This program was made possible in part with a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.

♪ ♪ From the wisp of a cloud ♪ ♪ to the seed of a song ♪ that talking to you, ♪ ♪ ♪ telling you just ♪ how important ♪ ♪ it is to keep the ♪ earth growing strong.

♪ ♪ It's talking to you.

♪ ♪ Listen, ♪ ♪ pass it along.

♪ ♪ You got the message.

♪ ♪ Make it a part of ♪ this beautiful land.

♪ ♪ Pass it along, ♪ ♪ keep it healthy and strong.

♪ ♪ we've got to ♪ pass it along.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Crescent> Hi.

Lee> Hi.

Crescent> What's wrong?

Lee> I don't know.

I'm worried Crescent> About what?

The nature said is going great, isn't it?

Lee> I guess, Crescent> I mean, everybody thinks it's a good idea.

Lee> I know.

The support has really been great, and the construction's almost finished.

Crescent> Then why are you worried?

Lee> I don't know.

The center's a good idea, but is it enough?

Crescent> Every little bit helps.

Lee> Yeah, sure.

Crescent> No, really.

If everybody helps, just a little.

That's a lot of help.

Because lots of people are helping.

Lee> I bet you can't say that again.

Crescent> I can show you, though.

I can tell you stories about lots of people that are helping.

Crescent> Okay?

Lee> Sure.

I need to know that we're not all by ourselves.

Crescent> Oh.

We're not.

Watch this.

She's Martita Goshen, and she uses her dancing to teach kids about whales.

♪ ♪ ♪ Martita Goshen> Everywhere around us is movement and dance.

In my work, I use all of these things.

The natural rhythms become my dances.

And in turn, become part of me.

♪ Whales, wolves, seals and sea turtles.

Those creatures are soon and fast dying on our planet.

Extinct is forever.

So why don't we just now come into the world of the whales, focus and see what you can learn from this fabulous, intelligent creature.

Okay?

Whales live in the world's oceans, which cover over 70% of the Earth's surface.

Whales have become wonderfully adapted to their life in the ocean.

Some whales make very deep, low sounds which can travel great distances underwater.

Others make a variety of clicks, groans, whistles, and hums.

Whales also communicate with each other using sounds.

Humpback whales are famous for their songs.

Listen.

(whales making sounds) No one knows for certain what the songs mean, but they might attract mates, announce the singer or his group, or give information about migration and food sources.

Whales are mammals just like we are.

They give birth to live young and breathe air into lungs through a hole in the top of their heads, called a blowhole.

They usually breathe every 3 to 7 minutes, but they can also dive deep into the sea without coming to the surface for over 50 minutes.

Whales, some of the biggest animals on Earth, feed on some of the smallest krill.

Whales are very intelligent and have the largest brains of any animal on Earth.

They are also playful, affectionate, and amazingly agile.

They can leap almost completely out of the water, turn and crash back into the sea with a tremendous splash.

They also do a lot of flipper flapping.

And tail lobbing, which maybe signals to other whales or just a lot of fun.

Whales have lived peacefully in their environment for millions of years, but today a number of whale species are in danger of being destroyed by people.

Because of this, the United States and many countries of the world are trying to outlaw the killing of whales.

A few countries continue to slaughter whales, and those that are slaughtered die a terribly painful and unnecessary death.

As the nations of the world bring an end to commercial whaling, the whales face an even greater long term threat.

The pollution of their ocean home.

Now, I want to share with you some of my dance.

It is a lullaby for whales.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ (applause) Martita> Now I want to see your eyes, Your backstraight.

And want to see how we can transform us.

Right here in the middle of South Carolina.

How it would be if we were the bottom of the ocean.

Here we go.

One sec.

Let me see those flippers.

Straight up.

Good for you two.

That's it.

The same three.

No sound on the desk.

Now the right hand.

This is the right hand.

Right up.

Take it.

Take that air.

Come on and release it.

Now, reach out.

And now, it's good.

Up There you go.

Now.

Right hand again.

This side.

Right hand.

Flipper.

That's it.

That's the hope of mankind.

That's what dancing is about.

If you don't feel it, who will?

Not your neighbor.

And let's do it with the music.

And let me see your eyes.

And hit the music, And, one.

♪ That's it You will make a difference.

Yes.

That's okay.

That's okay, honey.

That's, all right.

And that's it.

Do with all your heart.

Come on.

That's it.

Full, not a second later.

You'll be dead, right hand.

Grab the ear.

Reach out.

Reach out.

That's it.

Right hand.

♪ Now here's a hard one.

Up.

Over.

Up.

Up.

All the way over.

Up.

Over.

♪ Whoosh!

Yeah, you got it.

♪ Up.

Very good.

♪ Keep that concentration.

Right hand.

Right.

Grab the ear.

Henry, where's that beautiful arm of yours?

Reach out.

♪ (Claps) ♪ (children laugh) ♪ Martita> Be quiet.

Listen, quiet.

And now you all may sit down.

That was wonderful.

Good for you.

(applause) Martita> Now you need to realize that the earth is dying and you can do something about it.

I hope when you go back to your classroom, you'll think about how you can make a difference and do something for the earth.

It does so much for you.

It was lovely meeting you.

Goodbye to you.

(applause) ♪ Martita> When you're dancing or learning to move, or when you do a beautiful race.

You run and you win or you don't win.

It doesn't really matter but the actual doing of it is so wonderful.

You're really in command at that moment.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Martita> For me, dancing is a wonderful way of taking responsibility for myself and my beliefs.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Dancing for me.

About whales and wolves and seals and sea turtles is a way of, of paying those animals back.

For being here and for, for giving me so much knowledge.

♪ Lee> Martita Goshen.

Crescent> Yeah.

What do you think?

Lee> Crescent> I think she has a very creative way of getting her point across.

Crescent> Yeah, but what about me?

Lee> Oh, thank you very much for telling me about Martita.

Crescent> Lee, don't you like my dancing, too?

Lee> Of course I do.

But, you know, I really am impressed with the way she uses her dancing to help the animals.

Crescent> Lots of creative people do that.

Lee> Really?

Crescent> Sure.

Want me to show you?

Lee> Tell you what.

Later on.

I'll listen to all the stories you want to tell me.

But right now, I need to go see how they're coming on the nature center.

Crescent> Okay.

I'll race you.

Lee> Nah, I'm too old for that sort of thing.

Hey, would you look at that?

Crescent> Hey, you know, fair.

Lee> Come on, slowpoke.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪