Closing Michael Rosen’s Sad Book, director and choreographer Andrea Walker says he knew: “I wanted to adapt it for the stage the second I read the final page”. The stage show by the same name uses only movement, light, costume, and a silent screen to present a visually perfected depiction of grief and depression.
The original book showed Andrea “there is no correct way to feel sad,” he says, and “how much beauty sadness can hide. We’re only sad at the loss of someone, if that someone was truly loved by us: there’s tremendous beauty in what we mean to each other.”
Each move on stage was inspired by the personal experiences of the dancers in the cast who allowed themselves to be “vulnerable and truthful” so audiences can “find a bit of their story represented, and perhaps some solace in a performance,” finishes Andrea.
For Andrea, dance is a medium for expression and dance is free for everyone to join in.
You don’t have to produce a stage show to release complex emotions and enjoy all the benefits of moving your body, of which Bloch says there are nine, including:
- A reduction in cortisol, our stress hormone, and an increase in endorphins that make you feel good
- The ability to ground yourself, becoming more aware of your body and keeping your feet on the floor
- An increase in self-esteem from learning a new skill, and a social boost if you perform alongside others
Whether it’s moving to music in your home office, kitchen discos with the kids, contemporary dance at a local class, or learning a particular style of dance, there’s nothing to stop you moving to see how it helps.
“Dance has an incredible way of lifting the human spirit. It’s more than just movement—it’s a form of self-expression, a release, and a connection to both oneself and others. When life feels overwhelming, dance offers an escape, a way to channel emotions that words sometimes can’t capture.”
― Andrea Walker
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