TED Blog » Eve Ensler

TED’s New York office rises and dances for V-Day

Morton Bast — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 23:46:09 +0000

The TED staff got up to dance this afternoon to celebrate V-Day. This global movement, founded by TED speaker Eve Ensler, turns 15 today and is celebrating with the One Billion Rising campaign — inviting us to stop, dance and rise against violence.

One Billion Rising is dedicated to the 1 in 3 of the world’s 3 million women who have been the victims of violence at some point in their lives. Ensler is calling for a global strike against this staggering statistic. So what does dance have to do with it? Ensler explains in the talk below, given at TEDxWomen 2012. “Dance,” Ensler says, “is dangerous, joyous, sexual, holy, disruptive, contagious. It breaks the rules.”

Our office danced to the V-Day anthem “Break the Chain,” as did men and women in communities around the world today. Watch some of the risings now at onebillionrising.org, and check out our moves below.

An anthem for the campaign to end violence against women

Kate Torgovnick — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 23:54:16 +0000

One billion is certainly in the zeitgeist.

V-day, the global campaign founded by four-time TED speaker Eve Ensler to end violence against women and girls, recently unveiled its One Billion Rising initiative. The name comes from the horrifying statistic that 1 in 3 women will be beaten or abused in their lifetime — on a global scale, 1 billion women will be effected.

It’s a serious topic, but also one that Ensler hopes will inspire women to dance. The campaign has just released this music video, Break the Chain, with vocals by Tena Clark, choreography by Debbie Allen (of So You Think You Can Dance), and direction by South African filmmaker Tony Stroebel. The singers you hear here will be making an appearance at TEDxWomen.

4 great talks for International Women's Day

Emily McManus — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 12:30:00 +0000

To celebrate March 8, International Women’s Day, we suggest these four TEDTalks gems from some amazing speakers — artists, scientists and economists who think deeply about the role of women.

Author and activist Isabel Allende discusses women, creativity, feminism — and the power of passionate thinkers and doers:

The former Finance Minister of Nigeria, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, talks about one key opportunity to grow African economies — by investing in women and the businesses they start:

(For more, watch Jacqueline Novogratz >>)

Scientist Nalini Nadkarni explores the world of the forest canopy — and shares her findings with the world below, through dance, art and bold partnerships. She’s working to inspire the next generation of women scientists:

The wonderful Nellie McKay sings “Mother of Pearl” (with the immortal first line “Feminists don’t have a sense of humor”) and “If I Had You” from her sparkling set at TED2008:

Find these four and many more astonishing women (including the legendary primatologist Jane Goodall, oceanographers Sylvia Earle and Tierney Thys, games theorist Brenda Laurel, Zipcar inventor Robin Chase … ) on TED.com >>

Security and insecurity, heroes and warriors: Eve Ensler on TED.com

tedstaff — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 10:00:00 +0000

Playwright Eve Ensler, the founder of V-Day, explores our modern craving for security — and why it makes us less secure. Listen for inspiring, heartbreaking stories of women making change — and the growth of a powerful new class of warrior. (Recorded July 2005 in Oxford, UK. Duration: 13:45.)

Watch Eve Ensler’s 2005 talk on TED.com, where you can download this TEDTalk, rate it, comment on it and find other talks and performances from our archive of almost 300 TEDTalks — including more talks about women.

Learn more about V-Day >>

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