The idea is “to welcome and celebrate a safe summer in Chicago”
Even though growing up should be bright and beautiful, difficulty and disappointment can sometimes make it hard. But growing up with danger is much, much more difficult, and for too many young people, the threat of violence — and especially gun violence — can make even hope seem somber.
GiGi Tonyé knows about that, and more importantly, she cares about it. Garley ‘GiGi Tonyé’ Briggs is the founder of #Dance4OurLives, which each year presents a weekend of programs that includes dance rallies, master dance classes and workshops. The event is held in Chicago the weekend before Memorial Day, which historically is one of the city’s most violent. The idea is “to welcome and celebrate a safe summer in Chicago”
GiGi grew up facing the same frightening violence that #Dance4OurLives seeks to prevent, and went on to earn a Masters in Health Care Administration from University of Phoenix. She’s the founder of GiGi Tonyé Arts & Fitness, which presents #Dance4OurLives. Her vision is to provide a safe and inspiring space for young people, where they can enjoy the fun and excitement of dance classes and workshops, and, as GiGi says, “learn how their artistry can help keep them from getting into trouble, and sometimes even help them heal.”
It’s an inspiring story, and a promising one, so of course we wanted to find out as much as we could about it. We asked GiGi Tonyé to share her story and her vision with us in a little more depth, and here’s what she told us:
…using your creativity can bring you healing and peace of mind. I can attest to dance saving my life! I grew up on the Southside of Chicago and know how much this heals.
Johnny Nevin: This year, #Dance4OurLives wlll be out in force in Chicago for two days the weekend before Memorial Day Weekend, conducting six and a half hour long dance workshops each day. The idea is to engage the young people of Chicago neighborhoods in an experience of what dance can be. The title — and the timing — of #Dance4OurLives both address the reality that gun violence continues to be an emergency in the city, and that Memorial Day weekend is often an especially dangerous time. Can you tell us about the mission of this courageous effort?
GiGi Tonye: The mission of #Dance4OurLives is to use dance and the arts to counteract gun violence in our community through promoting and providing creative safe outlets for our youth and adults. This is a chance to be a part of a full day event, during which the young people we work with will have the chance to discover their artistic abilities — and see them flourish.
They need this. They need to know that that there are other ways to constructively reconcile differences and address the personal stressors that may come from issues in life — that using your creativity can bring you healing and peace of mind. I can attest to dance saving my life! I grew up on the Southside of Chicago and know how much this heals.
I want to draw attention to the idea that dance can heal, and we all need healing — our city, our nation, our world need a healing…
Johnny: Your own experience growing up in Chicago, and your own success in dance, combine to give you an especially well-informed understanding of how important dance, and all of the arts, can be in young lives. Can you tell us more about what you mean when you say “Dance can heal”?
GiGi: I have taught youth in the most affluent areas and youth in the lowest income areas, and what I have witnessed is that dance is the constant theme that both groups respond too. It engages a person in a way that cannot be spoken, but can be felt. Psychologically and mentally, dance stimulates brain signals and other mental functions in a way that only movement can. It releases joy and peace. It builds and heals community. It is a universal language; it’s a universal healing tool.
I want to draw attention to the idea that dance can heal, and we all need healing — our city, our nation, our world need a healing…
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#Dance4OurLives will take place on Saturday, May 18 and Sunday May 19 from 2 to 8:30 pm at Breakthrough FamilyPlex Center, 3219 W Carroll Ave, Chicago, IL 60624. Tickets, along with more information and a helpful FAQ are available online from Eventbrite.
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