The Prison Project

A Memoir From a Prison Dance Teacher

A young dance teacher navigates chaos, humour and vulnerability while teaching in a Scottish prison, confronting trauma and stigma as both she and her students transform.

As a young, novice dance teacher, Aimee Friel’s first full-time job took an unexpected turn when she was asked to teach regular dance classes for young offenders at a Scottish prison. Many of her students were her own age, but their worlds couldn’t have been more different.

Thrown into chaotic classes filled with cringeworthy chat-up lines, cheeky Glaswegian banter, and hilarious dad-dancing, Aimee embarked on a journey of growth alongside the young men in her classes. She faced challenges including impromptu drum sessions, a stolen safety alarm and the harsh realities of trauma, toxic masculinity and stigma.

As trust built, so did transformation. Through comedic tea breaks, some difficult conversations and unexpected choreography, Aimee was drawn to the deeper roots of incarceration – from adverse childhood experiences to homelessness and substance misuse.

Interwoven with personal reflection, including her own family’s struggle with addiction and trauma, The Prison Project challenges perceptions and asks what it really takes to make a difference in the lives of young people.

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