Conservation and Dance
ART AND NATURE: A PARTNERSHIP FOR LIFE
In collaboration with non-profit wildlife conservation organizations from around the world, distinguished artists and leading global scientists and conservationists, Benjamin Briones Ballet is part of a creation that will allow viewers of all ages a glimpse into turtle conservation and related struggles.
Fergus is a Turtus, an imaginary hero, who experiences adventures in search of his own identity and his role in the world. He is a mix between a land and water turtle and is different from all others.
Based on the children’s book Fergus the Turtus by Sebastian Morley and developed into three sections as a draft work with choreography by Benjamin Briones, Fergus is an adventure of survival, love and friendship in the fight against habitat loss, illegal poaching, pollution and climate change, created by Executive Director Chiara Gorodesky.
With costume art by Rene Maynez and a musical score by award winning composer Felipe Perez Santiago, the audience will discover the complex world of turtle survival and their vital role in nature through the arts.
meet The turtles
ADVISORY COMMITTEE
David Bain, Peter Paul van Dijk, Ph.D, Eric Goode, Siddhartha Hayes, James Juvik, Ph.D, Toland Kister, Kathy Lacey, James Liu, DVM, Sibille Pritchard, Anders Rhodin M.D., Maurice Rodrigues, Craig Stanford, Ph.D, Nathanael Stanek, Eleanor Tirtasana Chubb, Michael Tuma, Michael Zilkha.
Did You Know…
Turtles and tortoises are some of the most trafficked animals on the planet. Sold as food, so-called medicinal purposes and as pets. They battle with pollution, poaching and habitat loss all caused by us humans.
Photo Credit: Turtle Conservancy
Only 15% of the world’s lands are protected and over 50% of all turtles are facing extinction?
The only way to ensure the survival is to secure vulnerable habitat of endangered species, which means to buy the land that they live on.
You Can Help!
- Educate others about tortoise conservation
- Donate to help bring Fergus to the stage
- Don’t buy wildlife as pets
- Flag suspicious social media posts
- Support our conservationists in their mission to help save the world’s most vulnerable species from extinction.
Press
Benjamin Briones Ballet is delighted to announce that Turtle Conservancy’s 10 year anniversary edition of The Tortoise features an article about Fergus – The Turtle Ballet.
With conservation icon Jane Goodall gracing its cover and articles about photographer, philanthropist and supermodel Helena Christensen, contemporary artist Alexis Rockman and some of the world’s leading conservationists, you are in for a special treat.
The Tortoise is now available for purchase online.
In her article Ballet for a Better World, Marina Hadley writes in the Summer 2021 Edition of Gallery & Studio’s Arts Journal: “Briones wants you to open your eyes, see through your neighbors’ eyes and see through your heart. His message is clear in his dances and his company, Benjamin Briones Ballet.”
Click here to read the full Gallery & Studio article or to subscribe for a hard copy.