THE WAY OF WATER
The Way of Water — Colorado River was a three-part, city-wide performance and engagement series created by Forklift Danceworks in collaboration with community partners, civic agencies, artists, and environmental stewards. Spanning three weeks and multiple sites along the river, the project invited Austinites to deepen their relationship to the Colorado River not just as a natural resource, but as a shared civic responsibility.
The experience began on October 18, 2025 at The Contemporary Austin, Laguna Gloria with Part I: Source. Part ceremony, part meditation, part celebration – the kick-off event immersed audiences in sound design by dadaLab and featured movement and stories from Austin Water utility personnel, river scientists, Butoh Artist Rosemary Candelario, and birders from the Travis Audubon Society.
Part II: Currents was a river-wide scavenger hunt by designer Kate Murray of Unfine Arts, commissioned by Forklift Danceworks. Celebrating the Colorado River, the communities it sustains, and the people who steward it, 600+ participants explored the river at their own pace through interactive activities that encouraged a deeper dive into all that inspired the wider work. Example missions include:
Narrated walks of Red Bud Isle and Roy G Guerrero Metro Park, inspired by the river’s long time environmental advocates, frequent birders, and fly fishing guides.
At-home challenges encouraging the public to become more aware of their water usage and the work of Austin Water employees.
Historical explorations of East Austin exposing Austin’s own “silent spring,” sparked by the expertise of The Center for Environmental Research team at Hornsby Bend.
Green infrastructure challenges guided by the expertise of UT Austin’s Urban Ecosystems leading scientists.
A wind phone providing "safe harbor” to those who had recently experienced loss from Central Texas flooding.
The culminating large-scale performance, Part III: Confluence, took place November 6 - 8, 2025 at Hornsby Bend. It featured stories and movement from Austin Water employees, scientists, youth river stewards, fly-fishing enthusiasts, and birders. Directed by Allison Orr with live music by Graham Reynolds, poetry by Zell Miller, III, and immersive media design by dadaLab.