The Sable Ocean Dance Project

Once upon a time in Mi’kma’ki there was an island that was shaped like a crescent moon, like an ear, like the palm of your hand.

The island was a special place, it was both real and imagined.

It cupped the ocean, it was buzzing, embracing, holding, sparkling.

Completely composed of sand it held footprints, it embraced the soles of your feet.

And the sounds of the island created a melody of wind, waves, birds buzzing, splashing, shifting, crashing, howling, fuzzy vibrating serenity, (howling shifting).

And it was a land that didn’t know circles and squares. It didn’t know the solid, fixed nature of cities and minds. Continually shifting and reforming it danced with the wind and waves. 

It was a land that helped people heal and to feel their own true nature. Wild, vibrating, swirling waves of past, present, future, surging together in a glowing eternity. 

When the island’s first people returned they walked the beaches, embraced the sky and the water and the land.  And they reminded us to listen, to tread lightly, to have respect and good intention, to protect, to leave no trace, to learn from the interconnections of Mother Earth, Grandmother Water and all their beings. 

So when debris began washing up on the shores of the island the people did not run, did not ignore, did not withdraw into fear or helplessness. They embraced the debris as a message from the waters, and collected it with care. And they brought the debris to others to see, hear, and feel so that everyone could relate to it and work together to imagine ways to do better, to tend of the earth and the island, and in this way the island help the people to heal. 

Mocean has been been working with SII since 2021, exploring a dance-based project incorporating plastic debris washed up on Sable Island, and focusing on themes of ocean plastic pollution and environmental stewardship. The project began with a phase of creative research where eight artists worked with researcher Zoe Lucas from SII, using movement to animate the plastic debris Zoe collected on the island. Our work continued in May 2023 with another research phase, this time prototyping public engagement sessions in the public school system. 

The work continues this fall with a final phase of creation, culminating in two free public performances. 

Past and Present Collaborators:

Zoe Lucas - Sable Island Institute President and Researcher
Sara Coffin and Susanne Chui - Choreographers / Mocean Co-Artistic Directors
Lisa Phinney Langley, Meredith Kalaman - Choreographers / Creative Team
Jackson Fairfax-Perry, Lindsay Dobbin and Brian Riley - Sound Artists
Francine Dulong - Dramaturg, Script Writer, Creative Team
Sam Penner, Reg Rose, Sebastien Labelle, Lisa Phinney Langley, Sara Coffin, Sarah Prosper - Dance Artists
Hannah Martin, Anastasia Nevin and Sarah Prosper - Mi'kmaq Consultants

Past creative workshop participant: Julie Robert - Interim Artistic Producer