Becoming the Wind: A Community Movement Workshop

Becoming the Wind is a free, beginner-friendly community movement workshop inspired by “Running,” a poem from Joy Harjo’s collection An American Sunrise. Set outdoors at Pease District Park, the workshop will use contemporary movement, guided improvisation, and the surrounding natural environment to explore freedom, resilience, transformation, and the experience of moving through change.

Participants will be guided through an accessible warm-up, creative movement prompts, and individual and group exercises inspired by wind, running, momentum, direction, and release. The workshop focuses on exploration rather than learning formal choreography, and participants will be encouraged to make their own movement choices throughout the experience.

No previous dance experience is required, and you do not need to be a runner. Movements can be adapted for different bodies, abilities, energy levels, and comfort levels. Participants may move while standing or seated, take breaks when needed, and choose how fully they wish to participate.

What to bring and wear:

• Comfortable clothing that allows you to move
• Supportive, cushioned shoes suitable for moving on concrete
• Water
• Sun protection, such as sunscreen, sunglasses, or a hat
• A portable chair if you would like a seated option during reflection or breaks

The workshop will take place outdoors on a paved concrete surface. Additional information will be shared with registered participants if weather affects the event.

This workshop is part of Dance Waterloo’s An American Sunrise: A Season of Embodied Return, a yearlong NEA Big Read project featuring free movement workshops, book discussions, performances, and creative community activities inspired by Joy Harjo’s poetry collection An American Sunrise.

This project was supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts, with additional support from Arts Midwest. To learn more about how National Endowment for the Arts grants impact individuals and communities, visit www.arts.gov. This project has been financed in part by the City of Austin’s Elevate Grant Program. Additional support provided by Pease Park Conservancy.