Rehearsal
"A Message of Hope, Healing, and Unity": Swarthmore to Participate in Event to Stop Intimate Partner Violence
"They are engaging, funny, thoughtful, and considerate humans who dance with joy,” says Chandra Moss-Thorne of the student and alumni dancers who jumped at the opportunity to support iPledge.
A group of Swarthmore student, alumni, and faculty performers will travel to Philadelphia at noon on Tuesday, Oct. 1, to help raise awareness of intimate partner violence.
They will join a conference and rally at City Hall for the 17th annual iPledge campaign of Women Against Abuse, which engages with local leaders, elected officials, and colleges and universities to help stop relationship abuse and create a safer city.
This campaign urges people to take a pledge in support of healthy relationships for everyone. Associate Dean Michelle D. Ray serves on the board of Women Against Abuse, which invited Swarthmore dancers to bring energy and enthusiasm to the event.
Dance is a natural fit for the event, says Chandra Moss-Thorne, senior lecturer in Dance, with its “ability to heal, to allow people to express feelings and emotions, and to be in community with one another to feel seen and supported.”
Through dance, “we transport ourselves into this space where we can allow our lived experiences to inform our choices of expression,” adds Moss-Thorne, who joined the effort earlier this month and created a three-minute piece of choreography for the event.
Adds Sam Sordi ’25, a dance and neuroscience major from Lewes, Del., “Dance has the power to convey emotions and stories that words alone cannot, and through this performance we hope to communicate a message of hope, healing, and unity.”
The dancers had not worked together until two weeks ago, says Moss-Thorne, but quickly formed “a beautiful community.” They picked up the choreography with ease, working with partners, analyzing each movement of rehearsal videos, and adding their own artistic interpretations.
Joining Moss-Thorne as a faculty participant is Wesley Rast, associate in performance, Dance, who will perform an original musical arrangement. They will collaborate with the group of student and alumni dancers — also including Vaidehee Durgude ’25, Sophie Gray-Gaillard ’20, Raquel James ’25, Elizabeth Johnston ’28, Julia Mammen ’26, Alexis Metoyer ’23, Ada Reddington ’28, and Daniel Suh ’28 — who are combining their talents to promote iPledge.
“What excites me the most is the opportunity to connect with the community,” says Sordi, “and to shine a light on the resilience and strength of those who have experienced relationship violence.”
Adds Reddington, of Rochester, N.Y.: “As a first-year at Swarthmore, I’ve been eager to find opportunities to dance in the community. So when [Moss-Thorne extended this opportunity], I jumped at it.”
Swarthmore’s participation in the iPledge campaign has been a team effort, with Communications, Dance, the Division of Student Affairs, Student Life, the Office of Student Engagement, the Title IX Office, and Public Safety all working to publicize the event and boost awareness in the Swarthmore community.
For Ray, the event has presented a chance to apply her “life’s work” to her passion for Swarthmore. She worked for a women’s center as one of her first jobs after graduate school, before connecting with Women Against Abuse, with which she has collaborated for many years.
“It’s just this amazing resource for anyone experiencing any type of intimate partner violence,” she says.
The organization chose the City Hall courtyard for the event to attract Philadelphia residents, then reached out to area colleges and universities to help raise awareness among its students. Ray, who works closely with Moss-Thorne as part of the Inclusive Excellence Fellows Initiative, knew that she had the “spirit, energy, and charisma” to make a real impact on the event.
That impact from the Swarthmore dancers will be felt early on Tuesday, in a surprising way that won’t be spoiled here. But for now and the rest of this yearlong campaign, it’s about promoting sensitivity and support for those in need.
“You change negative situations by changing the mindset of the people of tomorrow,” says Ray. “So when more and more students are embracing the concept of healthy relationships and then helping others navigate away from [intimate partner violence], then tomorrow is better than today.”
The iPledge conference and rally begins at noon on Tuesday, Oct. 1 at the City Hall Courtyard in Philadelphia. College community members are encouraged to attend (here’s a SEPTA trip planner) and wear Swarthmore gear, but anyone can participate by learning more about Women Against Abuse and taking the pledge.
