The African Media Association of Malta (AMAM), NWAMI International Malta (NIM) and Zfin Malta are organising a unique dance workshop which will explore how nonverbal communication impacts stereotypes. The event, taking place on Saturday 24 June at 2.30pm at the Zfin Malta premises in Valletta, is the final activity of the SMITE project. SMITE, which stands for ‘Stereotypes & Mass Information Together Explored’ is fully funded by the Iceland – Liechtenstein – Norway Active Citizens Fund, operated by SOS Malta, and is run by AMAM in partnership with NIM.
The workshop will give participants the opportunity to learn about the creation of single or incomplete stories about different groups and how nonverbal communication including body language and facial expressions, including dancing itself, convey emotions and attitudes which reinforce these stories and stereotypes. The confusion that can be created by inconsistencies between what is expressed verbally and nonverbal communication will also be explored.
Maria Gabriele Doublesin, President of NIM and the project’s designer, said, “Dance is a powerful non-verbal communication tool because it allows people to express themselves physically and emotionally in a way that transcends language barriers. Dance also involves movement, which can be a universal language that people of all cultures can understand and appreciate. Additionally, dance allows people to connect with others on a deeper level and fosters a sense of community and belonging. However, dance can sometimes perpetuate incomplete or single stories and stereotypes across cultures. Our workshop will seek, through dance, to explore and better understand how nonverbal communication affects our views of the people around us.”
The Active Citizens Fund’s overall objective is to strengthen active citizenship and empower vulnerable groups. The Fund, which encourages collaboration across sectors and countries focuses on four key pillars: Democracy, active citizenship, good governance and transparency; Human rights and equal treatment through combating any discrimination; Social justice and inclusion of vulnerable groups; and Environment and climate change.
SMITE is also supported by the Ministry for Inclusion, Volunteering & Consumer Rights. The project’s name was chosen due to its phonetic resemblance to the Maltese verb ‘smajt,’ (‘I/you heard’), reminding us of how easily influenced we are by what is whispered in our ears. The concept of SMITE is based on the Nigerian writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche’s notion of the Single Story and how this impacts our perceptions of one another, our attitudes, and actions.
For more information on this event please send an email to [email protected]. Attendance is free but places are limited and subject to registration. To register to go https://forms.gle/XsbzWgKx67RhvLLG7.
Photo: The SMITE project together with Zfin Malta will be organising a dance workshop to explore how non verbal communication impacts stereotypes this coming Saturday.