*A note from the Director: “Flow Together: Stories of Water, Sustainability, and Mobility” is more than a concert dance showing; it is a pledge to our local Raleigh community, and our greater society to become more educated about the importance of safe drinking water, water governance, and the future of water infrastructure throughout the 2026 year. It is a pledge to educate our communities about this topic through the Performing Arts, and to align ourselves with existing International, national and local organizations, as advocates of this cause, and move towards community action. 

This performance and its complementary community initiative Flow Together: Community Dance and Water Sustainability,  is made possible by an Arts and Science Grant from the Data Science and AI Academy, along with the Office of Interdisciplinary Programs and Arts NC State. 

Additionally, this work would not be possible without the selflessness of the following individuals, donating their time and knowledge to this initiative: 

Professional Civil and Environmental Engineers, Gregory Flory (Executive Director of Piedmont Triad Regional Water Authority), Gary Hartong (President, The Wooten Company Raleigh), and Dr. Francis de los Reyes III (Glenn E. and Phyllis J. Futrell Distinguished Professor -#2 of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering, Alumni Distinguished Undergraduate Professor, and University Faculty Scholar at North Carolina State University).

Thank you for your work and contributions to humanity, and for being the amazing humans that you are!

Year Choreographed: 2026
Choreographer: Jordan Henze
Music: Bamba
Lighting Design: Kennith Watts
Costuming: Jordan Henze
Perfromers: Jordan Henze
Additional Notes: Water, a vital natural resource, is used for many purposes in our everyday lives. How many different ways do you use water on a daily basis? What would happen if you were no longer able to use water in the multitude of ways that you have access to today?

Year Choreographed: 2026
Videographer/edited: Film Edited by Jon Okafo
Professional Engineers: Gregory Flory, Gary Hartong, Dr. Francis de los Reyes III
Additional Notes: In this brief trailer, Professional Civil and Environmental Engineers speak on the importance of Water Sustainability and the future of Water infrastructure.

Year Choreographed: 2026
Choreographer: Brianna Forbes and Jordan Henze
Music: Nollypiano
Lighting Design: Kennith Watts
Costuming: Brianna Forbes
Perfromers: Ava Mitchel, Jordan Henze
Additional Notes: ***WARNING: This piece contains flashing lights that may trigger seizures in those with photosensitive epilepsy. Viewer discretion is advised.***
This piece explores the concept that AI-powered sensors are used to transform underground water networks into intelligent systems that detect micro-leaks by isolating their unique acoustic signatures from urban noise.

By identifying these vulnerabilities in real time, the technology prevents minor faults from escalating into catastrophic infrastructure failures and costly water loss. The stream of high-fidelity data empowers engineers to move from reactive repairs to proactive, data-driven decision-making that ensures long term system resilience.

Click here to learn more.

Year Choreographed: 2026
Choreographer: Jordan Kaplan
Music: Water by Miss Yankey (Spoken Word)
Lighting Design: Kennith Watts
Costuming: Jordan Kaplan
Perfromers: Jordan Kaplan
Additional Notes: This piece represents how water is constantly moving, which reflects the inner drive of the person to keep moving forward. Life may bring unexpected obstacles and challenges, but just like water, we must fond a way to flow into each stage of our lives. The dance explores how to stay true to yourself even when a disruption is present. “Who said my water couldn’t flow free? A question that reminds ua all of independence and embracing our own paths.

Year Choreographed: 2026
Choreographer: Bernadine Price
Music: Party
Lighting Design: Kennith Watts
Costuming: Bernadine Price
Perfromers: Diamond Blue, Jaunariah King, Acacia Marshall, Pablo Valle, Aareona Rivers, Kandance Taylor
Additional Notes: Southern Durham School of Energy and Sustainability Dance Company

Year Choreographed: 2026
Choreographer: Brianna Forbes
Music: Move
Lighting Design: Kennith Watts
Costuming: Brianna Forbes
Perfromers: Maria Gonzalez, Ava Mitchell, Jordan Kaplan
Additional Notes: This piece explores the concept of Hydro-diplomacy, moving from conflict and pointing fingers, to engaging in cooperation, to manage shared water resources across borders, ultimately working to transform potential conflicts into opportunities for regional stability.

Brianna Forbes (MFA) is an Assistant Teaching Professor in the Department of Performing Arts & Technology at NC State University. She is passionate about Dance, Restorative Justice, and Community enrichment. Prior to her role at NC State, Forbes developed and taught Dance Education and Street Dance courses for the Performing Arts Program at Elon University. She also developed Performing Arts programs within the Public Education sector as a licensed K-12 Dance Educator. 

Her current research is centered on the synthesizing of socio-cultural and historical datasets within the field of Dance to provide evidence-based frameworks for broader institutional and governmental decision making. 
Forbes serves on the executive board for Dance Project in Greensboro, NC, and is a proud member of the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management. Through her Restorative Justice Project, Forbes20Tour, She mentors collegiate dancers across the United States, and produces and facilitates community performances and workshops on restorative practices and restorative justice principles, aiming to create spaces for all members of society to be empowered and make a change through movement.

Gary Hartong, PE, is a seasoned civil and environmental engineering executive. He serves as President of The Wooten Company, a North Carolina-based engineering firm
where he has built a career spanning more than 25 years. Beginning as an intern, Hartong advanced through every level of the organization, ultimately leading major infrastructure initiatives that support economic development and community growth.
Throughout his career, he has specialized in water, wastewater, and community infrastructure projects, helping municipalities and private clients plan, finance, and deliver critical systems. He is recognized for his expertise in engineering management,
funding strategies, and navigating complex regulatory environments to move projects efficiently from concept to completion.

Hartong has been an active leader in the engineering profession, serving in prominent roles with the American Council of Engineering Companies, including Vice Chair and
member of its College of Fellows. His work emphasizes the importance of infrastructure investment as a driver of long-term economic stability and quality of life.

He holds both a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering and a Master of Civil Engineering from North Carolina State University. A long-time North Carolina resident,
Hartong is committed to advancing practical, forward-looking solutions that strengthen communities, support businesses, and ensure sustainable growth.

Dr. de los Reyes is the Glenn E. and Phyllis J. Futrell Distinguished Professor -#2 of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering, Alumni Distinguished Undergraduate Professor, and University Faculty Scholar at North Carolina State University. He is also an Associate Faculty of Microbiology and Training Faculty of Biotechnology. He teaches undergraduate and graduate classes on wastewater treatment plant design, environmental biotechnology and microbiology, fundamentals of environmental engineering, and water and sanitation for developing countries.

He has conducted workshops for wastewater treatment plant operators and professionals in the US and the Philippines. He has also worked on water and sanitation issues in developing countries, and has collaborations in the Philippines, India, China, South Africa, Pakistan, Ghana, and Malawi. He is a BCEEM (Board Certified Environmental Engineer by Eminence, American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists), and a WEF Fellow (Water Environment Federation). He is a TED Fellow (www.ted.com), and his TED talk on sanitation has been viewed over 800,000 times. He has received the Gordon Fair Award in Environmental Engineering Education (WEF), the Outstanding Teacher, Outstanding Extension, and Global Outreach Awards from NC State, and is a Balik-Scientist awardee of the Philippine Government. He received Outstanding Alumnus Awards from the University of the Philippines, Iowa State University (Outstanding Young Alumnus), Phil. Science HS (Gawad Lagablab Award), and Marist School. He has received the US National Science Foundation CAREER Award, the Steven Dentel Award for Global Outreach from AEESP, and the AAEE Research Honor Award. His group’s pit emptying technology (Flexcrevator and Excluder) has won the RELX Group Environmental Challenge Award, and in 2020 received the Patents for Humanity Award. In 2020, he was named Corresponding Member of the National Academy of Science and Technology of the Philippines.