Ahead of the National Day of Action Against Bullying next month, Sydney dance organisation Shaun Parker & Company is preparing to perform its award winning anti-bullying show The Yard, via live stream for schools and educators around the country.
With themes including bullying – both in real life and cyber bullying, peer pressure, social exclusion, and emotional resilience, The Yard is a compelling and physical dance theatre depiction of the bullying that continues to take place amongst young people around the country.
Performed by five young dancers, some of whom experienced bullying firsthand when starting school as migrants years ago, the performance tackles issues by allowing students to be voyeurs into other peoples’ behaviour.
Choreographer Shaun Parker was bullied as a teen, making this project one that is very close to his heart.
“Staging the online performance on the National Day of Action Against Bullying was a deliberate decision in order to provide schools, teachers, and educators with a great tool to start or continue the conversation about bullying,” Parker said.
“Sadly bullying does not yet appear to be going away, and the rise of cyber bullying in particular is a concern to anyone who cares about children and young people. If The Yard can make even just one person rethink bullying behaviour, we are succeeding.”