HANDS ARE FOR HOLDING® IS A SCHOOL-BASED WORKSHOP SERIES PRESENTED BY GIBNEY DANCE WHICH USES DANCE AND MOVEMENT TO ENGAGE IN CONVERSATION ABOUT HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS, BULLYING, EQUITY, AND CHOICE IN EVERYDAY INTERACTIONS.

Appropriate for participants of all ages, the workshop series addresses the socio-emotional health of young people, tailored to their age group. Choreographed dances combined with conversation, resource sharing, and participatory opportunities create a well-rounded educational experience that includes:

• Space for young people to discuss healthy and unhealthy relationships, especially in the new context of COVID-19, using dance to start these conversations
  
• Best practices on how to support a friend
  
• Interactive self-care exercises that are grounding and energizing
  
• Resources for young people to seek help and support
  

Offered in a series of 5 workshops, each session will use dance as a kick-off to engage young people in conversations around healthy relationship characteristics, respect, equity, and more. As students are offered the space to consider and express what these concepts mean to them and what they want their own relationships to look like, the conversations will be supported and deepened by a variety of interactive embodied activities, which allow students to physically explore the concepts—alone and with one another. For example, students learn a set of six healthy relationship gestures to explore key concepts of a healthy relationship: patience, respect, support, equity, negotiation, and trust. Other interactive activities demonstrate the need for communication and give-and-take in a healthy relationship, and provide opportunities for continued connection to community in a virtual space.

 CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR UPCOMING SESSIONS

All non-DYCD participants must sign a photo/video release form to attend a session. All sessions will be livestreamed. Click here to sign the consent form.