Broken Shackles

Show Date: 14 Dec 2024

Marsden State High School

Project Broken Shackles is a groundbreaking arts-based initiative that aims to use performance as a powerful medium to address mental health, trauma, and cultural disconnection in Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) and Indigenous communities. Rooted in the belief that storytelling through art can be transformative, this project brings together multiple performers from diverse backgrounds to create an emotionally charged, culturally rich performance.

The project is not just about entertainment - it is about healing. Through the fusion of dance, music, and narrative, Broken Shackles seeks to foster social cohesion, promote mental well-being, and build stronger, more resilient communities. It highlights the struggles of marginalized groups, while celebrating their resilience and strength.

This initiative goes beyond the stage. It includes a powerful documentary that will extend the message, capturing the personal stories of the performers and the impact of art in their healing process. At its core, Broken Shackles is a celebration of cultural identity, a bridge between the past and present, and a call to action for communities to come together in solidarity and support.

🎯 Goal

To create a space for healing through art. By showcasing cultural stories, dance, and music, we aim to support mental health and promote social cohesion in communities that need it most.

👁️ Focus

Bridging the gap between cultural roots and modern identity by honouring Indigenous and CALD (Culturally and Linguistically Diverse) communities. Healing happens when we remember where we come from.

Key Components

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Performers: Multiple artists from across cultural backgrounds will come together to celebrate diversity and unity.
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Audience: More than 1,000 people are expected, creating an opportunity for real connection, inspiration, and impact.
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Key Themes: Mental health, healing from trauma, celebrating culture, and promoting social unity through the universal language of performance.
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Indigenous Inclusion: A key element of Broken Shackles is honouring Indigenous Elders and recognizing the deep roots of the land we perform on. This acknowledgment bridges history with the present and highlights the importance of place in healing.
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Cultural Connection: Storytelling through dance, music, and drama doesn't just entertain it reclaims narratives. It fosters understanding and allows participants and audiences alike to reconnect with their identities.
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Promote mental health literacy: Through these performances, we aim for more community awareness on mental health challenges and substance abuse.

Desired Outcomes

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Support and promote mental health and wellbeing: By sharing stories of cultural resilience and survival, we aim to offer an emotional release and a sense of shared experience. Art, in this context, becomes a tool for healing.
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Encourage early help-seeking: The performances and the documentary will spotlight stories that encourage individuals to seek support when struggling. It's about breaking the silence and stigma.
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Enhance protective factors and reduce risk factors: Art gives us perspective. By addressing cultural trauma, we help reduce the impacts of mental health issues in marginalized communities. It's about creating a buffer through cultural pride and community support.
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Mental Health Support: Through artistic expression, the project aims to address trauma, grief, and mental health issues, helping participants and audiences feel understood, less alone.
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Community Unity: At its core, this project is about creating bonds—between cultures, between generations, and between people. Art becomes the thread that ties us together.
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Mental health literacy: By increasing awareness about mental health, alcohol, and drug issues, and suicide prevention through the arts, we hope to reduce stigma and create a better-informed community.
Broken Shackles
Imanzi: Rwandan Cultural Music and Dance Inc.
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