International Women’s Day on March 8 is a day to celebrate women’s achievements, raise awareness of gender-based bias and take action for gender equality.
The theme for IWD 2020 is ‘I am Generation Equality: Realising Women’s Rights’.
This year Mount Alexander Family Violence Prevention Network and Macedon Ranges Family Violence Network are organising a collective 1 Billion Rising Dance flash mob to perform at the International Women’s Day Breakfast at the Women’s Health Loddon Mallee offices in Bendigo on Thursday March 5 at 9.15am, then the same morning at the IWD event at the Theatre Royal, Castlemaine.
One Billion Rising is the biggest mass action to end violence against women (cisgender, transgender, and those who hold fluid identities that are subject to gender-based violence) in human history. The campaign, which launched on Valentine’s Day 2012, began as a call to action based on the staggering statistic that one in three women on the planet will be beaten or raped during her lifetime. With the world population at seven billion, this adds up to more than one billion women and girls.
The networks dancers performed together during the 16 days of activism last year and due to popular demand are back again, led by dance teacher Sas Cook.
“We have seen that this dance movement is a visual activity and powerful action that really raises awareness of and challenges gender inequality,” Sas said.
The flash mob will again be practising the 1 Billion Rising Dance under the instruction of the fantastic Sas, well known in the Macedon Ranges and Mount Alexander Shires, who runs Movement Zone dance studio in Castlemaine and who is passionate about social justice.
1 Billion Rising Dance classes are being organised in:
– Castlemaine: Wednesday February 26 and March 4, 7.30-8.30pm at the Movement Zone dance studio, Campbells Street.
– Kyneton: Tuesday February 25 and Thursday February 27, 12.30-1.30pm at the Kyneton Mechanics Institute.
Everyone is welcome (no previous dance experience is required) to come along to the dance classes and to rise, unite and resist gender inequality with people across the shires, the nation and the world.
The networks thank Macedon Ranges Shire Council, Maldon Neighbourhood Centre, Loddon Family Violence Leadership Group and Sarah Cook for supporting this initiative.
The MRFVN and MAFVPN are networks of the Central Victorian Primary Care Partnership.
For more information about these activities, contact CVPCP 5472 5333
Support for women – Centre for Non Violence 5430 3000, Safe Steps 1800 015 188
Support for children – Kids Helpline 1800 551 800
Support for Men – Men’s Referral Service 1300 766 491
