AN award-winning interactive digital artwork made in Thurrock, designed to raise awareness of neurological disabilities is currently being exhibited at Tilbury Library and will run through to December.

Beyond the Darkness, by Thurrock-based dance charity CoDa Dance Company, is made up of two different elements designed to challenge perceptions of neuro-disability.

'(The Moment) Everything Changed' is an interactive digital screen that uses sensor technologies and digital design to get participants moving.

'As the Floor Shifts' is a series of digital dance shorts shedding light on stories of life with MS, Parkinson's and Acquired Brain Injury, as told by CoDa's Lived Experience Consultants - neuro-disabled people who help create the company's work.

Nikki Watson, artistic director of CoDa Dance, founded the company in 2013 following her mother's diagnosis with Multiple Sclerosis.

Seeing what dance and movement could do for neuro-disabled people struggling to manage symptoms, she set out to offer dance workshops tailored specifically for people with MS, Parkinson's and Acquired Brain Injury.

Today, CoDa Dance Company is supported by Arts Council England and provides weekly Dance for Neurology sessions in hospital settings as well as creating professional dance work such as Beyond the Darkness and Avoidance and Other Acts of Love (the latter which recently made an appearance this summer at Chadwell Big Lunch and Coalhouse Fort).

Nikki says: "More than 10 million people in the UK live with a neurological condition and a further 850,000 people care for them. Despite this, the neuro-disabled people we create our work with tell us that they feel unseen and hidden from the world.

"We create our dance experiences with and for neuro-disabled people and their families and carers to bring their symptoms and their stories to light, and challenge perceptions of conditions such as Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson's and Acquired Brain Injury.

"It's fantastic to be bringing Beyond the Darkness to Tilbury, building on our previous appearance at the Thameside in Grays.

"We hope local people will come along, try it out for themselves and maybe have an opportunity to think differently about disability.

"With so much positive change happening in the area, including the regeneration projects and the Pride in Place fund, it's an exciting time for Tilbury. We're delighted to be working closely with Thurrock Libraries to bring this experience to local communities and can't wait to hear what people think."

Laura McCandless of Thurrock Libraries says: "We are proud to work with CoDa to host Beyond the Darkness in Tilbury Library and Hub. This is a great opportunity for our community to explore the experiences of people with neuro-disabilities in a really unique way.

"Working with CoDa also complements our commitment to helping our residents to become more active and explore aspects of life, death and disability which we offer through events such as walking groups and Dying Matters sessions."

Beyond the Darkness is free to take part in, and will be in Tilbury Library until Monday, 7 December. The venue and the installation is fully accessible to wheelchair users.