Hello all,
Have you heard of Forklift Danceworks?
I am a dancer of among the most highly trained sort-- classical ballet-- but the concept of the "Everyman Dancer," the fact that we are all dancers and we all dance, no matter how much or little formal training we may have, is one that I think is every bit as important and meaningful as the most impeccably staged concert hall performance.
Allison Orr founded Forklift Danceworks in 2001. She and her team of collaborators venture into the communities of Austin, TX, and beyond to conceive of site-specific dances, creating large-scale performance pieces that make "everyday" people doing their "everyday" work the stars of the show. They highlight and elevate the people and work whose value is often taken for granted and whose inherent beauty, rhythm, humor, and style are almost never noticed.
Firefighters. Dining hall workers. Electrical utility crews. Dog walkers. Public pool lifeguards. Baseball players and garbage men. They are people, and they are dancers, and they are DANCING! You will never look at a custodian the same way again once you take a look at some Forklift productions. Everyone and everything has a kind of grace, a rhythm to their movement, a coordination and purpose, and these productions pull those qualities out into the spotlight.
Taking everyday movement patterns and choreographing them into art is more than a fun diversion. It honors the ordinary, unites us in our humanity and in our common need for each other. And reminds us how a little lightness in everyday life can go a long way.
I first heard of Forklift years ago and have gotten glimpses of their (stunning, moving, hilarious) work only through clips on YouTube. They appeared on my radar again last week when I got notice of Allison Orr's new book, "Dance Works: Stories of Creative Collaboration," which describes her work, her connection with the people she's created dances for, and her passionate belief that artists must be at the center of civic issues, bridging gaps and serving as messengers, fostering understanding and building communities.
Below are links to the many wonderful interviews,clips and peeks at Forklift Danceworks' previous performances. Be careful, if you're like me you'll not want to stop watching!
I love what Forklift Danceworks does, what they represent and how their productions make a lasting impact on those who perform as well as those who watch.
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