Friday, September 26, 1997
The University Daily Kansan
Section B· Page 3
Fighting abuse with dance
By Rachelle Detweiler
redtewiler@kansan.com
Kanson staff writer
Choreographer Leonara Stapleton works with battered victims through dance instruction at the Lied Center yesterday. The Beast, Byrd's dramatic display of domestic violence, begins tonight at the Bled in the Bled Center. Photo by Roger Noger/KANSAN
When choreographer Donald Byrne sees a social injustice, he provides his own solution through his group of dancers.
"The Beast," Byrd's dramatic display of domestic violence, urges audience members to evaluate their relationships and stop violence in society, said Jaceline Davis, executive director of the Lied Center. The performance is at 8 tonight iat Lied Center.
People become uncomfortable when discussing domestic violence, Byrd said. But an emotionally charged performance like "The Beast" can convey a powerful message without an intimidating direct confrontation.
"One of the roles I see an artist playing in society is to speak the unspeakable and to speak publicly what people are afraid to say," Byrd said. "It's taking a chance and bringing up an issue."
Byrd said by watching the performance, people would realize they must actively confront violence within themselves and society. He said no one was immune to abuse and that even the performers confronted conflicts within their lives. Gender problems divided the performers when rehearsals began, Byrd said.
The women sat on one side of the stage feeling angry, while the men sat on the other side feeling guilty. All the performers hated the piece because of
the work's brutal message, Byrd said.
But their strong emotions produce a greater understanding of violence. Now the performers can take the audience on a truthful journey of domestic violence.
Byrd said he had seen how people ignored the violence and when they returned home, he had to run for help.
"The role of an artist is important because we're not on the outside, living in an ivory tower," Byrd said. "We're in the community and play a role in it."
Byrd said he understood the cycle of violence by talking with victims and attending therapy sessions for abusers. He now accepts the violence in his past and also realizes that violence builds gradually.
"Women don't marry jerks," he said. "When relationships start, the men seem like the sweetest nicest guy."
The perpetrator makes the violence seem acceptable when the abuse begins. As the violence builds from an imperceivable level, an abuser fighting for control can use presents, such as flowers, as a weapon to regain control, Byrd said.
If a woman refuses to give up her power and fights for her control, she is punished for her action, he said.
"If she kills him after he's been beating her for years, her prison sentence will often be longer than his if he kills her," Byrd said. "It's amazing. And it's horrifying if a person is pushed to that point."
Class helps women stretch toward healing
Kansan staff writer
By Rachelle Detweiler Kanson staff writer
All that's audible is 25 people exhaling as they stretch and release tension from their bodies. A nervous laugh breaks the silence, relieving any remaining tension.
Leonora Stapleton, a dancer in the Donald Byrd dance group, led a Movement for Healing class yesterday at the Lied Center. The class helped abused women living at the First Step House, a women's shelter at 345 Florida St., reduce stress and tension through gentle body movements.
Stapleton led the class through a series of basic stretches that relaxed
every muscle in the body. She said participants could repeat the simple techniques later for relaxation.
"People hold onto tension," Stapleton said. "Movement allows them to recognize ways to release tensions, even when they're holding onto it so intently that they don't want to let go."
Stapleton said people also had to get out of an abusive relationship to experience a natural body state.
Stapleton used exercises to demonstrate the connection between tension and abusive relationships.
Participants realized how situations could change by acting out a positive emotion and then shifting to a terrifying one.
The exercise showed participants they could release their tension and return to a relaxed state, she said.
"People can read into gestures what they don't notice in words," Stapleton said. "There's always warning signs in domestic violence. Being aware of minute gestures and signals helps to realize the situation."
Besides reducing bodily tension, the exercise relieved participants' pent-up emotions, said Candi Baker, Artistic Director of Prairie Wind Dances.
One First Step House participant said she had never experienced anything like the class. She laughed during most of the stretches, telling Stapleton she wanted an audition when she couldn't touch her toes.
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GAMMA PHI BETA PROUDLY PRESENTS
"EILEEN TEAHAN MEMORIAL GOLF TOURNAMENT"
BENEFITTING CAMP SECHELT
SEPT. 28, 1997
WHAT: THE GOLF TOURNAMENT WILL BE HELD AT THE ALVAMAR PUBLIC GOLF COURSE IN MEMORY OF EILEEN TEAHAN, A DECEASED MEMBER OF THE GAMMA PHI BETA SORORITY. IT BENEFITS CAMP SECHELT, THE GAMMA PHI BETA OWNED CAMP IN BRITISH COLUMBIA WHICH ACCOMMODATES ABUSED AND UNDERPRIVILEGED GIRLS AGED 8-12. THE COST IS $250.00 PER TEAM OF 4 (62.50 PER PERSON).
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