NEW YORK, JUNE 19, 2017 -- Global Water Dances grew out of a conference of dancers and environmentalists who met to come up with ways that dance could mobilize people to protect the planet. "When people dance together, they connect in powerful ways and they generate a sense of agency in themselves and others," said Vannia Ibarguen, the Artistic Director of Global Water Dances.
Global Water Dances began in 2011, and has taken place every two years since then. The event has brought performers and audiences together in more than 250 cities, unified around a call to action to honor and protect water. Choreographers at each site create a dance for that site, whether it is by a river, lake, beach, park, or pool. All performances are free of charge, and family friendly.
Choreographers will couple with environmental education organizations through panel discussions, scientific and environmental speeches, or sharing petitions or taking other eco- actions. Ecological acts include cleaning rivers or beaches, speaking out against polluting or wasting water. There are many ecological agencies giving their support, like Center for Global Environmental Organization, World Water Rescue Foundation, Water.org, Sane Energy Project, Nature Conservancy, Huron River Watershed Council, Mississippi River Fund, 350.org, 5Gyres, to name a few.
Global Water Dances is a project of the Laban/Bartenieff Institute of Movement Studies (LIMS) in New York City. "We know that Global Water Dances changes peoples' attitudes about water," said Ibarguen. "In 2013, we gathered survey responses from almost 1,000 people from four continents who attended their local performance. 75% of the respondents reported that the performance increased their interest in water issues and 78% said that the dance event inspired them to take action regarding water issues."
To find the closest Global Water Dances location, visit www.globalwaterdances.org.
