Introduction
DeNaya Wilkerson, working with the Arts in Health Ocala Metro Nonprofit, presents a choreography project rooted in Ocala, Florida, on the ancestral land of Silver Springs State Park. The work responds to long-term ecological change in the springs and foregrounds the relationship between community, movement, and water.
Project and Collaboration
This project includes collaboration with the Belleview High School Dance Program under the direction of Cate Martin. The choreography integrates student perspectives and local knowledge to reflect ongoing environmental concerns affecting the Silver Springs waterway.
Water Issues and Artistic Inspiration
The choreography is directly informed by two primary threats to the springs: nitrogen pollution and groundwater pumping. There has been a significant reduction in flow, which is vital for the plants and animals that call the spring home. Agriculture and development in the area have introduced pollutants such as nitrate and increased sediment erosion since the park opened in 1878. Conservation measures have limited human impact through reduced foot traffic on vegetation and prohibitions on swimming, but nearby agricultural and lifestyle practices continue to affect the ecosystem.
Movement Vocabulary and Context
The presence of manatees, gators, monkeys, paddle boards, kayakers, and glass-bottom boats informs the movement language and staging choices. Choreographic decisions respond to shifting water levels, altered flow patterns, and the interplay between human use and wildlife presence, aiming to make those ecological dynamics visible through embodied practice.
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