We celebrate water and life through the art of dance. In parallel we are aware that environmental actions are needed to make visible the water issues our world is facing right now. How our local choreographers worked to achieve this goal? Here some examples. The list is still growing, so check regularly!
- Bogota, Colombia 2015: Performers, environmental groups and general public were invited to clean up the river Arzobispo right before the performance.
- Morelos, Mexico 2015: created the multi disciplinary project “Caudal”. Their first action will be in June 2016. The community is going to clean the empty river channels in Tlayacapan, Morelos prior to the rainy season and the choreographers will lead the awareness and creativity workshops for the children.
- New York City, USA 2013: Audience signed petitions to stop fracking with Sane Energy project. Fracking ceased in NYS for at least several years. 2015: GWD New York City did a 2 hour talk about GWD and water issues at the 92Y coalescing the filmmaker, two choreographers in person and one by film together with the head of Urban Planning of the NYC Parks department.
- Minneapolis, USA 2013: Audience sent postcards to their Congress persons regarding water issues.
- Lima, Peru 2013: created a non profit organization called “Rio Danza Comunitaria” which engages communities to take care of their own water resources. As a result, Global Water Dances expanded to other cities like Cuzco (2014) and Lambayeque (2015).
- High Falls, New York, USA 2011: Several environmental groups tabled and spoke at the GWD ceremony/performance event to provide information to the public about the risks of hydrofracking and to encourage citizen action to call for a ban on fracking in New York state. Participants signed petitions and wrote postcards on the spot to Governor Cuomo calling for the ban on fracking in NYS. Grassroots action eventually led to the ban on fracking in New York state in 2015. During an estimated 7+ year campaign, it is said that over 20,000 New Yorkers identified themselves as fracktivists – activists to stop fracking.
- Lagos, Nigeria 2011: During their performance, they asked for a water fountain in the Village.
- Washington DC, USA 2011: dancers spoke to small audience groups about the history and state of the river (the Anacostia) and how they could help, giving them printed material about this. 2013: dancers handed out material on the state of the Potomac River and how they could help. 2015: flyers were handed out concerning the state of the Anacostia and how individuals could take action.
- Brooklyn, New York City: Engaged middle school students in an on going educational project and made a film about the GWD performance process they created.
Did you organize a dance with us and don’t see your action listed? Please send us your information!
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