As a renowned performer, choreographer, screenwriter and artistic director, Tony Coray has worn many professional hats.

Now, Coray is planning to facilitate an eight-week workshop entitled We Are This Land: A Community's Response to Development.

We Are This Land is sponsored by the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts and the Center for Sustainability at Penn State.

"The title speaks to the intention of the workshop," Coray said. "We're all connected: what we do to this land we do to ourselves."

The workshop cost is on a sliding scale from $50 to $80.

"I don't want anybody not to do it because they can't pay, so anything within the range is fine," Coray said.

All workshop sessions will take place in the Fairmount Avenue Elementary School Auditorium, 411 S. Fraser St. Workshops are from 7 to 10 p.m. every Monday evening beginning Sept. 24 and running through Nov. 12.

The performance workshop is open to the public and takes a hands-on approach to communicating.

It will explore the reasons behind urban development, the impact it has on our bodies — emotionally, physically and spiritually — and the toll it takes on the earth and its species.

Participants will investigate development issues and create images that give voice to their perspectives.

A free introductory class and organizational meeting for registration and sign-up will be held from 7 to 10 p.m. Monday in the elementary school's auditorium. Anyone interested in the project is invited to attend for an overview of the workshop.

The meeting will offer a get-to-know-you session, a question and answer period, as well as writing, movement and improvisation exercises.

"I want to give people a first hand experience on how I work," said Coray.

Coray also encourages non-performers to come together.

"Those who don't consider themselves performers can help produce or pass out fliers," he said. "Other artists and musicians can contribute their music and works and help."

As a State College native, Coray draws from a personal perspective to inspire awareness in others.

"Development and its impact on community is important to me," he said. "I grew up here."

Last spring he helped choreograph for the Pennsylvania Dance Theatre's The Urbanization Project, which dealt with the anticipation of Interstate 99 and its impact.

We Are This Land will be an independent project for Coray to explore development concerns experienced by the community.

"It goes beyond the highway and locally there are a lot of concerns," he said.

Coray feels that teens and adults will benefit most by participating in the workshop. "They can expect to spend time completing some writing and research outside of workshop classes," explained Coray.

Participants will be encouraged to focus on "a topic they feel strongly about such as freeways, landfills or loss of species," Coray said.

The workshop will culminate in a final performance-ritual offered to the community at large on Nov. 17.

The ritual, which will showcase the participants' talents, is scheduled to take place at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Centre County, 780 Waupelani Extension.

"The church will be a beautiful space for the performance ritual," Coray said. "Unitarians are sympathetic to social issues."

Tickets will be sold for the final performance for a modest admission price.

Individuals interested in participating may contact Tony Coray at 814-466-6565 or Kerri Zelman at 814-231-0211 for registration information and questions.