Green practices are, after many years of skepticism, making their way into mainstream consciousness. While it may not at first be obvious that art has a major role to play in both buying into and leading that transformation, it does.
"CityDance may offer otherworldly dance, but its message is very much about this world."
(Washington Business Journal)
CityDance is an organization committed to working at the forefront of the emerging evolution of both business and artistic practices which are environmentally responsible. The company is in partnership with several leaders in the field, and has been recognized for its work by Washington's business community. CityDance was awarded the first annual Green Business Award for education/outreach by the Greater Washington Board of Trade and the Washington Business Journal in October 2008.
Here are a few of the green efforts underway at CityDance:
IN ART:
• WARMER: A concert series on climate change. Each season, CityDance brings together artists from diverse disciplines to speak in their own voices to the challenges we face and the solutions we must find.
Repertory related to climate change:
The Mountain (2009)
Choreography by Jason Garcia Ignacio; Music by Dr. Domenico Vicinanza
The Mountain is a choreographic exploration of two mountains in Manila—Mt. Pinatubo and "Smokey Mountain," an enormous two million ton man-made mountain of garbage that grew over a 40-year span. In a synergy between art and science, CityDance collaborated with Dr. Domenico Vicinanza from Cambridge-based DANTE (Delivery of Advanced Network Technology to Europe) to create the musical score for The Mountain using the process of "volcano sonification." Watch a short video about this process. The Mountain will premiere at The Kennedy Center's Millennium Stage in September 2009.
Learn more about The Mountain at our Inside Look page.
Thirst (2009)
Choreography by Christopher K. Morgan
Thirst is a dance about greed, over-consumption, and our insatiable thirst for more of whatever it is that we desire. "Thirst can become greed and greed can lead to some of the problems of over consumption that are now creating so many problems in the environment," notes choreographer Christopher K. Morgan. "I’m a firm believer that art can reach people in ways that so many of our other important societal institutions cannot. Art is often the most enduring product of a society. I think that speaks loudly towards its relevance. When wars are recorded in history, all they leave behind is destruction. Art endures. The questions and thoughts of artists are critical to the dialogues that will eventually result in change."
On a Train Heading South (2005)
Choreography by Brenda Way
On a Train Heading South explores climate change and the ease with which society ignores the severity of the problem. "While the polar ice caps melt, the media is focused on trivial stuff like legislation against baggy pants," comments choreographer Brenda Way. "We're completely distracted from the important issues by lurid, meaningless tidbits." Watch video of CityDance performing this piece.
IN EDUCATION:
• Dancing on One Planet and Jungle Books. CityDance's ongoing in-school concerts are a key way of sharing the conversation about climate change and human impact on our environment with elementary aged students. Jungle Books is an opportunity to recognize that, in just the 111 years since Kipling wrote his treasured tales, many of the animals at the heart of his stories are endangered because of human activity.
• Dancing on One Planet is a program under development which focuses on climate change itself. With stories like "the life of a plastic bag," the program will entertain as it educates, offering both solutions and challenges to young audiences. Working with the World Wildlife Fund, CityDance is also developing leave behind's about carbon footprint reduction for children to bring home
IN BUSINESS:
• CityDance is a committed as a business to the reduction of its carbon footprint, to reducing its consumption of basic materials and supplies, and to researching and implementing new ways to stage concerts which lower all the wasteful and inefficient traditions of theater under the lights. CityDance is a partner with the CarbonFund, and through CarbonFund contributes an amount of money each month designed to offset its carbon footprint at i's downtown business location.
GET INVOLVED:
Thanks to our partner CarbonFund.org, you can calculate your own carbon footprint and join us in our commitment to reduce our negative impact on the earth.
CityDance's
Green Practices in the News
"Dancing 'Bout Climate Change" -Earthbeat Radio (March 31, 2009) Listen to a segment on Earthbeat Radio as CityDance Artistic Director Paul Gordon Emerson talks about CityDance's commitment to creating dances about climate change.
