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Art, Activism, and Sexual Violence: Healing Through Dance

"I recently contributed a chapter to a book, Arts, Activism, and Sexual Violence published by the University of Washington Press and edited by Sally Kitch and Dawn Gilpin. I would like to present my findings that are published in the chapter in a short presentation for Arts + Change.

This chapter examines the different ways that dance is used to educate audiences and express experiences of sexual assault. Written for readers who are not necessarily familiar with dance, it focuses on dance performance and choreographic processes that use the topic of sexual assault to inspire works.

To demonstrate the work being done in the field of dance, four choreographers who have created or are currently creating pieces that explore the topics of sexual abuse and sexual assault are featured. These artists are: Jinah Parker, choreographer of choreoplay SHE; Beth Braun, Artistic Director of Esperanza Dance Project; Kevin Lee-y Green, Artistic Director of Techmoja dance company and choreographer of Quiet As It’s Kept; and Jamie Minkus, a member of Rejoice! Dance Theater and creator of When I Dare to Be Powerful.

In addition to the contributions of these artists, general research and information about sexual assault as a topic in dance performance historically is reviewed. Because the 2017 #MeToo movement contributed greatly to the growth of using dance to express and educate audiences about sexual assault, this chapter also explores the influence of the #MeToo movement on the dance world."

Sydney Burrows

Sydney Burrows is a dancer, writer, and digital strategist based in Rochester, NY. In addition to her position as a Digital Content Strategist at the University of Rochester Medical Center, she is a freelance dance writer for Rochester City Magazine. She is also a company member of PUSH Physical Theatre. She holds her BA in Dance and English from Goucher College and a Master’s in English from the University of Rochester.

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