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maltatoday | SUNDAY • 15 SEPTEMBER 2019 7 CULTURE DANCE A new dance show, which shines a light on neurodiversity, has launched a crowdfunding campaign to enable it to be performed on the Main Stage as part of this year's hugely popular Sci- ence and the City festival. Devised by Diane Portelli of Moveo Dance Company, Diversely Typical is a unique dance piece that has been choreographed to highlight every behavioural nuance of certain neu- rological disorders and so stop the stigma against the behaviour of those with neuroatypical brains. In what will be a first for Science in the City, the piece will explore the natural variation in human genes known as neurodiversity, which re- sults in conditions such as Autism, Attention Deficit Disorder (ADHD), Oppositional Defiance Disorder (ODD), and Sensory Processing Dis- order (SPD), among others. "This campaign is about tolerance – that is, how we all need to embrace the concept of neurodiversity as op- posed to believing neuroatypical peo- ple need to be cured," explains Por- telli. "As the mum and a teacher who experiences lovely, intelligent chil- dren with neuroatypical brains, this project is truly meaningful. If suc- cessful, it could mean living in a place where acceptance and inclusion are the norm… one without the insidious judgement of peers and adults. Diver- sity needs to become the new norm!" While half the funds required to propel this important and topical dance show to the Main Stage of this year's Science in the City festival have been contributed by the festi- val itself, for the other half, Portelli and the Moveo team have turned to crowdfunding. Through the launch of a campaign on local platform Zaar, they hope not only to cover the re- maining funds needed to produce the show, but also to reach a wider audi- ence who may themselves be affected by the topic, including schools. "We decided to meet with Zaar for advice on how to build a crowdfund- ing campaign to collect the remain- ing funds we needed," Portelli con- tinues. "Our preliminary meeting was extremely encouraging, with the Zaar representatives explaining the pro- cess in detail. Making the final deci- sion to build the campaign with their assistance was a no-brainer." Beyond the campaign's funding tar- get of €1,000, it already offers some stretch goals that would extend the reach of the show even further if achieved. If the campaign raises a total of €1,650, this will enable the show to be performed in a second- ary school, while with total funding of €2,300 or more, the show could be performed in another school. Together with The Malta Chamber of Scientists and ADHD Malta, Por- telli plans to launch Diversely Typi- cal at the Science in the City Festival. Timed to coincide with European Researchers' Night for one-night-on- ly on 27 September, Malta's Science and Arts Festival Science in the City is an annual event that transforms the city of Valletta with a fusion of science and art. The festival's theme this year is The Science of YOU, mak- ing Diversely Typical the ideal show to headline this night of free family fun. Those who contribute to the show's crowdfunding campaign on Zaar can also expect an extra reward beyond the satisfaction of supporting this important production. Depending on the amount donated, backers will receive one of an exclu- sive list of attractive rewards includ- ing thank you messages, official Fa- cebook mentions, eco-friendly veggie bags, tickets to the popular Kids Dig Science event, and even a dance workshop with Moveo Dance Com- pany. Visitors are invited to see the Di- versely Typical crowdfunding cam- paign on www.zaar.com.mt for more information and to make a donation. Dance show celebrating neurodiversity crowdfunds to headline at Science in the City Diversely Typical hopes to raise awareness through dance about the effects of neurodiversity on behaviour Those who contribute to the show's crowdfunding campaign on Zaar can also expect an extra reward beyond the satisfaction of supporting this important production