National Water Dance 2022: “Dancing Out of Time!” Brings Art and Community Together
National Water Dance Press
National Water Dance 2022: “Dancing Out of Time!” Brings Art and Community Together
Experience art, movement, and unity at National Water Dance 2022: "Dancing Out of Time!"—a powerful call to protect the Everglades.

The National Water Dance returns with a powerful theme this year: water and the Everglades. The event, founded by Miami-based choreographer and environmental advocate Dale Andree, is more than a performance—it’s a call to action, blending art with environmental awareness.

Andree, who created the National Water Dance in 2011, uses movement as a metaphorical and literal catalyst for unity and political engagement. The 2022 edition, titled “Dancing Out of Time!”, focuses on the unique and fragile ecosystem of the Everglades, an inspiration drawn from Andree’s AIRIE arts fellowship in 2018.

A Multifaceted Experience

The event kicks off at 3 PM with immersive activities, including:

  • An onsite art gallery featuring Glades-inspired works by Seminole artist Wilson Bowers and mixed-media artist Deborah Mitchell.
  • Interactive tents led by members of the Love the Everglades Movement, offering insights into the challenges faced by this vital ecosystem.

Movement, Music, and Collaboration

As the afternoon unfolds, audiences will experience:

  • Miamibloco’s percussionists, guiding attendees samba-style to an outdoor space adorned with papier-mâché birds created by student sculptors from George Washington Carver Middle School.
  • A haunting flute invocation by Seminole Tribe member Samuel Tommie, acknowledging the spiritual significance of the land.
  • Music performances by the Miami Sound Choir, Cuban-American duo Afrobeta, and more.

The highlight of the event, the 4 PM dance performance, begins with a “movement choir.” This concept, rooted in the teachings of modern dance pioneer Rudolf Laban, unites participants in shared gestures, embodying the healing power of movement. But the National Water Dance takes this further—groups from across the United States will join via livestream, creating a simultaneous, nationwide performance.

A Celebration of Diversity and Unity

Performing troupes include:

  • Afro-Cuban ensemble IFE-ILE
  • Karen Peterson and Dancers
  • Olujimi Dance Theatre
  • Dimensions Dance
  • Miami Dade College’s Jubilation Dance Ensemble
  • Andree’s own troupe
  • Students from the Arthur and Polly Mays Conservatory of the Arts

The choreography weaves these diverse groups into “one woven fabric of movement,” emphasizing the interconnectedness of humanity and the environment.

The Message: Art as Advocacy

“This is about constructing community,” Andree explains, “and creating awareness centered around the joy of these dancers.” The performance not only highlights the environment’s importance but also reflects on humanity’s role as part of it.

“Our only way forward is to work as one.”

For more information about National Water Dance and how you can participate, visit nwdprojects.org.

Miami Herald - National Water Dance