Performed as part of Sydney Festival 2025, All In is a dance performance created by Dance Makers Collective (DMC).

Founded in 2012 through a group of ten independent dance makers in Sydney, the troupe has been responsible for 82 new Australian dance works created by nearly 200 Australian artists. Currently, DMC is the only collective-led dance organisation in Australia.

Held inside Parramatta Town Hall, the audience is ushered into a performance that’s already begun. All-female, intergenerational dance clan Jannawi (which means ‘with me, with you’ in Dharug language) performs an Acknowledgement of Country with visceral meditative movements.

As the music becomes louder, the flowing rhythmic movements shift into a contemporary energetic performance. Working up a sweat, the dancers move faster. The up-tempo music generates jagged, frantic motions.   

Led by Miranda Wheen, the award-winning contemporary dance company comprises accomplished professional dancers including Emma Harrison (who also choreographed and performed in Arlington), Azzam Mohamed (known as Shazam, he curated and directed Sculptured Riddims for Sydney Festival 2024) and dancers from Sydney Dance Company, along with new emerging dancers – the Future Makers.

Besides the collective, All In welcomes dancers from other groups, creating imaginative performances from a cross-section of styles and communities. Demonstrating dance is a universal language by incorporating flamenco (Las Flamenkas), hip-hop (Riddim Nation), Bharatanatyam and Dharug dance. Blending the styles to build collective energy between the performers and the audience.

Producer Carl Sciberras explains: “All In is a reflection of the ethos of DMC, which at its heart celebrates the universality and necessity of dance for all, regardless of age, culture, identity and class. In premiering the work, it was important to us that the show spoke meaningfully to where we are and the diverse cultures and traditions of dance.”

Clever lighting design by Benjamin Brockman spotlights the dancers, highlighting the almost consecutive movement and patterns in the choreography.  

Dance, like all forms of art, is naturally interpretive. All In acknowledges this with audio of the dancers discussing how they would explain the performance and what dancing means to them. As they move in connection to the audio, their explanations open the performance up new views of choreography.

The performance ends with a live DJ set and an opportunity for the audience to join in. Provided with simple directional movements such as ‘go left’, ‘dance up’, ‘dance with the person next to you’, it emphasises unification and encourages dancing for happiness.

Sciberras adds: “Dance can bring us together in ways few things can and be a powerful tool to facilitate moments of social connection, joy and reflection.”

 A beautiful finish breaking the final barrier of audience to dancers, as everyone moves together.

3 stars.

Plays until 25 January 2025. For more information visit Dance Makers Collective