One Billion Rising flashmob on Valentine’s Day

Posted on December 14, 2012

Look out for flashmobs in London this Valentine’s Day to mark One Billion Rising (OBR). The initiative is the brainchild of Eve Ensler, Tony award-winning author of the Vagina Monologues, who has invited supporters from all over the world to dance in solidarity against violence towards women.

Dancer and choreographer Mimmo Miccolis has been offering free contemporary dance lessons to prepare for this specially choreographed event that will take place on the afternoon of February 14 in central London.

Training for the event has been taking place during the three week run-up to February 14, with dance lessons being offered three times a week from January 20, 2013. 

“When we started V-Day 14 years ago, we had the outrageous idea that we could end violence against women,” said Ensler. “Now, we are both stunned and thrilled to see that this global action is truly escalating and gaining force, with union workers, parliament members, celebrities, and women of all backgrounds coming forward to join the campaign. When we come together on February 14, 2013 to demand an end to violence against women and girls it will be a truly global voice that will rise up.”

Mimmo Miccolis, winner of the BBC Performing Arts Fund, is a classical and contemporary dancer who has worked at the Royal Opera House as well as internationally.

One Billion Rising is so named because the current UN statistic shows that one in three women on the planet is raped or beaten in her lifetime. That’s one billion.

“What does one billion look like?” asks OBR. “On February 14, 2013 it will look like a revolution when we come together to dance.” 

Nicola Rayner

Nicola Rayner was editor of Dance Today from 2010 to 2015. She has written for a number of publications including The Guardian, The Independent and Time Out Buenos Aires, where she cut her teeth as a dance journalist working on the tango section. Today she continues to dance everything from ballroom to breakdance, with varying degrees of success. Her debut novel, The Girl Before You, is out in May 2019.