One Billion Rising 2016 Denver Capitlol

    Rise Up To End Violence Against Women!

    This year Bella Diva Dance is organizing the One Billion Rising rally and flash mob that will take place on Valentine’s Day February 14, 2016, in downtown Denver. So, what is One Billion Rising, and why is it so important?

    “One Billion Rising”, is the biggest mass action to end violence against women in human history.

    The campaign, launched on Valentine’s Day of 2012, began a call to action. Based on the U.N.’s staggering statistic that 1 in 3 women will be beaten or raped in their lifetime, One Billion Rising seeks to end this tragedy. With the world population nearing 7 billion this adds up to 1 BILLION women and girls that will be victims of sexual assault during their lifetime.

    One Billion Rising 2016 Denver Capitol, Bella Diva dance studio organizes One Billion Rising demonstration at Denver Pavilion and Denver Capitol Building February 14, 20162013 The Call To Action Begins: Dance To End Violence

    On February 14, 2013, 2014, and 2015, people across the world came together to express their outrage, strike, dance and rise in defiance of the injustices women suffer and demanding an end at last to the violence against women. Events took place in over 200 countries where women men and youth came together to rise, release, and dance outside of court houses, police stations, government offices, school administration buildings, work places, sites of environmental injustices, military courts, embassies, places of worship, homes and many other public gathering places; places where women deserve to feel safe but too often do not.

    Dancing is Release and Defiance

    The campaign was covered widely in all corners of the world including, The New York Times, The Guardian, NPR, and many more. This year, in 2016, we are again rising for revolution. Dancing allows us to come back into our bodies, as individuals, groups, and the world.  It connects our feet to the earth and inspires us to move to her rhythms. It allows us to go further, to include everyone, to tap into a revolutionary and poetic energy. It invites us to take the lid off of the patriarchal container releasing more of our wisdom our self-love, our sexuality, our compassion, and fierceness. Dancing is defiance. It is joyous and raging. It is contagious and free, beyond corporate or state control.

    Take the Dance Further

    We have only begun to dance. This year we must continue to go much further. We must go all the way and make the change. We must escalate revolution.

    One Billion Rising: Rise For Revolution 2016 is an escalation of the first three stages of our campaign “One Billion Rising For Justice”, and “One Billion Rising Revolution. “

    We’ve danced, demanded justice; we’ve demanded changes.  This year we are radicalizing our actions, enlarging, deepening, expanding the revolution. We need to continue to right the ship of consciousness; be braver, bolder, more creative and determined with our actions.  And we need to focus on the most marginalized women and girls to bring about the true long lasting change.

    One Billion Rising 2016 Denver Capitol, Bella Diva dance studio organizes One Billion Rising demonstration at Denver Pavilion and Denver Capitol Building February 14, 2016We invite you to join us in the One Billion Rising Revolution

    OBR is a wonderful way to connect with other women in the community by taking action with deeds, not words. Please spread the word. Share this newsletter and know that YOU can make a difference.  We will be holding 2 special classes on 1/31 & 2/7 to teach the simple global choreography: “Break The Chain”, created by renowned choreographer Debbie Allen. We will be adding a world dance flare & invite other studio to add their own unique style. During these classes don’t forget to WEAR YOUR RED! At the end of both classes, we will record us dancing “Break The Chain” together, and then we will post it to the international One Billion Rising site and to the Bella Diva Dance website. So, let’s pack the studio on Sunday January 31, 2016, and February 7, 2016 both from 12:30-1:30 pm.

    The cost of the class will be only $10.00 with all proceeds going directly to pay for city permits, food and drink for participants on V-Day, signs & posters, and advertising to produce this important event.

    That’s not all!  Students who come to learn the dance during our two special classes will have the opportunity to perform the opening number at our “One Billion Rising” show at Lannie’s Clocktower Cabaret Wednesday March 16th as we raise money for Verifica, a Colorado non-profit that works to eradicate the exploitation of women and children involved in marginalized communities.

    MARK YOUR CALENDAR! 
    February 14, 2016,  1-4 p.m. Flash Mob at the Denver Pavilions at 1 PM followed by a march to the rally on the steps of the Capitol from 2:30-4:00 pm.

    Numerous non-profits dedicated to the health & safety of women will also be present, having booths on the Capitol steps to connect with the community and offer their services.