EDITOR’S NOTE: This story was updated to include partnership information.
MOUNT VERNON — Is Water Dancing a sport or art?
Ashley Sanchez, a dancer/choreographer, believes it is a bit of both.
“The (competitive) dancing aspect, I would consider a sport,” Sanchez said.
Unlike some sports, the Water Dance can be practiced by anyone who wants to participate.
“What I like is that it connects dance to all different ages and skill levels,” Sanchez said.
The local program is called the Kokosing Water Dance, although the official title is Global Water Dance.
Individuals and groups from all over the world participate in a program using Zoom and other platforms to raise awareness of the natural world and the critical role water plays in that world.
Local choreographers are provided with a template specific to their geographical area. The workshop was held on March 29 at the Kenyon College Brown Family Environmental Center.
The workshop connected to other workshops via the internet. It was held indoors due to the possibility of inclement weather.
While Water Dance resembles synchronized swimming, it differs primarily in that the movements are performed individually rather than as a team.
The technology allows choreographers from around the globe to connect and compare issues with water resources and other environmental needs, and use art as a medium.
Monica Smith works at The Public Library of Mount Vernon and Knox County. The NEA is not funding the Kokosing Water Dance or the Global Water Dance Project, nor are they grantees of the National Endowment for the Arts.
“I’m hoping to learn a little bit more about dance and what role water plays in this type of dance,” Smith said.
Kudos
Jamie Lyn Smith-Fletcher manages and implements the Library’s grant-funded programs, including the NEA-supported initiatives.
“Ashley Sanchez’s Water Dance is a great example of many community partners collaborating to present a dynamic local program,” Smith-Fletcher said.
This event was presented by the Public Library of Mount Vernon and Knox County, as part of its NEA Big Read celebration of Charles Yu’s novel, Interior Chinatown and the 2025 NEA Big Read theme, “Where We Live.”
Should readers have questions about the Library’s NEA Big Read, they are welcome to contact her at jfletcher@knox.net.
Library staff coordinated the program with in-kind support from the Brown Family Environmental Center (event space, publicity) and Kenyon College’s Office for Community Partnerships (NEA Big Read program partner, publicity).
“OCP deserves a big shout-out for its role supporting previous performances of the Kokosing Water Dance, and for connecting the Library to Sanchez,” Smith-Fletcher said.
“Most importantly, kudos to choreographer Ashley Sanchez for bringing the community together to enjoy a lovely afternoon of dance, arts exploration, and movement alongside the lovely Kokosing River. The River connects us in so many ways, and Ashley has discovered and nurtured yet another.”