HOW WE START THE CONVERSATION THROUGH DANCE

A panel of 16 courageous, beautiful individuals, ranging from 18 years  to over 65, sat at the back of the stage at the Warner Grand Theater in San Pedro after having each shared their own personal stories about  living with a mental illness. They then watched with open hearts as our  four dancers portrayed people just like them - who, with banners across their chests labeled “OCD”, “Depressed”, “Bipolar”, and “Anorexic”,  peeled off their tops to reveal banners that read “...and an Artist”,  “...and a Mother”, “...and a Teacher”, and “...and a Doctor”. The dancers finished to the thunderous sound of applause, and they were met  with tearful smiles and a standing ovation. This was a This Is My Brave Campaign presentation,  an organization dedicated to erasing the stigma of mental illness, and  Kairos Dance Company was honored to collaborate with them.

Kairos Dance Company is a non-profit 501 (c) 3 that utilizes dance as a  platform to build awareness on social topics to inspire action in our  community. Having been invited to perform at the esteemed Actors’ Gang for past three years, we have used these opportunities to start the conversations that often seem difficult- whether it be the mental  illness stigma, the homeless epidemic, or even the effect of social media. And by teaming up with other socially conscious organizations such as The Campaign to Change Direction,  This Is My Brave Campaign, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, and REBOS recovery center, our goal is to encourage our audience members to  ignite action within our community. We start the conversation - and you can help us continue it!