River Nile Block Party promises joy

Organisers are hoping a rich mix of music and dance at the second annual River Nile School Harmony Block Party in North Melbourne will draw locals into the celebration along with the school’s diverse community.

Afghan, Burmese and South Sudanese dance groups will be among those busting a move on the big stage at the River Nile School Harmony Block Party on Friday, March 27.

Also on the bill is a fashion show featuring traditional outfits paired with traditional moves and student dance group Spiced Up.

Among those bringing the beats will be Nigerian DJ and dance teacher Dagogo, Lebanese DJ Sanaa and Kenyan rapper Elsy Wameyo.

“We've really tried to get as many diverse identities as we could represented in the music and performances,” Francine Sculli from the school told North West City News.

“Quite a few students had put their names down to perform and there would also be opportunities to spontaneously jump on stage and share something,” she said.

The Capel St school, which is opening its parking lot to the public for the event, is an extraordinary institution that empowers young women from refugee backgrounds by supporting them with wraparound services focused on their wellbeing while providing education.

Last year it won the City of Melbourne’s annual award for community.

In staging a big party, the school aims to celebrate its students’ identities, promote itself as a safe space and spread a message about anti-discrimination.

For the students – who hail from Myanmar, Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia, the Congo and Columbia, and travel from around Melbourne – it is an opportunity to have family members around them at the school and to share their culture and their strengths, according to Francine.

It is also, of course, a chance to dance and have fun.

And “moments of joy” such as those you can get dancing at a party can “give you enough spring in your step to keep moving forward in life,” according to Francine.

That sort of boost is especially important for the River Nile school students, many of whom have experienced significant trauma.

Other potential sources of joy promised on the night are refugee-owned food stalls and trucks, art displays and an Ethiopian coffee ceremony.

The school’s inaugural Harmony Block Party last year saw a small, appreciative crowd of 150 to 200 people, including students, turn out for the celebration.

Among them was a woman who didn’t know anyone at the school but had heard about the event and turned up to dance.

“By the end of the night, she was hand in hand with the girls, and spinning around happily,” Francine said.

Encounters like this helped “break down the walls” between the students and broader community, and the school hoped to encourage more of them.

“We welcome everyone to come along,” Francine said.

“And if there's anyone who wants to bring something to share [on stage] with our students and community as well, we welcome that.

The school was a “really special place” with a “beautiful community”, Francine said.

“It's servicing a really incredible and diverse community of groups.

“And we want to share that with everyone.

“We want people to be a part of our community as well.”

River Nile School Harmony Block Party is happening from 4-8pm, Friday, March 27 in the car park at 117 Capel St, Nth Melbourne. •