From the Harlem Shake to Gangnam Style, dance videos influence people across cultures, countries and generations.
And a Port Moody mom thinks dance can be used to stop human trafficking.
Sheila Alwell is the founder and president of Dancing 4 a Change, a non-profit organization pledged to support the rehabilitation of human trafficking victims through the power of dance videos.
Her website (www.dancing4achange.org) already includes videos about the dark horrors of human trafficking and clips of people dancing for fun or for important causes, such as ending violence against women. But Alwell would like to see the website become the go-to place for people to post and watch entertaining, humorous or quirky dance videos that others will watch and be inspired to make a donation.
Funds will go to a Surrey a group, Servants Anonymous Society (www.sassurrey.ca), that supports victims of human trafficking.
"We are looking for businesses, dance studios and families to put together a fun two-minute video and make a donation and [we will] put all of these videos on our website."
Alwell was inspired by her son, a professional dancer, and her daughter, a social justice coordinator, to do something worthwhile to promote a cause she believes in.
Her journey began three years ago when she became one of the volunteer coordinators for Soup Sisters, a non-profit organization that supports women and children fleeing domestic and family abuse. The group organizes soup kitchens for women on the Downtown Eastside. The work touched her heart, Alwell said, and she wanted to do more.
She learned about human trafficking through a video by Stop the Traffik in the U.K. and then did more research to find out about the issue here in Canada.
"I spent seven months doing research and heard some harrowing stories but there are organizations that are desperately trying to help the women to rehabilitate," Alwell said.
She hopes her website will be the link between awareness and action through the power of dance. Her supporters will also make appearances at local festivals, using dance to raise awareness about the difficult subject.
To contribute a video to Dancing 4 a Change, email [email protected].
GLOBAL ISSUE
Sheila Alwell's Dancing for a Change campaign is being launched at a time when the provincial government is funding training for nurses to recognize the warning signs of human trafficking among victims. The aim of the project, funded by $18,000 in civil forfeiture grants, is to ensure frontline nurses can spot signs of coercion and abuse, certain telltale injuries and illnesses - and summon help from forensic nurses and police.
