Dean, Don't Dance!
Dean Nash spent years trying to dance to everyone else’s tune. Drama school, musical theatre and the endless pressure to appear “normal” taught him that fitting in was often rewarded more than being himself. Turns out that’s exhausting. Dean, Don’t Dance! is a funny, heartfelt and defiantly joyful solo cabaret exploring disability identity, internalised ableism and the lifelong process of learning to stop apologising for who you are. Through original songs, stories and just enough theatrical chaos, Dean unpacks the expectations he placed on himself and the strange ways we all learn to perform for the world around us. Blending musical theatre, comedy and contemporary cabaret, Dean, Don’t Dance! is both deeply personal and universally relatable. Whether you’ve spent your life masking or just trying to fit in, this show invites you to laugh, reflect and embrace your wonderfully imperfect self. Created and performed by disabled artist and creative access specialist Dean Nash, the production places accessibility at the centre of the experience, integrating creative audio description and shadow Auslan interpretation into the performance itself.
Running time: approximately 60 minutes.
Seasons
- Festival Hub: Trades Hall - Quilt Room, Carlton VIC — 7 October 2026 to 11 October 2026 · tickets