Bellingham event to help heal victims of violence through the gift of dance
Dance instructors from across Whatcom County are taking part in two days of dance lessons called Unity in Motion to raise money for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.
The lessons will be held from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 7-8 at COF& on Cornwall Avenue. The classes are “pay what you can,” with all proceeds going to Domestic Violence Sexual Assault Services (DVSAS) of Whatcom County.
Event organizer Jessica Crockett is a local belly dance instructor who told The Bellingham Herald she is a survivor of an abusive relationship from when she was in college. She said she received support from DVSAS, which is one of the reasons she is raising money for the organization.
“Even to this day, it is hard to talk about, and when it happened to me when I was so young, I didn’t know anything like that (DVSAS) existed. … I know we had those resources but you know, you are in college and are super young and you have this horrific relationship you can’t get out of,” Crockett said. “So the moral of my story is that this (Unity in Motion) isn’t for me. It’s not just about raising money for DVSAS. I want our community to see them, and I want people who are in those (abusive) relationships to see them and know they are not alone.”
DVSAS Co-Executive Director Marjie George said physical movement, including dance, can help people who are working through trauma.
“Having something like dance, that is fun to do and also helps survivors process the feelings and the trauma that they have experienced really go hand in hand,” George said.
Throughout history and across cultures, dance has been a form of physical release and expression, George said. By having a wide variety of dance instructors, people can use Unity in Motion as a way to find the kind of physical release that they need.
One of the dance teachers scheduled for 9 a.m Sunday is Layla Jasper, a Bellingham-based dance instructor who is also a licensed therapist. She helps victims work through trauma through physical movement as a way to connect to their issues. Bringing joy and dance to a session can help people feel more connected to their bodies, Jasper told The Herald.
There are eleven teachers currently signed up for Unity in Motion — not including Crockett, who will be organizing the event. Each teacher brings a unique style of dance, from swing dancing to Bollywood. Crockett told The Herald she is excited so many people have agreed to help, and they are always looking for more teachers to join what she hopes will be an annual Bellingham event.
Crockett said they hope to raise about $2,000 for the event and spread the word about DVSAS to the people who need it.
In the United States, one in four women and one in nine men are victims of domestic violence of some kind, according to a 2023 report from the National Library of Medicine.
“Everyone knows someone who has needed or could have needed our services,” George said. “You may not know that you know somebody, but I promise you if you know more than five people, who know somebody who at some point or another could have benefited from our services.”
DVSAS offers services and help to people who have been affected by domestic violence or sexual assault in Whatcom County. Their services include one on one counseling, legal assistance and programs that can find victims of domestic abuse housing if they have nowhere to go when escaping a dangerous home. DVSAS has a 24-hour helpline at 1-877-715-1563.
Unity in Motion evolved from the Bellingham Shimmy Mob, an international flash mob brought to Bellingham by Crockett about three years ago. She said all proceeds from the Shimmy Mob went to DVSAS, but she wanted to do more.
No registration or sign-up is necessary for Unity in Motion, which is open to all ages and all skill levels. People are asked to pay whatever they can, whether that be $20 or $100, for the dance lessons. More information about Unity in Motion, including a full schedule of lessons, is available at Crockett’s website at bellyham.com.
.jpg)