Inmates thrive on ballet escapism
Dance lessons are boosting the confidence of prisoners. Caroline Williams reports.
Barbed wire fences, concrete cells and a focus on hard punishment are a thing of the past at the Auckland Region Women’s Corrections Facility.
Instead, it’s open spaces and restorative rehabilitation in the form of classical music and contemporary ballet.
Since 2017, inmates at men’s and women’s prisons in Wellington and Christchurch have enjoyed a more refined approach to restorative justice, thanks to a Royal New Zealand Ballet initiative to make the art form more accessible.
On Thursday, the first group of women to take the course in Auckland graduated in front of an audience of RNZB representatives and prison staff, with choreography from past RNZB productions Megalopolis, Cacti, Artemis Rising and Black Swan, White Swan. The seven women beamed with pride as they completed the performances with few mistakes – a pretty good effort for only 10 and a half hours of practice spread over eight weeks, with a week lost in the middle due to a measles scare.
The inmates, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, all agreed the programme had improved their confidence.
One said the certificate received at the graduation ceremony made her felt like she’d accomplished something, and that she felt proud of herself.
Another said the classes had shaped her into ‘‘a totally different person’’ after never having engaged in sport or dance before her conviction.
While the dancing ‘‘made her happy’’, she accepted it was part of her punishment and would take something from the experience into her future. She hoped to pursue a career in fitness upon her release.
The programme had reduced her stress and made the 11 years left on her sentence seem less daunting.
‘‘Little things from outsiders make a big difference for us.’’
The inmates interviewed by Stuff said they would like to take classes again and would encourage other inmates to have a go.
RNZB senior dance educator Pagan Dorgan taught prison programmes in Wellington and Christchurch, but said the women in Auckland had a particular flair for movement.
‘‘Every week you can just see them become more confident. With confidence comes the drive to want to get better. They’re very engaged and very present.’’
Dorgan, who usually taught dance in schools, said the prison didn’t feel much different to being in a school hall. Dorgan adjusted her teaching style to accommodate for the inmates, including allowances for chatter and to work in their own groups.
But she insisted she hadn’t made it easy for the women.
‘‘The more you see them develop, the more you can push.’’
Prison director Steve Park said the programme had been good for the women’s physical activity and discipline, and would help with the women’s journeys to rejoining their families outside prison.
He said it was ‘‘an absolute credit’’ to the women to put their name forward for the programme.