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Body of Water Project performance celebrates Canada’s water systems

Performances for the Body of Water Project are Saturday (May 20)
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RACHEL STERN / The News Bulletin Danielea Castell, left, drums and sings while Nicole Mion dances on the shores of Maffeo Sutton Park. The two lead the Body of Water Project, along with Genevieve Johnson, presented by Crimson Coast Dance Society.

Nanaimo community members are invited to experience people’s relationships with water through dance.

Crimson Coast Dance Society presents Body of Water Project walking tour presentation on Saturday (May 20).

The show was shaped by input by participants enrolled in the society’s Body of Water Project creative residency, which was led by Nicole Mion, artistic director of Springboard performance; Danielea Castell, founder of the Water Gratitude Project and Nanaimo dance artist Genevieve Johnson.

Jen Boyes-Manseau, a participant, said she was drawn to the project for a number of reasons. One was the housing crisis “spilling over from Vancouver” and the question of whether people should own waterfront property to have access to water.

“I just see this project as a way of coming together with other people who have these questions. I want to honour what is beautiful, what is sacred, what is essential to our lives in a new way,” said Boyes-Manseau.

Boyes-Manseau said the creative residency allows “concerned and curious people” to come together and explore through creativity and do deep work around “listening, honouring and holding sacred space.”

Holly bright, artistic director of Crimson Coast Dance, said the Body of Water project is not the usual performance piece the society brings to Nanaimo. Usually pieces are fully defined, but this project was shaped by the creative input of the participants and projects facilitators. The show was crafted during the residency.

The Body of Water Project walking tour presentation begins by the Millstone River in Bowen Park. Attendees will meet at the picnic shelter off of Wall Street at 3 p.m. Attendees will then travel to Neck Point Park at 4:30 p.m. for the second half of the performance. The show will take place rain or shine and people are invited to bring a dish to share for a potluck after the performance. People must arrange their own transportation to and from the separate locations.

People can choose their ticket prices paying $20, $15, $10 or $5 by visiting, www.crimsoncoastdance.org.

arts@nanaimobulletin.com