PRIORITY TO PARTY: The “Movement Movement”

DRIVEN by a lifelong devotion to dance culture, Kat Pengelly champions the party as a piece of vital social architecture, one essential for cultivating human connection and collective wellbeing.

The driving force behind Flowt NDIS Services and Wild Otter Club dance parties, Pengelly is creating momentum for a fun-focused “movement movement,” demonstrating that nothing bonds a community quite like the simple, shared act of dancing.

Dancing in the Daylight: Ballarat Cabaret Festival

The next chapter of this movement takes place during the 2026 Ballarat Cabaret Festival. On Friday 22 May, the Victoria Bowling Club will transform into a vibrant, inclusive dance floor for the latest Daytime Dance Party, an ongoing Flowt activity.

“Parties are my priority,” Pengelly says. “They tick so many boxes: music, fun, relaxation, community building, and what I call ‘covert exercise’.”

Flowt’s Daytime Dance Party is a feature of the Ballarat Cabaret Festival’s diverse program. This year, the festival continues to push boundaries with standout events like:

• Cabaret Gala (May 28–31): Featuring internationally celebrated artists at the Black Box Theatre.

• Showcase Performances (May 28–31): Eleven performances from six different shows created by graduate artists of the Arts Academy, Federation University.

• The Glitter Bug Kid’s Cabaret Club (May 30): A family-oriented extravaganza held from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM at Federation University.

The May 22 Daytime Dance Party features local legend DJ Cosmik Frequencies, offering an accessible “move ‘n groove” session complete with party accessories, song requests that you can sing along to on the microphone and a low-sensory retreat.

The Wild Otter Club: Private Parties Go Public

The obsession with the “art of the party” isn’t new for Pengelly, who also hosts private parties under the banner of the Wild Otter Club. Now, that private pursuit is going public.

The Wild Otter Club is stepping out of a suburban shed and into the regional spotlight.

By transitioning these private events into public experiences, Pengelly aims to create a robust regional network for the Electronic Dance Music (EDM) community.

Regional Expansion: Castlemaine Fringe Festival

The movement is already leaping across regional borders. The Wild Otter Club has partnered with the Castlemaine Fringe Festival to host a Dance Party Fringe Fundraiser at Boomtown Winery & Bistro on Saturday 5 September. This event strengthens the bridge between the Ballarat and Castlemaine creative scenes, supporting a cross-regional EDM network that ensures the party doesn’t stop at the city limits. Catch all the latest @wildotterclub on Instagram!

Whether through Flowt’s inclusive daytime sessions or the Wild Otter Club’s dance parties, the message is clear: the party is for everyone, and the movement is just getting started.

What: Flowt Daytime Dance Party (Ballarat Cabaret Festival)

When: Friday 22 May 2026, 4.30pm-6.30pm

Where: Victoria Bowling Club, 231 Victoria St, Ballarat East

Tickets: $15 (Support workers/guardians free)

Bookings: flowtndis.com.au

//SPONSORED CONTENT