March 2, 2010 Fringe Arts

Moving in the right direction

All-female dance company strikes back at conjugal violence

by Megan Dolski

Divinity’s dance production, The Power of Lipstick, tackles the taboo around conjugal violence. PHOTO RILEY SPARKS

What’s a girl to do if she wants luxurious lashes, a clear complexion and luscious lips? Simple: all she has to do is make them up. A little Maybelline here, some Cover Girl there and any girl can be a whole new woman.

But this same makeup can also hide everything from bruises to insecurities.
All-female dance company Divinity hopes to harness this transformative might in their first full-length production, The Power of Lipstick. All proceeds from the show will go to the West Island Women’s Shelter, a haven for those escaping conjugal violence.

“The bottom line is there is power in it,” said Divinity’s founder and choreographer Sonia Balazovjech. “Women use makeup as a tool.”

With this production, Divinity delves deeply into a subject all the dancers are familiar with: the lives of women. The show will combine dance, video, audio voice-overs and an all-female soundtrack.

While some of the show’s pieces are light-hearted and comical, others dive into more disturbing territory, such as control and abuse. In addition to financially supporting the shelter, the company hopes to both raise awareness and break the silence surrounding conjugal violence.

Balazovjech feels that although many women are trapped in violent relationships, the issue is rarely discussed.

“I think women are embarrassed,” she explained. “If you are a victim you think it’s because you’ve done something wrong, and women don’t talk about it.“

Even before The Power of Lipstick takes the stage this week, Divinity has encouraged people to open up and talk about the problem. Various members of the community who are survivors of conjugal violence have come out and voluntarily shared their stories with the company’s dancers.

Divinity dancer Dawn Patulli said their testimony has been inspirational, especially because the dance company’s primary goal is to give a voice to marginalized members of the community.

“The fact that they are brave and courageous enough to come forth and share their stories is really something special,” she said.

The Power of Lipstick will be performed March 6 at 8 p.m. at the Salle Marie-Gérin-Lajoie at the Université du Québec à Montréal (405 Ste-Catherine St. E.). Tickets are $35.