Reflecting on our Group Starting Objectives

From the very beginning we mutually agreed we didn't want to make a heart-rending, heavy 10-minute dance about sexual abuse and all of its negative effects, we very much wanted to highlight the positive parts of the healing process, whilst still being realistic and truthfully conveying the struggles someone may face with shame and vulnerability and regaining trust in themselves and others.

We wanted a message to be sent that could perhaps show any victims of sexual assault that there is hope and that you can find yourself again even when it feels truly impossible.

We also wanted to portray a small element, metaphorically of what the intimidation is like when someone has been sexually assaulted, and so particularly in the beginning section, we were very certain of the fact we wanted the audience to feel the intimidation and tension too so that they could then almost feel the pain and growth with us afterwards.

One of the main self-help tips that are recommended for those struggling with the effects of sexual assault and possibly even PTSD is spending time with loved ones. (Tull,M.2022)  This is why we have put such an emphasis on coming together and showing the love and care we have for each other in the end. As clearly it's one of the most important phrases of the healing process. 

Over the process our ideas very much stuck with us the whole way, I don't really feel as if anything was particularly challenging throughout this whole process and I think now we are coming to the end it's been nice to appreciate how smoothly operating our group has been.

The only thing I still feel hasn't been applied enough to the choreography is performance, and now I think it would just add an extra element of strength to the connection of our movement to the stimulus, however, I have now learned that it's something I would definitely start implementing much earlier on if I was to have the chance to do this again in the future.

Bibliography 

Tull, M. (2022) PTSD and other effects of sexual assault, Verywell Mind. Verywell Mind. Available at: https://www.verywellmind.com/symptoms-of-ptsd-after-a-rape-2797203 (Accessed: December 1, 2022).

Impacts of sexual violence and abuse (no date) Rape Crisis England & Wales. Available at: https://rapecrisis.org.uk/get-informed/about-sexual-violence/impacts-of-sexual-violence-and-abuse/ (Accessed: December 9, 2022).