BREAK THE CHAIN

Produced by Eve Ensler and V-Day, directed by Tony Stroebel, written and produced by Tena Clark with music by Tena Clark and Tim Heintz, and featuring dancer and choreographer Debbie Allen.

"Break the Chain" aims to raise awareness around the world about V-Day's fastest escalating global campaign to date, ONE BILLION RISING. The ONE BILLION RISING campaign began as a call to action based on the staggering statistic that 1 in 3 women on the planet will be beaten or raped during her lifetime. With the world population at 7 billion, this adds up to more than ONE BILLION WOMEN AND GIRLS. On 14 February 2013, V-Day's 15th anniversary, activists, writers, thinkers, celebrities and women and men across the world will come together to express their outrage, strike, dance, and RISE in defiance of the injustices women suffer, demanding an end at last to violence against women.

Want to learn the choreography? Video coming soon!

"Break the Chain" Lyrics
Lyrics by Tena Clark
Music by Tena Clark/Tim Heintz


Intro-
I raise my arms to the sky
On my knees I pray
I'm not afraid anymore
I will walk through that door
Walk, dance, rise
Walk, dance, rise

I can see a world where we all live
Safe and free from all oppression
No more rape or incest, or abuse
Women are not a possession

You've never owned me, don't even know me I'm not invisible, I'm simply wonderful I feel my heart for the first time racing I feel alive, I feel so amazing

I dance cause I love
Dance cause I dream
Dance cause I've had enough
Dance to stop the screams
Dance to break the rules
Dance to stop the pain
Dance to turn it upside down
Its time to break the chain, oh yeah
Break the Chain
Dance, rise
Dance, rise

In the middle of this madness, we will stand I know there is a better world Take your sisters & your brothers by the hand Reach out to every woman & girl

This is my body, my body's holy
No more excuses, no more abuses
We are mothers, we are teachers,
We are beautiful, beautiful creatures

I dance cause I love
Dance cause I dream
Dance cause I've had enough
Dance to stop the screams
Dance to break the rules
Dance to stop the pain
Dance to turn it upside down
It's time to break the chain, oh yeah
Break the Chain, oh yeah
Break the Chain

Dance Break Inst.

Dance, rise
Dance, rise

Sister won't you help me, sister won't you rise x4

Dance, rise
Dance, rise

Sister won't you help me, sister won't you rise x4

This is my body, my body's holy
No more excuses, no more abuses
We are mothers, we are teachers,
We are beautiful, beautiful creatures

I dance cause I love
Dance cause I dream
Dance cause I've had enough
Dance to stop the screams
Dance to break the rules
Dance to stop the pain
Dance to turn it upside down
Its time to break the chain, oh yeah
Break the Chain, oh yeah
Break the Chain

(Repeat chorus)

[francisgomez]

Who's still dancing and listening in 2024??

[ifonlyicared]

9 years later and this song is still POWERFUL. We need to come together as women and really support one another-- more than ever!

[winko]

Even though I’m Not a female. I actually Love this song! As a gay autistic black man, I feel this song is more than just a feminist song. It encourages to treat everyone with respect that they truly deserve despite their differences. I feel the world would be a better place with more female leaders. Look at Russia for example. Imagine if they had a female ruling that country. I never heard of a female leader starting a war…. This song is very inspirational.

[Wolfchanismybias]

I still remember I danced to this song on Women's Day (Also my birthday 😊) at a Stadium when I was 8 . It was so amazing! Now I'm 15 and this is still imprinted on my heart

[cassandrathonus]

who is still dancing and listening in 2023???

[kaetescr]

This literally made me cry. This is the world that I want to live in. Let's empower each other and break the chains.

[laurettawilson]

I just watched this again...this is 2015 and it's STILL indescribably powerful!!!!

[janabrozkova]

Everytime I hear this song I cry and have goose bumps. It's probably the most powerful song I've ever heard. It's so important to speak about womes's rights in every place on the Earth!

[darinealem]

Ten years ago, I was dancing on this song in Sudan as a student. Now, I'm dancing it as a qualified woman who empowers other women's in the whole Africa to break the cahin.lets BREAK THE CAHIN

[bahrklein]

Still dancing and organizing in 2024! It’s needed now more than EVER!!!

[saemahi]

thank you!! I'm Japanese. I'm victim a rape & sexual abuse from my father. Ｓomeday
I'd like to remember and dance^^ I want Break the chain !!I'm free!! I'd like to change!!

[lindaredd]

My husband and I will be dancing in Dallas today. Let's all pray for an end to violence.

[amandalogan]

I'm literally in tears now after watching this. There is such power, such joy, such strength in this message. Thank you.

[NIDELLANEUM]

Yesterday, a few of my friends danced this, and now I have this song in my head. Thank God we have the women!

[Tenkaru]

Wonderful song and message! A couple of friends and I will also be dancing on Feb. 14th with different organizations and agencies in front of the City Hall in La Crosse Wisconsin! Power and Equality to all!! Stay strong sisters and brothers!

[darinealem]

This song released whem I was in my first year at university (Ahfad University for Women/Sudan )...All students and teachers were dancing .Still my favourite song in empowering women tell now ...Girls stay strong, stay dancing no matter what you went through cause you are beautiful creatures ❤

[Nhanenge]

Wonderful music and essential message: women of the world rise in all your glory and beauty, show your powerful feminine energy Let the caring feminine hands heal the world's wounds from excessive masculine greed, which has lead to global crises of war and violence, inequality and poverty, human rights abuses and destruction of mother nature. The main victims from this patriarchal domination are women, children, indigenous people and nature. The feminine energy of healing is immensely powerful; When it is added to our world it can and it surely will create dynamic tension with the masculine energy and thus recreate global balance leading to social and environmental harmony.

[marta.c]

i did this dance in my school two years ago and i'm still here watching the video bc i love it

[eatjader]

Same thing happens to me. Everytime I watch this I get so energized and enthusiastic and then I start crying. Powerful, powerful video! I just love the voices, the moves, the syncronicity of the whole message.

[whippedydoo]

I listen to this song whenever I am sad about 'it', and I just cry and cry and cry.