Break the Chains Choreography and One Billion Rising Movement

WHY WE RISE (All info taken from http://onebillionrising.org/)

On V-Day’s 15th Anniversary, 14 February 2013, we are inviting ONE BILLION women and those who love them to WALK OUT, DANCE, RISE UP, and DEMAND an end to violence against women.

ABOUT ONE BILLION RISING

ONE IN THREE WOMEN ON THE PLANET WILL BE RAPED OR BEATEN IN HER LIFETIME.

ONE BILLION WOMEN VIOLATED IS AN ATROCITY

ONE BILLION WOMEN DANCING IS A REVOLUTION

On V-Day’s 15th Anniversary, 14 February 2013, we are inviting ONE BILLION women and those who love them to WALK OUT, DANCE, RISE UP, and DEMAND an end to this violence. ONE BILLION RISING will move the earth, activating women and men across every country. V-Day wants the world to see our collective strength, our numbers, our solidarity across borders.

What does ONE BILLION look like? On 14 February 2013, it will look like a REVOLUTION.

ONE BILLION RISING IS:

A global strike
An invitation to dance
A call to men and women to refuse to participate in the status quo until rape and rape culture ends
An act of solidarity, demonstrating to women the commonality of their struggles and their power in numbers
A refusal to accept violence against women and girls as a given
A new time and a new way of being

Find a location or start your own rising at http://onebillionrising.org/

One Billion Rising - DTLA (downtown LA)

The City of Los Angeles is rising! Join One Billion Rising in the call to stop violence against women as we dance at LA Live's Nokia Plaza in downtown Los Angeles. Flash mobs, celebrity speakers...and MORE!

Make sure you learn the steps to Break the Chain because we'll be in the Plaza showing our moves to Los Angeles and making sure our voices are heard in the demand to address, and end, violence against women once and for all.

Time:      Thursday, February 14, 2013 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM PST
Host:     Jason Sywak
Location:    
Nokia Plaza (Los Angeles, CA)
750 Chick Hearn Court
Los Angeles, CA 90015
Maps:
Google Maps
MapQuest
Yahoo! Maps
Directions:     Nokia Plaza is at the LA Live Entertainment Complex in Downtown Los Angeles, near the corner of Figueora and Chick Hearn Court.

http://onebillionrising.org/

CHOREOGRAPHY (3 videos):

How To: Debbie Allen Teaches Break the Chain Dance



How to: "Break the Chain" Choreography



Mirrored Choreography Literally in the Mirror


I wished there was an official Break the Chains mirrored choreography. It would make it so much easier for me because, it's evident I'm not a dancer. So, Renee and I decided to film ourselves practicing in the mirror to make it easier for you to learn it. We used the choreography video from the Senior dance class at Brooklyn High School of the Arts teaching Debbie's moves! They were amazing and made it easier for us to memorize. I'm grateful to Rene for helping me get some of the moves and counts down.

I'm still working on it and looking forward to bringing this choreography to Zumba and doing the dance on February 14th, 2013 in Los Angeles, CA. Let go, have fun and don't worry about getting it right. Do the dance, listen to the song, feel the intensity of what it is saying and let yourself be free. Support the movement at http://onebillionrising.org/.

Words to the song Break The Chains:

Break the Chain Lyrics

Lyrics by Tena Clark
Music by Tena Clark/Tim Heintz

Intro-
I raise my arms to the sky
On my knees I pray
I’m not afraid anymore
I will walk through that door
Walk, dance, rise
Walk, dance, rise

I can see a world where we all live
Safe and free from all oppression
No more rape or incest, or abuse
Women are not a possession

You’ve never owned me, 
don’t even know me 
I’m not invisible, 
I’m simply wonderful 
I feel my heart for the first time racing 
I feel alive, 
I feel so amazing

I dance cause I love
Dance cause I dream
Dance cause I’ve had enough
Dance to stop the screams
Dance to break the rules
Dance to stop the pain
Dance to turn it upside down
Its time to break the chain, 
oh yeah
Break the Chain
Dance, rise
Dance, rise

In the middle of this madness, we will stand 
I know there is a better world 
Take your sisters & your brothers by the hand 
Reach out to every woman & girl

This is my body, 
my body’s holy
No more excuses, 
no more abuses
We are mothers, 
we are teachers,
We are beautiful, beautiful creatures

I dance cause I love
Dance cause I dream
Dance cause I’ve had enough
Dance to stop the screams
Dance to break the rules
Dance to stop the pain
Dance to turn it upside down
It’s time to break the chain, 
oh yeah
Break the Chain, 
oh yeah
Break the Chain

Dance Break Inst.

Dance, rise
Dance, rise

Sister won’t you help me, 
sister won’t you rise 
x4

Dance, rise
Dance, rise

Sister won’t you help me, 
sister won’t you rise 
x4

This is my body, 
my body’s holy
No more excuses, 
no more abuses
We are mothers, 
we are teachers,
We are beautiful, beautiful creatures

I dance cause I love
Dance cause I dream
Dance cause I’ve had enough
Dance to stop the screams
Dance to break the rules
Dance to stop the pain
Dance to turn it upside down
Its time to break the chain, oh yeah
Break the Chain, oh yeah
Break the Chain

(Repeat chorus)

 

Support the movement at http://onebillionrising.org/.