DANCE AGAINST BULLYING AT SCHOOL

Since 2019, Fabio and Antonino have been working on developing a dance program against bullying at school.

This program is conceived as a complementary tool to what the state and institutions implement in schools, middle schools, and high schools, such as the PHARE program.

This initiative began within the European project DAB – DANCE AGAINST BULLYING, through which we developed a free online training course for anyone working with young people.

OBJECTIVES

Combat bullying and harassment among young people through preventative measures;
Raise awareness among young people about the roles involved in a harassment situation;
Raise awareness among young people about the emotions associated with each role;
Encourage the expression of emotions, initially through non-verbal practice, then verbally (if possible);
Promote the non-stigmatization of the perpetrator;
Promote the use of dance as a tool to combat harassment;
Promote the values of inclusion, non-discrimination, and equity;
Promote non-formal education methods;
Strengthen cooperation between schools and artists.

Today, our Dance Against School Bullying program is developed in two formats detailed below:

Format 1: A multi-day workshop series

Participation facilitated through the PASS CULTURE

Fabio and Antonino offer a program of 5 to 6 workshops for elementary, middle, and high schools in Marseille and the surrounding area.

This program explores the key roles involved in a bullying situation: bully, victim, passive bystander, and active bystander.

Workshops

Preparation workshop (optional but highly recommended) – A space to explore actions as a form of speech that is difficult to express.
Workshop on the passive bystander – Understanding the position of those who witness bullying without daring to act.
Workshop on the victim – Identifying and expressing feelings to better transform them.
Workshop on the active bystander – Exploring the essential role of those who intervene to stop bullying.
Workshop on the bully – Deconstructing this role without stigmatizing it and understanding its mechanisms.
Choreographic creation workshop – Developing a movement together to represent and resolve a scene of bullying.

This program fosters an immersive and sensitive approach to better understand and address harassment.

This format allows for a deeper understanding of the emotional issues related to harassment by exploring the four roles involved. Everyone affected suffers in one way or another, whether they are the targets, the harassers, or the helpless bystanders.

Through our program, we emphasize personal development, essential for both targets and perpetrators, to strengthen self-confidence and trust in others—a key element in effectively combating harassment.

Schools that have participated in the program to date:

2021-2022

Sacré Cœur Middle School, Marseille
Marseilleveyre Middle School, Marseille

2023-2024

Saint Sébastien Nursery School, Marseille
Coin Joli Sévigné Middle School, Marseille
Longchamps Middle School, Marseille
Marseilleveyre High School, Marseille
Grande Bastide Middle School, Marseille

2024-2025

César Franck Middle School, Paris
Paul Mélizan High School, Marseille
Sylvain Menu Middle School, Marseille

Format 2: An immersive day of action in high schools

With the support of the SUD Region and the EDF Group Foundation

A day of awareness-raising activities in high schools across the SUD Region, combining dance, artistic transmission, and collective reflection.

Program

Workshop – The Cycle of 4 Roles in a Harassment Scene (2h)
A dance workshop exploring the roles of the harasser, the passive observer, the harassed person, and the active observer. (All students participate)
Training – Sharing Artistic Creation or Creating Slogans (1h)
Volunteer students will learn a choreographic sequence from a work by the Essevesse Company, while all other students will participate in creative awareness-raising activities.
Artistic Presentation (1h30)
Staging and presentation of the work of the students who participated in the transmission phase, followed by the dance performance “If the mirror could speak, do you think it would accept me?” performed by two professional dancers from the Essevesse Company.
Group Discussion and Reflection (1h)
A creative evaluation and open discussion to gather the participants’ feelings and perspectives.

PRACTICAL DETAILS:

A maximum of 100 students can participate in the day.
This format can be adapted to each school.
The space provided by the schools must allow for the smooth running of the activities, depending on the number of students. Gymnasiums are strongly recommended.
A microphone, speakers, and a video projector will be required.
A document detailing the equipment list and preparatory activities for the day will be sent to each participating school no later than two weeks before the event.

SHORT DOCUMENTARY & PHOTO EXHIBITION

To reach as many young people as possible and ensure the long-term impact of this initiative, we are documenting the work carried out in the 12 partner high schools through:

A short documentary film

Presented at festivals dedicated to dance, youth, and the fight against discriminatory violence.

A photo exhibition

Displayed in participating schools as well as at other events (in galleries, museums, and exhibition halls) to amplify the project’s impact.

This approach aims to give greater visibility to the initiative, highlight the young people and their involvement, and inspire other schools and artists to commit to the fight against harassment.

participating high schools

A. Hutinel Vocational High School – Cannes, Alpes-Maritimes
Jean Perrin High School – Marseille, Bouches-du-Rhône
P. Mélizan General High School – Marseille, Bouches-du-Rhône
A. Daudet High School – Tarascon, Bouches-du-Rhône
Léon Blum High School – Draguignan, Var
G. Cisson Vocational High School – Toulon, Var
A. Benoit High School – L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, Vaucluse
L’Argensol Vocational High School – Orange, Vaucluse
Pierre Le Roy de Boiseaumarié High School – Orange, Vaucluse
Honoré Romane High School – Embrun, Hautes-Alpes
Altitude High School – Briançon, Hautes-Alpes
Carmejane Agricultural High School – Le Chaffaut-Saint-Jurson, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence