Tag Archives: dance

Strike Dance Rise!

15 Friday Feb 2013

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6d79b8c1a709e1745b_5vm6bnp62Yesterday, Feb. 14th, I took part in the event “1 Billion Rising,” (more info found in an earlier post – http://wp.me/p159Ee-9q) a global strike to refuse to accept continued violence against women. As I mentioned in my original post I don’t have much personal experience to bring to the table but I think it is an extremely important issue and one that deserves all of our support. 1 billion women (1 in 3) hurt by violence is simply unacceptable. I’ll give you a quick walk through of my day then leave you with a video from the founders of One Billion Rising.

Sadly Riggins didn’t join me in protest. First of all, he refused to learn the dance to Break the Chain (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WufjSyE_rK8), which was just lazy on his part. Secondly, he doesn’t like crazy and/or smelly people and I was headed to the heart of downtown Los Angeles. He was better off left at home.
photo (1)Parking at Pershing Square, where the gathering was being held, was pricey so I drove up a few blocks and parked at a cheaper lot (since it is near one of my favorite bars it is also a parking lot I’m familiar with). The jaunt to the event location would not even be a question in NY but here in LA that length of a walk is simply unheard of. I wasn’t in the best area but in the middle of the day the streets of downtown are a 1:1 ration of scary and businessmen/women. I figured being a victim of violence while heading to a rally against violence was simply too on point to actually happen

The gathering I went to was one of the smaller ones in Los Angeles as women (and a few brave men) ducked out of their offices on their lunch break to lend their support. As more image (2)participants came together we all grabbed a cardboard heart to write why we were rising and tied it around our wrists. I REALLY wanted to write that I was doing it for the penguins (why? read – http://wp.me/p159Ee-aM) but this was serious stuff. Not the time or place for an inside joke just to make you and me giggle. I wrote, “I’m rising because love is better than hate …. always.” I ran out of room so the bottom half is unreadable. Still, it seemed more appropriate than the penguin comment.

The event organizers introduced themselves and started things off. First a very nice (I assume. I mean, I didn’t talk to her but I figure she is nice.) women in very tall heels (extra points for dancing in those) sang an original song image (1)she had written. Deep … moving … emotional. Then a dance troop did the Break the Chains dance for us before a quick tutorial. I was very happy I put in the time the night before and earlier in the morning to learn the dance as the tutorial was down and dirty and not much help if you weren’t already in the know. Then we all danced it together. It was FABULOUS! So much fun to just not give a flying freak what anyone thinks and dance with all your might in the middle of Los Angeles. After that they put on more music and just let the dancing continue.

Later that day I went to my Bar Method studio in Pasadena which had donated all their classes to One Billion Rising. With the complimentary class was a suggested donation to the cause. You know I love Bar Method and the fact that it was supporting such a positive message was an extra bonus.

All day it was inspiring to watch online as the videos come in from around the world of women and men rising. If you want to check them out some can be found on V-Day’s YouTube page or the event’s Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/OneBillionRising). I hope that our global dance party helped bring attention to the horrible issue of violence against women and sparked more discussion and solutions.

As promised — Video

*Trigger Warning* A film by @EveEnsler and Tony Stroebel.

 

 

 

 

1 Billion Rising

07 Thursday Feb 2013

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picstitch (2)Just over a year ago I traveled to India for work.  Our offices were located just outside of Bangalore and the hotel I stayed at was just down the street.  It was pretty easy to get around.  All I had to do was get in a car that was waiting for me and go from hotel to office and back again.  That was part of my problem.  From reading this blog you know that I do a lot of outside exercise.  The back and forth from one artificial environment to the other was making me claustrophobic and just a little more than a little crazy.  At one point I’d had it and I went to the desk to ask them if it was okay if I ran up the road (it was a big loooooonnnnnngggg road) for 2  miles and back.  Just 2 miles and back.  I’m sure I’d make friends with a few street dogs along the way but dogs like me so that was cool.  “Oooooh NO ma’am,” was the answer.  It was said with such certainty and a dash of “are you off your rocker” attitude that I didn’t even question it and instead slowly shuffled off to the hotel’s tiny smelly gym.  Based on recent news stories out of India about gang rape victims I suppose I should send the hotel a gift basket.

Honestly my personal relationship with violence against women is non-existent.  I was lucky to grow up in an atmosphere where women are equal, not possessions, and sometimes even a tad bit smarter than the male sex (wink).  Still, I realize this isn’t true of all countries, of all families, and of all people.

Feb. 14th has been designated the day for one billion to rise up against violence against women ( http://www.onebillionrising.org/).  One Billion Rising is an event led by V-Day, a global activist movement to end violence against women and girls founded by Eve Ensler (author of the Vagina Monologues).  According to the web site:

picstitch“The concept of the campaign [One Billion Rising] is simple. If you take into account the statistic that 1 out of 3 women will experience violence in her lifetime, you are left with the staggering statistic that over 1 billion women on this planet will be impacted by violence. On V-Day’s 15th Anniversary, 2.14.13, we are inviting ONE BILLION women and those who love them to WALK OUT, DANCE, RISE UP, and DEMAND an end to this violence. V-Day wants the world to see our collective strength, our numbers, our solidarity across borders.”

I plan to take part in the event and would love if you would as well.  Visit the event web site to search gatherings that are happening locally.  The movement is global but if there isn’t an event close you can learn the dance to Break the Chain and jump out of your chair midday for a solo dance party! (Video of song with dance is embedded below.  You can also find a how-to video online where Debbie Allen will break it down for you.)

Woman freakin’ rock — and rock hard!

(First set of pictures is of some of my favorite ladies dancing, just because it is fun, in Bangalore.  Second set of pictures is of some of my favorite ladies dancing at Dee Dee’s bachelorette party in downtown LA.)