BRATTLEBORO — Many have spoken out in outrage over the conditions at detention centers at the Mexico/U.S. border, banding together on social media and in person to protest the Trump administration's policies, especially the inhumane treatment of children separated from their families.
But for those without experience organizing, it can be difficult to understand how to take action in a meaningful and effective way.
For Sonya Marx, a college student who grew up dancing and going to school in Brattleboro, leveraging the connection between the arts and politics to make a difference was a natural choice.
“People have this tendency to separate art from politics, as if they are separate worlds,” Marx said in a news release. “However, if you're calling art apolitical, or making art and saying 'this has nothing to do with politics,' you are by necessity taking a political stance.”
This month, she brings together her love of dance and activism in a show at the Brattleboro School of Dance, “Still Processing.” Funds from the show will be donated to RAICES Texas, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that helps separated minors, detained families, and many others who are seeking asylum in the U.S.
“It's a great opportunity to support the local arts in Brattleboro while contributing to a great cause,” says Marx. “When everything feels hopeless, the arts have a unique power to unite all of us against oppression and injustice.”
The show includes works in a variety of styles, including ballroom, improvisation, contemporary, and tap. Marx says it's also an opportunity for the local community to engage with these works and the dancers in them while supporting a great cause.
“Even if you've never seen a dance performance before or aren't sure what to expect, I encourage you to come explore with us,” says Marx. “This event is a great chance to engage with the local dance community while making a difference.”
The show will take place Aug. 16 and 17 at the Brattleboro School of Dance, at 22 High St., on the third floor. A showing of new works at 7 p.m. will be followed by a discussion with the choreographers and dancers.