A Dance Fusion {Forklift Danceworks}
Reimagining Performative Dance with a Sprinkle of Manual Labor
Words Melanie Faz Photos From Forklift Danceworks
Forklift Danceworks is completely revamping creative expression by fusing artistic dance with local and global initiatives. Incredible choreography from the Danceworks team creates upscale productions with essential workers that sustain our everyday lives as the dancers themselves.
Their latest production, The Way of Water, explores the human experience with water and focuses on those who steward it. This multi-year global performance will occur in four cities: Austin, El Paso, Miami, and Venice, Italy. Forklift kicked off The Way of Water: Onion Creek this summer on June 24, choosing to focus on the Onion Creek watershed because of frequent flooding. With the help of the Austin Watershed Protection Department, Forklift uplifts the Watershed Protection staff and local youth through lively performances that incorporate job movements.
Founder and Artistic Director Allison Orr saw the opportunity to integrate her passion for choreography with her fascination for the beauty and movement of manual labor. With Forklift’s history of collaboration with city departments, Watershed Protection seemed like a natural fit. “Austin has a long history with flooding,” Allison shares. So this partnership to raise awareness alongside Watershed Protection just made sense.
Allison has been putting on these innovative performances since 2001. It usually takes a few weeks and a team of 15-45 people, from choreographers to performers. Some of their previous initiatives can be seen on their website, such as a light performance with Austin Energy and a Play Ball Downs Field performance with local baseball players.
Forklift will host one more, The Way of Water: Onion Creek, on September 23 at Onion Creek Metropolitan Park. The event is something to behold in-person, and tickets are free with advance reservations.
Contact:
(512) 222-5287
2023 Cesar Chavez St.
info@forkliftdanceworks.org
forkliftdanceworks.org
