Water and land are critical issues here in America’s Mountain and Southwest regions.  Since the early 1990s, RDT has dedicated itself to its Sense of Place Initiative, commissioning and performing works that embody, celebrate, and examine our human connection to the environment.

FLIGHT is a concert designed to raise consciousness about how we relate to land, water and habitats that are vital to our communities.

One of the primary concerns of anyone living in the Salt Lake Valley is the potential loss of the Great Salt Lake and the threat that ecosystem collapse poses to our health and way of life. We are also concerned about the loss of other vital wilderness spaces including the Bears Ears region in Southeastern Utah which contain geological wonders and thousands of years of spiritual and cultural wealth. From a broader perspective, we are concerned about the loss of lands, habitats, and cultures that support, inspire, and provide solace to all.

For the performance of FLIGHT, we are connecting with five organizations to expand opportunities for interdisciplinary conversation. Our goal is to provide a platform for those working to protect vital areas of the Utah landscape and raise awareness of these valuable places through dance.

Friends of the Great Salt Lake (501c3) works to preserve and protect the Great Salt Lake ecosystem through education, research, advocacy, and the arts. The majority of our donation-derived income is spent directly on our programs, including: Lakeside Learning Education Programs, which bring thousands of students to the shores of Great Salt Lake annually; Doyle W. Stephens Research Program, which funds scholarships for undergraduate and graduate research related to the Great Salt Lake ecosystem; Advocacy Programs, which ensure Great Salt Lake issues are being considered by policy makers; and the Alfred Lambourne Arts Program, which celebrates artistic expressions of Great Salt Lake in visual arts, literary arts, movement, and sound. Join us at fogsl.org.

Great Salt Lake Audubon is dedicated to protecting and enhancing habitat for wild birds, animals and plants, and to maintaining healthy and diverse environments for wildlife and people throughout the state. Great Salt Lake Audubon, a chapter of the national Audubon Society, was founded in 1912 and is the oldest conservation organization in Utah. As a volunteer organization, GSLA strives to meet its mission through volunteer opportunities, seminars, educational field trips and informative general meetings with guest presenters. We also support state and local conservation efforts. greatsaltlakeaudubon.org

The Nature Conservancy is a leading conservation organization working in Utah and around the world to protect the land and water on which all life depends. Since 1984, we have worked with partners to protect more than 1 million acres of public and private land in Utah. The Nature Conservancy believes in a world where nature and people thrive together. In Utah, nature unites us like nothing else. Clean air, clean water, healthy habitats and working landscapes are the foundations of our health, our economy and our quality of life. Learn more at nature.org/Utah.

Since 1983, the mission of the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance has been the preservation of the outstanding wilderness at the heart of the Colorado Plateau, and the management of these lands in their natural state for the benefit of all Americans. In addition to working full-time to defend Utah’s wilderness from oil & gas development, unnecessary road construction, rampant off-road vehicle use, and other threats, SUWA promotes local and national recognition of the region’s unique wilderness character through research and public education, support of administrative and legislative initiatives, and by providing leadership within the conservation movement through uncompromising advocacy for wilderness preservation. suwa.org

We at Utah Diné Bikéyah, are determined to elevate the voices of our Indigenous communities. We believe that everyone deserves a seat at the table and should be recognized for what they can offer. By amplifying the voices of our Indigenous brothers and sisters, we are mobilizing the leaders of tomorrow. The backbone of our organization and the foundation of our cause are the stories our Elders pass down. At Utah Diné Bikéyah, we value the exchange of knowledge. Each year we prioritize listening to the voices of our Indigenous communities as we go hogan to hogan and village to village, listening and highlighting the wisdom of those who came before us. As we are incredibly grateful for the restoration of Bears Ears National Monument, we at Utah Diné Bikéyah continue to advocate for the expansion of Bears Ears to 1.9 million acres, the size necessary to meet local community needs. Our mission is to “Preserve and protect the cultural and natural resources of ancestral Native American lands to benefit and bring healing to people and the Earth.” We believe this means restoration is about collectively rekindling our relationships with the animals, the mountains, and the winds, which are the teachers and knowers of life. utahdinebikeyah.org