Stage lights

By Shaun Inguanzo
PREPARATIONS are heating up for this weekend’s largescale musical production involving emergency crews from throughout the Dandenong Ranges.
Acrobatic displays through to singing police and fire officers are set to take centre stage this weekend at the Belgrave Heights Convention Centre for the Dandenong Ranges Music Council’s Fire Cycle Performances concert.
Fire Cycle Performances is the culmination of the efforts of organisers, including artistic director John Shortis who has been probing emergency crews for jargon and drawing on their experiences as inspiration for the concert’s music.
Crews from local police and fire stations, Country Fire Authority headquarters, local Department of Sustainability and the Environment fire brigades, Shire of Yarra Ranges officers, and Parks Victoria rangers will warm their voices and slip on their dancing shoes as part of the allstar cast which will set the stage alight when the performances take place this weekend.
According to DRMC community music coordinator Bev McAlister, the crews will sing songs relating to their involvement in the Dandenong Ranges fire season, demonstrating in an entertaining manner how they operate individually and together to protect the region. Acrobats will twirl fire and build human pyramids to help emergency crews illustrate their points.
An additional cast of local musicians and schools will take part in the Fire Cycle Performances.
For two shows only the Fire Cycle Performances will be held at the Belgrave Heights Convention Centre on Saturday 8 October at 7pm and on Sunday 9 October at 2pm, with entry by donation.