North Olympic Peninsula organizers are urging dancing in the streets today as part of a global celebration to increase awareness of violence against women.
Events are set in Port Townsend and Port Angeles as part of the global One Billion Rising Valentine’s Day dance.
Port Townsend will hold an all-day schedule of dance, discussion and celebration, while Port Angeles will have an outdoor dance beginning at 4 p.m. at the Conrad Dyar Memorial Fountain at First and Laurel streets in downtown Port Angeles.
Global event
“This event is literally happening all around the world,” said Allison Dey, one of the Port Townsend organizers and the co-founder of Madrona MindBody Institute.
“It brings violence against women out from behind closed doors and into the street and builds awareness.
“Violence against women cannot exist out in the open if the community says it is not allowed.”
Nia dance
Today’s events will begin in Port Townsend with a Nia dance — which blends martial arts, dance arts and healing arts — at Madrona MindBody in Fort Worden State Park from 9:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.
That will be followed by “Communit-Tea Talks” from 10:45 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., with discussion centering around using dance to empower women.
“Dance is the language of empowerment,” Dey said.
“It’s a declaration of freedom from violence and allows a woman to live in her body without fear.”
During a “dance strike” from work from 12 p.m. to 12:15 p.m. in the courtyard adjacent to Sweet Laurette’s Cafe and Bistro, 1029 Lawrence St., participants can “take a break from your busy workday to join in the rising,” according to a statement.
A “flash mob dance” from 4 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. at the Haller Fountain at the corner of Taylor and Washington streets is choreographed to “Break the Chain,” the event’s theme song.
Dey has conducted two rehearsals and will rehearse again this morning, but anyone who wants to participate can join in on the spot, she said.
A community dance is set from 4:15 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Haller Fountain with DJ music from Silace Amaro and will be followed by a closing ceremony.
Port Angeles
In Port Angeles, Rage Productions will play for two hours at the Conrad Dyar Memorial Fountain, performing all kinds of dance music — anything that will get people on their feet, said organizer Naomi Davidson, 37, of Port Angeles.
“We want to have people dancing all the way through,” Davidson said.
The event is designed to create awareness of both domestic violence and other violence against women that is taking place around the world, she said.
“Violence against women is everywhere,” she said.
The event includes a raffle of items donated by downtown Port Angeles businesses.
Donations will be accepted.
Any funds remaining after the bills are paid will be donated to Healthy Families of Clallam County, Davidson said.
The celebration is intended for women, men, children and elders, and is open to the public.
For more information, visit www.onebillionrising.org. In Port Angeles, email ndavison2010@gmail.com or phone 360-504-2760. In Port Townsend, visit http://tinyurl.com/a7vccf4.
