The sensory impact of eating in pitch darkness for a Vision Australia fundraiser will be heightened when gifted soprano and Vision Australia employee Jordie Howell sings for diners’ supper.
Vision Australia, the nation’s leading service provider to people who are blind or have low vision, will host Dining in the Dark at South Yarra’s Dans Le Noir? restaurant on Wednesday.
All funds raised will be used to support Vision Australia’s services to people in inner Melbourne who are blind or have low vision.
Jordie, who is blind, has won a string of local and international awards for her fine voice, is a braille sheet music transcriber at Vision Australia, chairs the Australian Braille Authority, is a singing teacher at Carrum Downs Secondary College, is the music teacher at the Statewide Vision Resource Centre and has a busy calendar of singing engagements.
She says she’s delighted to entertain diners at the unique fundraiser, in which all patrons enjoy a surprise three-course dinner with matching wines, all served in an intimate, pitch black dining room.
“It’s always interesting to be involved in something new. I can’t see, so it won’t make any difference to me, but it will be interesting to experience other people’s reaction. I think songs tell a story, and I like that sort of communication with an audience,” she says.
Jordie says her work at Vision Australia makes music accessible to people who are blind or have low vision.
“For me as a performer, I wouldn’t be able to function as quickly or independently as I do without braille sheet music. Without it, you’d have to invest a lot more time in learning things by ear, with braille sheet music you have independence. You can learn a score on your own. You don’t need someone else to play your part. You don’t need input from any other person and you know when the dynamics of a piece change, whether it’s louder or softer.”
Meals at Dining in the Dark will be served by Vision Australia clients, trained as waiting staff by Dans Le Noir?.
“Five Vision Australia clients work at Dans Le Noir? as waiting staff,” Vision Australia spokeswoman Penny Molnar says. “This is not a temporary work placement. These are genuine jobs, not internships or opportunities, and our clients are excelling.”
Ms Molnar says there will be activities designed to awaken the diners’ senses and an auction in the dark that will assist Vision Australia’s employment services.
“All dinner proceeds will go to our programs that support our clients to live the lives they choose. That might be education or employment opportunities, or ways that they can maintain their social inclusion and independence.”
Despite the surprise menu, Dans Le Noir? can cater for all food allergies or dietary requirements.
Dining in the Dark event will be held at Dans Le Noir?, at the Como Melbourne, 630 Chapel Street, South Yarra, on Wednesday, 25 July from 6.30pm to 10.00pm.
Tickets: $148.73 inc GST per head. To book, visit the Eventbrite website here.