Dancers will grace the shoreline this Saturday at 5 p.m. in the Assateague State Park. "Ballet on the Beach" is sponsored by Beach to Bay Heritage Area. Delmarva Public Media's Jenny O'Connor has this look at efforts to celebrate area's rich culture and history.
O'CONNOR: The Beach to Bay Heritage Area is an organization committed to preserving the unique environment and resources of Maryland's lower Eastern Shore. Their work touches everything from local history to public art. On Saturday, September 20th, they're sponsoring Ballet on the Beach at Assateague Island. I'm Jenny O'Connor for Delmarva Public Media. After 31 years as the tourism director of Worcester County, Lisa Challenger decided to take on a new challenge as the executive director of the Beach to Bay Heritage Area,
CHALLENGER: Maryland is one of the few states that actually has a heritage program and there are 13 heritage areas in the state and we are one of 13 and we cover the lower shore of Wicomico, Somerset, and Worcester.
O'CONNOR: And as one of two main staff members at BBHA. Lisa has her work cut out for her.
CHALLENGER: We've really made a lot of inroads since COVID and we are constantly applying for grants and looking for ways to support community efforts.
O'CONNOR: In the past. BBHA has created new interpretive signs at different locations on the shore, as well as developed murals, documentaries, and a digital story map to support their mission.
CHALLENGER: I think the goal for all of us is to promote, preserve, and protect our cultural, historic, and natural resources here on the shore.
O'CONNOR: This weekend, they're adding a new medium to their advocacy plan with help from Assateague Island.
CHALLENGER: We are so lucky to have Assateague Island because, you know, when we did our rebranding and changed our name, we really wanted to lean into the fact that we are the only heritage area on the beach. Others might claim a Chesapeake Beach, but we have the Atlantic Ocean and we have this wonderful national seashore and state park that nobody else can claim.
O'CONNOR: Assateague State Park is hosting Ballet on the Beach featuring professional ballet performances with a stunning natural backdrop, as well as environmental talks about the area and musical guests.
CHALLENGER: We really liked how the project wove together the arts and the island's natural environment, highlighting the beauty of the park and the beaches and the ocean, and incorporating educational activities, children's activities, incorporating the environment with the art of dance.
O'CONNOR: Dance is yet another medium that the Beach to Bay Heritage Area uses to spread their message of preserving and protecting the space - just like they have in the past with documentaries and murals.
CHALLENGER: It's just a way for people to learn about our history. We are looking at other ways to combine art and history for people to learn about something they didn't know, to see this beautiful piece of art and really learn the story behind that and and how it's so interesting.
O'CONNOR: Protecting the environment is not possible without the support and help from their community. And the two person team of BBHA is committed to honoring their community and preserving the area's natural and historic resources.
CHALLENGER: We are very, very community-oriented, so our projects are co-created with the community. We don't just say, "Hey, we're doing a project here in your community". We do a lot of community effort for the murals. We got a lot of community input through surveys and sort of canvasing folks to make sure it's what people wanna see and the story they wanna tell.
O'CONNOR: For more information on the Beach to Bay Heritage Area's, upcoming events, including the Ballet on the Beach on September 20th at Assateague Island, you can visit their website, beachesbayswaterways.org. I'm Jenny O'Connor for Delmarva Public Media.
