Their merry dance still opens doors and warms hearts
Sydney Morning Herald
Monday October 5, 2009
WHEN the Merry Maker dancers Lucinda Bryant and Scott Martin take the stage together, something magical always happens.Eighteen years ago they won the City of Sydney Eisteddfod in the first year a dancer with disabilities was permitted to compete, and their photograph appeared on the front page of the Herald.That enchanting image of Bryant, 15, and Martin, 24, captured people's attention nationwide. As a result, their Merry Makers dance troupe €“ a world-first in being made up of children and young adults with disabilities €“ was overwhelmed with parents wanting their children to join and offers of help. An award-winning documentary was made about them.Now, after helping set up similar Australian dance troupes, the Merry Makers have been asked to dance at Disneyland next year.€śFrom that single photo, so much happened,€ť Bryant says. €śWe were invited to dance all over Sydney, then all over the state, then over Australia and achieved so much recognition and praise. It was incredible.€ťNow the prize-winning pas de deux they performed has become a much-loved staple of Merry Makers' shows. Tomorrow they will perform it at Government House for the Governor, Marie Bashir, who will launch Love is in the Air, a book about the Merry Makers.€śIt tells the 30-year story of the troupe, and the moving tales of many of the members' lives,€ť says Bryant, now 33, who started at 12 as a helper and, at 17, became their artistic director when the group's founder Rosemary Marriott died of breast cancer.€śIt's now so exciting to see other groups starting up to give children with disabilities so many more opportunities.€ťMartin, who has Down syndrome, is now 42 and never tires of dancing that duet. €śI love it,€ť he says. €śBut so many people always cry when they watch.€ťBryant says: €śIt's been an amazing journey, and I consider myself very lucky to be around so many inspirational, beautiful people. They have so much fun in their lives, and you can't help but be touched, and feel very happy to be around them.€ť
© 2009 Sydney Morning Herald