The University of Texas at El Paso

Forklift Danceworks, led by Artistic Director Allison Orr, will return to The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) for World Water Week (March 17-22, 2025) to engage community members through performance-based environmental awareness initiatives. As one of the conference’s key artistic partners, Forklift will collaborate with local water workers, college students from Texas and New England, and the broader Paso del Norte community to highlight the essential yet often unseen labor of water stewardship and ultimately explore movement as a tool for civic engagement and environmental advocacy. In partnership with UTEP, Forklift will present Water Moves, a free, participatory performance in downtown El Paso’s San Jacinto Plaza on March 20, 2025, directed by Orr in collaboration with UTEP’s Director of Dance, Dr. Melissa Melpignano. This performance will unite water scientists, students, local dance artists, and community members to illuminate the interconnections between water, labor, and