly and adapting instructions for those with low or no vision.
Not just a research study …
By the end of the session, I felt exhilarated. For me, it wasn’t just a research study; it was a glimpse into a future where blind and vision-impaired people could learn, practice, and enjoy dance just as much as anyone else. This system has the potential to bring joy and opportunity to so many people, and I was thrilled to be part of its development.
As I stepped away from the workshop, I couldn’t help but smile. This was more than just movement—it was freedom, expression, and possibility, all wrapped up in the magic of sound.
THANK YOU
I’d like to give a very big thank you to Madhuka De Silva, PhD candidate, Monash University, for giving me the opportunity to be part of the research involved in co-designing a dance system to support accessible dance education.
For more information, you can visit Madhuka’s website at madhuka.design
Image: Thanks also to Madhuka for the featured image which shows the dance system to support accessible dance education.
