Treehouse Shakers was founded in 1997 in New York City. The all-original series of performances for family audiences is continuing with “Coyote’s Dance,” an all-ages show blending live music, dance and theatre. For box office and more info, call 212-715-1914 or visit www.treehouseshakers.com.
Co-founders Mara McEwin and Emily Bunning are childhood friends. They went to college together at Stephens College in Columbia, MO where Mara got a BFA in Theater and Emily got a BFA in Dance. Now they are working together to entertain new generations of young people.
In addition to the co-founders, the performers in “Coyote Dance” include Caroline Edelen, Kristy Kuhn, and Sarah Young. The show features original music by award winning musicians Roderick Jackson and the First Women’s Nation a cappella group, Ulali. It tells the story of Coyote, an infamous mischief-maker from Native American cultures, with the use of trampolines, contemporary dance, live music by Roderick Jackson and the First Women's Nation a cappella group Ulali, and costumes by Patti Gilstrap.
In addition to artistic and audience supporters, Treehouse Shakers is also blooming with encouragement from New York area arts resources. This program is made possible in part with public funds from the Fund for Creative Communities/New York State Council on the Arts Decentralization Program and by the Manhattan Community Arts Fund/New York City Department of Cultural Affairs administered by the Lower Manhattan Cultural.
New York Cool recently had a chance to talk to the dynamic duo behind Treehouse Shakers.
NYCool: Tell us how the two of you grew up together in Wyoming, doing shows and going to college?
McEwin: Emily and I have known each other our entire lives. Our parents were friends, and our grandparents knew each other. We grew up together in Southwestern Wyoming only twenty-six miles apart, which is close in Wyoming miles. When we were five, we began taking art classes every Saturday with Emily's great Aunt Susie, who was a wonderful painter and potter. On those very memorable Saturdays at Susie's, it was only Emily, her sister Lucy, and myself. We learned everything from sand sculpture to ceramics. I loved those Saturday art classes. Afterwards, we would go outside and play waiting for our parents. We were always delving into imaginary games and scenarios, creating characters and never-ending plot twists. Around this same time, we began taking dance classes. I was never as gung-ho as Lucy and Emily about dance, but I loved the concept of it.
NYCool: How did the idea to form Treehouse Shakers come about, and what different
kinds of projects do you do?
Bunning: Treehouse Shakers came about in 1997 one day when Mara and I had an idea for a show. We had been in NYC for a few years working with others and decided it was time we provide our own opportunities and develop our own creative voices. Mara would do the writing and acting and I would handle the choreography and dancing. Having known each other for so long -- all our lives -- made it a very easy collaboration. We had even done a show together in college. After making adult works as the Treehouse Shakers for a few years, we had the opportunity in 1999 to start developing dance-plays for young audiences. Today we continue to create for young/family audiences as well as dance-plays with a mature content. We also teach workshops to connect audiences to the process and elements of each show.
NYCool: Tell us about your latest show, “Coyote’s Dance.”
McEwin: I have always had an interest in Native American culture. As a storyteller, I am fascinated that Coyote, the trickster comes up in so many native cultures. In some stories, Coyote might teach us something, but in another story Coyote might make us laugh. The Native people believe that Coyote has been given special treatment by the creator. When I began researching the animal coyote on my own, I noticed that the Native peoples are right; the coyote can seemingly get out of every situation, and is one of the only animals in North America that hasn't become extinct due to human population. Coyote's story appeals to young audiences simply because he is entertaining, exciting, and has to make critical choices, and sometimes, like us, he makes bad decisions. It is interesting at any age to see ourselves in Coyote, laugh with Coyote, and learn from Coyote.
NYCool: What makes your collaborations so successful?
Bunning: Mara and I collaborate successfully because we each have a voice that we have been developing in parallel yet connected worlds. We have watched and supported each other’s interests and growth over the years. We’ve known each other all of our lives so there is no first element of getting acquainted. Often collaborators choose each other based on appreciation of the other’s ability but what they don’t know until they work together is the other’s work style. Mara and I already know that style so we can jump into the actual artistic product we are creating. I also think it works because we love and respect what the other does.
NYCool: Mara, what qualities does it take to become a good storyteller?
McEwin: I think to be a good storyteller, one needs to know the story, have a connection to the story they are telling, and know the audience. It also helps to keep the story moving, stay connected to your audience, and enjoy your own telling. There's nothing worse than listening to someone tell a story that he or she couldn't care less about.
NYCool: Emily, what advice as a modern dancer and choreographer do you have for young performers?
Bunning: My first teacher in college said, “Dance now because later it will be too late.” I think this is one of those perfect sayings that apply to all parts of our lives. My advice to young performers is to follow your dreams. Always keep taking class because we learn something new every day and it’s a great way to learn discipline. I also think learning how to write and run a business can be a valuable assets, being an artist is also about selling yourself. And, if you don’t love it, find something that you do love and participate in the art world in another form.
NYCool: How did your group get involved working with The Ailey Citigroup at Joan Weill Center for Dance?
McEwin: Emily and I both live in Hell's Kitchen. When we found out about the new center we knew it would be a perfect space for us. It has a marley floor, beautiful stage space, 300 seats, and is big enough for our six member cast who are onstage together. Also, over the years, our NYC audience has grown, so we needed a bigger space. It also gives us a chance to give back to the neighborhood and give free tickets to neighborhood schools, giving everyone an opportunity to see a live performance. Last year we performed “Desert Travels: Tales of The Middle East” at the Ailey Theater.
NYCool: What are the future plans for Treehouse Shakers?
Bunning: Treehouse Shakers plan to keep on “shaking” it, expanding our repertory, style, and audiences. We hope to extend our national touring and also include international adventures. We are also very interested in reaching communities that have fewer opportunities available to them for seeing live performance and will continue to pursue funding to go into these places. We will be creating a new adult show, “Lost Arroyos” to premiere in 2007.
NYCool: What is it like being a working artist in New York City?
McEwin: It's a dream. I dreamt about moving here when I lived in Wyoming, and now that I live here I wake up most mornings and feel like one of the luckiest people alive. I love that I get paid to create, to tell a story, to perform. I'm so incredibly proud of Treehouse Shakers and how far we've come. Our company has grown leaps and bounds since that first production at Ensemble Studio Theater. I think being an artist is the only way I could live here.
Bunning: Being a working artist in New York City is great, inspiring, time-consuming, masterful, annoying, grounding, positive, emotional, unending, very difficult, unappreciated, highly appreciated, understandable, utterly exhausting, creative, unimaginably fulfilling, and it makes me feel very lucky.
