On Saturday, April 12, eighty-four dance schools including elementary school students to college students, in Arts in Education programs from Alaska to Maine and from Florida to California, danced together simultaneously at 4 p.m. in the fourth annual National Water Dance project.
The dancers’ common goal was to initiate a national “water ethic” by bringing attention to our shared responsibility to conserve and protect the water we use and enjoy. The community endeavor, led by dance artists and educators, was an effort to create a local and national awareness for responsible action to a growing need.
They danced as a “movement choir”, a community of people dancing together for a common purpose. This idea was first conceived by Rudolf Laban as a celebration of the environment, and thus a movement choir often performs outdoors.
Students from The Dancer’s Extension in Saluda chose the Green River as their outdoor venue for this year’s National Water Dance. They chose this natural source of water because the Green River means so much to Polk County; for beauty, for peace, for tourism and for family fun.
The program began with a common dance phrase shared with all other National Water Dance participants across the country, then moved into the participants own collaborative choreography specific to the site at the Green River.
The dance was video recorded and contributed to the entire nationwide event as a compilation piece of dance art.  Participants included Willow Arkell, Allison Kennedy, Clara Monts, Zoe Parsons, Scarlet Wright, Sophie Young and Sonya Monts (director).
In addition, Willow Arkell earned points towards induction in the National Honor Society for Dance Arts (NHSDA) for her participation in this event. To view pictures and video from National Water Dance participants from across the United States and to learn more about this growing program, please visit www.nationalwaterdance.org.
The Dancer’s Extension focuses on the art of dance, offering classes to all ages in ballet, contemporary and jazz. For more information on The Dancer’s Extension, please visit www.thedancers-ext.com or phone 828-749-9EXT (9398).

– article submitted
by Sonya Monts