The bond between a parent and their baby is a special and profound connection, and the arts can play a powerful role in strengthening that bond.

At the upcoming DreamBig Children’s Festival, two captivating shows, A Song for Your Child by Lullaby Project Australia and The Thing That Matters by Sally Chance, delve into this theme in unique and heartwarming ways. Both shows use the arts as a powerful tool to foster connection, emotional wellbeing, and positive outcomes for families with young children.

A Song For Your Child

Established through a partnership with New York’s prestigious Carnegie Hall, the Lullaby Project has been making waves around the world, reaching parents in healthcare settings, homeless shelters, high schools, foster care, and correctional facilities. And now, Lullaby Project Australia is bringing this incredible initiative to families down under.

Through songwriting and singing, the Lullaby Project Australia harnesses the innate power of music to enhance the maternal and paternal health and wellbeing of parents, build strong community support networks, support the emotional, social, and cognitive development of children, and empower families with personal and community agency. International research has shown that music and songwriting can increase connection with others, improve confidence for new mothers, and provide an outlet to express emotions.

In A Song For Your Child, musicians guide parents through the lullaby-writing process as they co-compose the words and melody of a brand-new song to celebrate families, culture, connections, and community. This unique and heartwarming experience is open to caregivers and their children ages 0-4, and promises to create precious memories that will be cherished for a lifetime.

Event details

Dates: Friday 19 May – Sunday 21 May
Venue: John Bishop Room, Adelaide Festival Centre

The Thing That Matters

But that’s not all when it comes to the power of dance and music in early childhood development. Sally Chance, a renowned dance-theatre artist, has dedicated her work to the cultural lives of children aged three years and younger, with a focus on perinatal infant mental health. Sally Chance Dance, in collaboration with her South Australia-based independent company, presents “The Thing That Matters,” a mesmerising performance that takes babies and very young children on a journey of growing, crawling, walking, running, and dancing, all accompanied by original live music.

Love, family, and memories to treasure are at the heart of The Thing That Matters, as Sally Chance and her ensemble of Adelaide families use dance-theatre to create an immersive experience for the youngest audiences. This unique production is designed for caregivers and their children ages 0-3, and promises to be a sensory delight for little ones as they discover the joy of movement and music.

Don’t miss out on these incredible opportunities to experience the power of music and dance in strengthening parent-child bonds and promoting positive outcomes for families.

Event details

Dates: Tuesday 23 May – Saturday 27 May, 2023
Venue: Church of the Trinity, Clarence Park

For more information:

dreambig.adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au/whats-on/a-song-for-your-child

adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au/whats-on/the-thing-that-matters

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