Words by Smiley Team
If you feel motivated to tackle social injustice, just exactly how do you go about doing that? For dancer Anja Meinhardt, the answer was staring back at her in a studio mirror.
“For a long time, whenever I heard about people being taken advantage of in society, it was like there was a volcano inside me: I really wanted to do something about it.
“But I felt incapable, because I was just one voice. Then I realised that through my skills and abilities, I could address these issues on a wider scale.”
So fortified by her extensive experience of working in musical theatre and contemporary dance, Anja founded Justice in Motion, a physical theatre company and arts collective which aims to inspire debate and action for social change.
Starting in 2013 with Bound, a production that explored the subject of human trafficking, the Oxford-based company has since staged shows addressing matters such as migration, rape and poverty. Their current production, On Edge – a multi-media show that is touring the UK – tackles the issue of modern slavery within the construction industry.
“All the shows are based on true accounts,” Anja explains. “We do a lot of research beforehand, consulting with a wide range of collaborators. Then we work out how best to communicate the issues through a story.”
After watching one of Justice in Motion’s innovative and dynamic performances,the audience is invited to stay for discussion about the subject matter.
“Every night, we have speakers from our partner organisations,” says Anja. “They answer questions, and give the facts and figures. It’s really important to us that people can make informed decisions about these matters.”
Yet whilst raising awareness is a key part of the mission, they are keen not to be just critical and accusatory.
“It’s not about pointing fingers,” Anja concludes. “We’re interested in looking at the inherent problem, in talking about the perpetrators as well as the victims. We’re all part of the same system, the same community. It’s a case of asking how we can address the issue, and then giving hope in some dark places.”
Along with attending Justice in Motion performances, you can book a workshop, make a donation, become a corporate sponsor, or have a chat “to bounce ideas around.” Contact Anja and the team at: [email protected]
By Theo Hooper
