We Came To Dance

We Came To Dance Food Tank Arts Current Projects: "Voices of Farmers: A Love Story," “Catalyst Coffee” & “WeCameToDance” presented by

“WeCameToDance is an an interactive, interplanetary musical adventure imparting an urgent political message while working the pulse.” -Matt Wolf, The New York Times. WeCameToDance by Food Tank is a smash success!

⭐⭐⭐⭐+ The Stage, The Scotsman, Edinburgh Reporter, The List, Edinburgh Guide, Musical Theatre Review, and more. Featured on the BBC, Good Morning Britain, ITV, Al Jazeera, and in the Ne

w York Times, The Guardian, The Telegraph, The Times, The Independent, the Irish Times, Herald (Scotland), National (Scotland), and dozens more.

“WeCameToDance by Food Tank is an interactive extravaganza about sustainable agriculture.” -Fergus Morgan, the Stage. After sold out workshops with rave reviews in New York City, WeCameToDance by Food Tank, was the breakout hit of the 2021 Edinburgh Festival Fringe with a completely sold out run of 35+ performances in partnership House of Jack, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the United Nations Environment Programme, and the World Food Program USA. Selections from WeCameToDance were commissioned and performed at the 2021 UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow. During the performance audiences interact with aliens from a real exoplanet (they call it “Hanyana”) that we have imagined in partnership with Dr. Steve B. Howell at NASA Ames Research Center. The performers will sing in their own language created by famed linguist David Peterson, who developed Valyrian and Dothraki for HBO’s “Game of Thrones.”

Alongside the cast, audiences groove to music created by Grammy-nominated Ghanaian artist Rocky Dawuni and participate in synchronized dance originally designed in New York by Mary Page Nance of Broadway’s “Finding Neverland” and “The Great Comet” and choreographed and directed for the local debut production in Scotland by award-winning Ashley Jack and Becky Enoch of House of Jack Studio in Leith, Edinburgh. Our interactive musical tells the story of extra-terrestrial life that arrives on Earth to warn its inhabitants of a climate crisis, after barely surviving catastrophe on their own planet. While guiding you in a fully immersed experience through rhythms, dance, and song, the characters relay a call to action and convey the tragedy of a changing climate — yet a sense of hope percolates through each and every motion, movement, and note is infused with hope.

“To my eyes (ears, arms and legs), WeCameToDance is a blast – but one that carries a serious message. The music and choreography are exuberant and uplifting.” -Kelly Apter, the Scotsman.

“WeCameToDance created a stir at the Edinburgh Fringe enlisting Scots in the battle against climate change. They are working with Nourish Scotland to ensure the show has a legacy, with audiences given a five-point plan to help change behaviour around consumption. They are also being encouraged to sign Nourish Scotland’s petition to the Scottish Government to change food policy.” -Nan Spowart, The National (Scotland).

“WeCameToDance will be the next hottest trend.” –Playbill Magazine

“Glorious music and dancing! WeCameToDance has so much energy — catchy, happy, and positive! When you immersive yourself in singing and dancing the sustainability message becomes so more embedded in your consciousness.” -BBC. FOOD TANK devised, developed, and commissioned WeCameToDance within a creative collaboration that mirrors its own non-traditional and decentralized mission to empower communities in coalition. Thank you to our presenting United Nations partners the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the United Nations Environment Programme, and the World Food Program-USA (WFP).

Charlotte.Alongside Compass Group, we’re bringing people together on April 29 who are actually doing the work to reduce ...
13/04/2026

Charlotte.

Alongside Compass Group, we’re bringing people together on April 29 who are actually doing the work to reduce food waste — in kitchens, on farms, in cities, and across communities.

It’s the 10th anniversary of Stop Food Waste Day, and it feels like a moment to pause and ask what’s working… and how we do a lot more of it.

There will be real conversations, youth voices, and a room full of people who care about getting this right.

Would love to have you there.

Register here:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/join-us-in-charlotte-for-the-10th-annual-stop-food-waste-day-celebration-tickets-1984822191605?aff=oddtdtcreator&keep_tld=true

08/03/2026

Highlights from Voices of Australian Farmers: A Love Story, an intimate evening of unscripted farmer storytelling, live music, and tasting moments that premiered at the Adelaide Fringe Festival on February 20.

Presented by Food Tank in partnership with OzHarvest, Aquna Murray Cod, Woolworths, and the Australian Conservation Foundation, the program brought farmers to the stage to share personal stories about land, soil, and community in their own words.

Hosted by actress and regenerative farmer Rachel Ward, the evening featured powerful storytelling from farmers across Australia, accompanied by live music and curated tasting moments that connected each story to the food on our plates.

Farmer storytellers included Rachel Ward, Hannah Greenshields, Derek Walker, Georgia Beattie, Matt Ryan, and Matthew Haggerty.

Following the sold-out success of Food Tank’s farmer storytelling programs in New York during Climate Week NYC, this special performance marked the world premiere of Voices of Australian Farmers: A Love Story at Adelaide Fringe.

Learn more about Food Tank: https://foodtank.com

Join us at   for “Reimagining Our Food System” in collaboration with Environmental Working Group at part of our "All Thi...
03/03/2026

Join us at for “Reimagining Our Food System” in collaboration with Environmental Working Group at part of our "All Things Food" Summit on March 12th at Barr Mansion in Austin, Texas.

Scott Faber, Environmental Working Group
Brooke Freeman, City of Kansas City, MO
Filippo Gavazzeni, Milan Urban Food Policy Pact
Johanna Hellrigl, AMA
Ora Kemp, New York City's Mayor's Office of Food Policy
Taylor LaFave, City of Baltimore
Amanda Masino, Huston-Tillotson University
Edwin Marty, City of Austin
Danielle Nierenberg, Food Tank
Raj Patel, University of Texas at Austin
Ashante Reese, The University of Texas at Austin
Grace Rude, City of Minneapolis
Todd Wagner, FoodFight USA

Special Musical Guests: Jennifer Foster and the Audacity

Our "All Things Food Summit" is co-hosted with SXSW, and Food Tank, Organic Valley the City of Austin, and Huston Tillotson University

Join our 1st Annual All Things Food and Agriculture Film Festival at   on Thursday, March 12th at Barr Mansion in collab...
03/03/2026

Join our 1st Annual All Things Food and Agriculture Film Festival at on Thursday, March 12th at Barr Mansion in collaboration with American Farmland Trust.

Our 2026 selections:

1. The world premiere of Food Tank's first ever original documentary short film "Irish Farmers: A Love Story." Directed by Haven Worley.

2. The Biggest Little Farm Series including a conversation with John Chester

3. America the Bountiful including a conversation with Capri Cafaro

4. Farm Hero including a conversation with Laura Zaspel

5. Food 2050 narrated by Viola Davis and developed by Media RED and the Rockefeller Foundation. Featuring a conversation with the incredible Xiye Bastida .

6. Unearthing the Future: The Farmers. A collaboration between the BBC and Organic Valley alongside a conversation with farmer Stephanie Tranel.

7. A new series of shorts developed by American Farmland Trust and Oliver English of Common Table Creative.

Register here (free): https://www.eventbrite.com/e/short-film-festival-all-things-food-and-agriculture-tickets-1983945830385?aff=oddtdtcreator&keep_tld=true.

Friends, join Food Tank, Better Food Future, Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), the The Culinary Institute of America, an...
03/03/2026

Friends, join Food Tank, Better Food Future, Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), the The Culinary Institute of America, and Bluefina® on Sunday, March 15th, 2026 for the 1st Annual Blue Foods Summit in Boston at WBUR during the Seafood Expo North America/Seafood Processing North America ( ).

This one-day convening will celebrate blue foods, fisherfolk, and those at the center of aquatic food systems. This summit brings together blue food leaders from policy, science, industry, media, and production to explore how blue foods are driving efforts toward tracability, climate resilience, storytelling, and ocean + human health.

Confirmed speakers include (more names to be announced soon!):
-Daisy Berg, New Seasons Market
-Jayson Berryhill, Wholechain
-Deb Becker, WBUR
-Imani Black, Minorities In Aquaculture
-Alicia Gaiero, Nauti Sisters Sea Farm
-Taylor Hurd, Singer-Songwriter (Musical Guest)
-Kelly Hilovsky, ButcherBox
-Robert E. Jones, Culinary Institute of America
-Mark Kaplan, Wholechain
-Charlotte Langley, Nice Cans
-Jackie Marks, Marine Stewardship Council
-Danielle Nierenberg, Food Tank
-Niaz Dorry, Northwest Atlantic Marine Alliance
-Barton Seaver, Chef and Author
-Huw Thomas, Global Dialogue on Seafood Traceability (GDST)
-Andrew Young, Baja Aqua Farms
-Manuel Vazquez Escudero, Baja Aqua Farms
-Citlali Gomez Lepe, COMEPESCA AC Mexico

Use this promo code to unlock hidden complementary tickets: CelebrateBlue

Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/food-tanks-1st-annual-blue-foods-summit-during-sena-tickets-1978843971588?aff=oddtdtcreator&keep_tld=true

As part of the 7th Annual “All Things Food and Environment” SXSW Summit, Food Tank and Organic Valley present Farmstead ...
03/03/2026

As part of the 7th Annual “All Things Food and Environment” SXSW Summit, Food Tank and Organic Valley present Farmstead to Future: CEOs, Chefs, and Farmers Building a Better Food System, a dynamic gathering highlighting the collaboration needed to transform food systems from the ground up.

Hosted at the Farmstead at Barr Mansion. All day catering partner La Pera Catering & Events.

The program begins with a live musical performance, followed by a fireside conversation with Shawna Nelson, CEO of Organic Valley, moderated by Danielle Nierenberg, President of Food Tank. A chef conversation featuring James Beard Award-winning chef and author Joshua McFadden, Adrian Lipscomb, Executive Director of the Muloma Heritage Center, Austin pitmaster Kareem El-Ghayesh, founder of KG BBQ, and chef Colter Peck, known for his focus on seasonal and locally sourced cooking, explores how culinary leadership can support farmers and reshape food culture.

Attendees will also hear farmer storytelling from Organic Valley farmer Jake Wedeberg and regenerative farmer Gerardo Martinez, founder of Wild Kid Acres, sharing firsthand perspectives on land stewardship, livestock care, and community-centered agriculture.

A leadership discussion featuring Michelle Hughes, Executive Director of the National Young Farmers Coalition, Diana Johnson, Senior Manager at the Bezos Earth Fund, and Steven Jennings, Director of Health Partnerships and Stakeholder Engagement at Ahold Delhaize, examines how partnerships, investment, and cross-sector collaboration are accelerating progress across food systems.

And much more to be announced!

This session is part of the full-day 7th Annual “All Things Food and Environment” SXSW Summit, presented in partnership with SXSW, Food Tank, Organic Valley, the City of Austin, and Huston-Tillotson University.

Thursday, March 12, 2026
Barr Mansion Farmstead
10463 Sprinkle Rd, Austin, TX 78754
Program: 11:30 AM–1:30 PM

Thank you Austin! An astonishing 5,000 people have already registered for our 7th Annual All Things Food and Environment...
25/02/2026

Thank you Austin! An astonishing 5,000 people have already registered for our 7th Annual All Things Food and Environment Summit at held at in collaboration with , , , and .

Confirmed speakers include (more to be announced soon): Karen Bassarab, ; Jason Buechel, ; , America the Bountiful; John Chester (), Farmer, Filmmaker, and Author; Katie Collins, ; Victoria Coleman, Jovia Wines; Chef Kareem El-Ghayesh (), KG BBQ; Oliver English (), Common Table Creative; Simon English, ; Scott Faber, ; Brooke Freeman, City of Kansas City, MO; .gadient, ; , .bar (Washington, DC); Michelle Hughes (), ; , Whole Foods Market; Jenny Lester-Moffitt (.moffitt), ; Chef Adrian Lipscomb (); Finian Makepeace (); Edwin Marty, ; Amanda Masino (), Huston-Tillotson University; Gerardo Martinez, ; Joshua McFadden (); Kimila Lee Miller, ; Benina Montes, .family.farms; Courtney Schuster, Rio Fresh; Shawna Nelson, Organic Valley; Hayley Painter and Stephanie Painter, Painterland Sisters Yogurt; Raj Patel; Chef Colter Peck; Ashante Reese (); Grace Rude, City of Minneapolis; Cathy Strange (/), Whole Foods Market; Brad Tipper, ; Stephanie Tranel (); Todd Wagner, ; Laura Zaspel, Farm Hero; Taylor LaFave, City of Baltimore; Ora Kemp, ; James Clement, ; Jake Wedeberg, Organic Valley; Diana Johnson, ; Steven Jennings, ; Dr. Jason Slipp, ; Carina Roseingrave, ; Richard Chute, ; Haven Worley (); and Jon De La Pera, .

Hurry and register today: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/7th-annual-all-things-food-food-tank-summit-at-sxsw-2026-tickets-1978343041292?aff=oddtdtcreator

See the world premiere of Food Tank's first ever original documentary short film "Irish Farmers: A Love Story" FREE on T...
25/02/2026

See the world premiere of Food Tank's first ever original documentary short film "Irish Farmers: A Love Story" FREE on Thursday, March 12th at . Directed by Haven Worley ().

And you will meet Carina Roseingrave one of Irish dairy farmer featured in the documentary in person (, )! A special thank you to , , , , , , , , , , , , .in.the.sun_,

It's part of the 1st Annual All Things Food and Agriculture Film Festival in collaboration with and .

Also see clips and talks from other selected programing including:

1. The Biggest Little Farm Series including a conversation with John Chester ()

2. America the Bountiful including a conversation with Capri Cafaro ()

3. Farm Hero () including a conversation with Laura Zaspel

4. Food 2050 narrated by Viola Davis and developed by Media RED and the . Featuring a conversation with the incredible .

5. Unearthing the Future: The Farmers. A collaboration between the BBC and alongside a conversation with farmer Stephanie Tranel ()

6. Better Food Future Documentary Short featuring a conversation with .

7. A new series of shorts developed by and of and .

We love you Australia! Thanks for making our sold out "Voices of Australian Farmers: A Love Story" in partnership with  ...
25/02/2026

We love you Australia! Thanks for making our sold out "Voices of Australian Farmers: A Love Story" in partnership with & such a phenomenal success!

Thank you to our incredible farmers: .greenshields

Music from

Our director and dramaturg: .

Our production team: .

And the absolutely amazing: .kahn .yajman

📸 by .sturm ()

“We have forgotten how to value our farmers and the effort it takes to grow food,” Ronni Kahn (.kahn), the Founder and V...
18/02/2026

“We have forgotten how to value our farmers and the effort it takes to grow food,” Ronni Kahn (.kahn), the Founder and Visionary in Residence of told us on the Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg podcast.

See her Friday night on stage with us at the Adelaide Fringe Festival () as part of our "Voices of Australian Farmers: A Love Story" event.

You are next up  after ! See our "Voices of Farmers" storytelling experience on March 12th at our 7th Annual "All Things...
18/02/2026

You are next up after ! See our "Voices of Farmers" storytelling experience on March 12th at our 7th Annual "All Things Food and Environment" Summit at in Austin, Texas. Held every year at alongside , , .

Our female farmer storytellers include: Elle Gadient (.gadient, ); Kimila Lee Miller (); Hayley and Stephanie Painterland (; Courtney Moore (Rio Fresh); Benina Montes (.almond.chick); and Victoria Coleman (Jovia Wines).

A special thank you to , , , Harvest Earnings, and .

Tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/7th-annual-all-things-food-food-tank-summit-at-sxsw-2026-tickets-1978343041292?aff=oddtdtcreator

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What Is Garjana?

WELCOME TO OUR PLANET! MAKE YOURSELF AT HOME.

GARJANA is an immersive theatrical experience that turns the audience into dancers and bandmates as they explore an unknown planet filled with fun-loving aliens, political infighting, and giant cats. Led by a young, diverse cast of Broadway performers and international talent, GARJANA showcases a new (to Earth) musical genre with hints of Afrobeat and South Asian influences, emphasizing audience participation and improvisation throughout. The show is an emotional rollercoaster injected with goofy humor and a strong humanist message that will leave the crowd inspired, joyful, and sweaty from dancing so much.

Garjana is based on a recurring dream by Bernard Pollack, the board chairman of Food Tank, the fastest-growing global nonprofit advocating for more a sustainable food system. It is an extensively developed narrative universe that will be explored across six musical chapters along with a grassroots national tour and an Andy Kaufman-esque in-character media blitz, introducing the Lihi people as well as their music and dance-filled way of life to Earthlings all over Earth. We are going to disrupt theater, changing it from a passive recital in a dark room to an immersive experience that makes the crowd part of the cast.