penitentiary project
The activities we offer at the Venice Penitentiary Institutes (Male District Penitentiary S. Maria Maggiore, Female Detention House on the Giudecca, and S.A.T. on the Giudecca) are seen as opportunities for embarking upon processes of growth and maturity. The activities involve experimenting with more appropriate ways of relating to forced confinement, through the development of a more active and critical/analytical approach towards one’s condition and own life experiences. The organization of a workshop within penitentiary systems creates spaces in which prisoners are allowed to approach new experiences, where they learn how to emphasize and express aspects of themselves often ignored or not considered. It also means stimulating thought processes that can help modify prisoners’ attitudes towards the institutions with which they often times hold a highly conflictual relationship, or one of complete mistrust. Movement is the primary means of human expression and educational dance - understood as art of movement, studied and expressive gesture - represents a fundamental contribution to the education of the individual and to their relationships. Through the use of non verbal communication it is possible to develop a new approach to our awareness of the external world and to ourselves. The Penitentiary Project is based on this premise.
goals
The project’s goals are to provide the necessary tools for developing communicative and expressive capabilities through dance and forms of movement; to come into contact with the body’s own reality, discovering potential and respect therein, and increasing awareness of our own bodies; to learn how to share thoughts and reflections within a group setting and to work in a collective dynamic; to stimulate the creativity and curiosity which inspires learning through the development of motivational skills; to improve our attention, concentration and memory;; and to develop reflexes and agility.
With support from DES -
National Association of Dance Education School
The project is financed by the Regional Council of the Veneto-Councillor for Social Policies, Volunteers and Non Profit – with regulation D.D.R. n. 173 of 24 December 2003.
The Veneto Region