I saw this beautiful dance at DanceEast on 24 February with my husband, John. It is a new dance theatre show for everyone age 7+, families and schools. We both much enjoy performances aimed at youngsters. Watching small persons move from the babble of young voices pre-performance to rapt, silent attention during a performance is very special.

Diagnosed with dyslexia at a young age, Aakash found school very challenging. Defined by his learning difficulties, not his abilities, dance became his mode of expression. Combining visual design and technology with dance and humour, Little Murmur explores the warped and exaggerated realities of living in a world you struggle to process. Little Murmur is a stunning visual treat for young audiences and their families. Based on Aakash Odedra’s hugely moving show Murmur, this is an honest and heartfelt conversation about the trials and tribulations of living with dyslexia. Watch bodies and words fly like flocks of birds, a murmuration, a little murmur.

We saw Murmur when the performance came to DanceEast – Little Murmur is equally engrossing. The magical use of animation, fans, paper, gauze-like hangings and dancer is a feast for the eyes. I experienced a wave of emotions watching Subhash negotiating his complex world with such grace, humour and patience as he drew the audience more deeply into his world. 

After the performance, listening to those who have dyslexia talking about how the dance spoke to them, again reminds me of our deep need to convey emotions non-verbally. In our increasingly cerebral, screen-based world I think this form of communication becomes increasingly important. Aakash’s work invites me into the world of someone living with dyslexia and how some of my own family members negotiate this world.

Much as John likes to watch dance performances with me, he is known to ‘drop off’ during a performance. Throughout Little Murmur his eyes were ‘out on stalks’ as he drank in every moment. 

By Sue Sinclair