Victim

Dance film based upon different phases of child abuse

Victim

“Victim” is a dance, collaborative film project that focusing on the trauma victims of child abuse face. Child abuse is an issue that is often push aside, seen as less important, or isn’t talked about in today’s world. 1 out of 7 (if not more) children are abused daily. Either from physical, mental, sexual, neglect and/or psychological abuse. The numbers rise everyday of victims that have died due to abuse and still there is little conversation about this issue.

“Victim” goes through 5 different phases, physiological, mental self-destruction, physical, trauma/after effect and neglect. Through movement each victim tells a different story. With many hours of movement research myself as the choreographer, I worked with 5 dancers individually to create a message that emphasized a particular phase. Once movement was created, composer Anthony Penã used his viewpoint to highlight the stories even more through sound. By creating different movement, sound, environments and filming techniques each phase is different but the same in a unique way.

“Victim”- a dance film is now out for audiences to enjoy for a short period of time! Tape the button below to watch this 30 minute dance film, “Victim”.

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Child abuse is something that has always interested me, at the young age of 12 my mother had me read “A Child Called It” by Dave Pelzer, a true story about a young boys survival of child abuse. It was then that I realized how big of an issue this is and no one talks about it. I knew that I could use dance as a way to start that conversation, I started reading more books on child abuse, re-read “A Child Called It” and started doing movement research. Iin 2020 the COVID pandemic hit and child abuse number decreased. Which to some is a positive sight to see, but it isn’t, if anything it should've raised more concern. School counselors, nurses and teachers are the highest numbers to report when a child is being abused. Since school was no longer in person a child’s safety net had been cut off. More and more people were turning to the internet, social media and TV as a way to stay entertained that is why I started to create a dance film based upon child abuse. To educate, spread awareness, reach many more people than a live performance and to re-light the conversation of child abuse.

I want audiences to know that my intenitons are not to scare, but to remind us that child abuse happens daily and though it will never be fully stopped, by having conversations, looking for the warning signs and being able to provided the right resources we can help create a positive change in children’s everyday lives. This dance film project is emotionally heavy and I encourage only those who are mature and are prepared to be taken on an emotional roller coaster to watch.