Global Water Dances celebrates water and life through the art of dance. In parallel, we are aware that environmental actions are needed. Global Water Dances has had a vibrant history for seven years. We have staged three worldwide events in 2011, 2013, and 2015, with a fourth event planned next year. One day, every two years, 80+ cities from around the world participate in the Global Water Dances event. From Beijing, China to Zadar, Croatia, choreographers take on local water issues through workshops, dance activism and dialogue.

On June 24, 2017, the Flint, MI community will come together for their first-ever site of Global Water Dances which will be in four parts.
Section I. Ritual: An opening ceremony specific to each site.
Section II. Local Dance: A dance created by choreographers from the area, using locally-based music, around specified the poisoning of the river and recovery efforts.
Section III. Global Dance: Simultaneous choreography done by all the performers worldwide to the same piece of music, connecting participants and audience globally.
Section IV. Participatory Dance: Audience participation in a very simple movement sequence.

Leading up to the event, Shawn Lent and other dance artists are conducting community dialogue workshops through the arts. Local partners include Karen Mills Jennings and students at the Flint School of Performing Arts, Emma Davis at the University of Michigan-Flint, and artists Peggy Mead Finizio, Adesola Akinleye and Alisyn Hurd.