ABOUT THE COMPANY

Mission Statement

Treehouse Shakers is a dance-theater company committed to creating work that encourages people to experience their feelings and their connection to the greater community. Treehouse Shakers achieves this by creating humanistic stories, experimenting with narrative styles and exploring the story's elements through the abstractions of modern dance.

Our children's programming is a natural outgrowth of these artistic goals and techniques. The company begins each performance with a workshop in which the performers teach the audience parts of the dance they will view. Treehouse Shakers is unique in its offering young audiences a guided look at modern dance through meaningful and fun storytelling.

Treehouse Shakers was named for the wonders of nature, the power of imagination and the excitement of dance. The treehouse, like the theater, is a sacred space where imagination is the most potent currency and stories are the roots of the world.

History

Treehouse Shakers, Inc. is a non-profit dance and theater company recently awarded “Best of New York” by the New York Press. Co-founded in 1997 by collaborators Emily Bunning, choreographer/dancer and Mara McEwin, writer/actor, Treehouse Shakers has performed works for children and adults in many of New York City's established performance venues, as well as schools, theaters and community centers across the nation. Treehouse Shakers has produced original dance-plays that include; Dance of My Daughter at the Ensemble Studio Theater, He, She and The Way You Kissed at the Producer's Club and Touching Illusions at Todo 45.

In 2002, they created Outside Of Kissing Rock, Bunning's and McEwin's autobiographical story of growing up wild in Wyoming. Excerpts have been presented at numerous dance venues around New York and premiered with a full length run on December 2002 at HERE Arts Center in Manhattan. Rebecca Longworth of On and Off Broadway Review wrote, "It is an emotionally intimate but accessible piece created by artists who clearly cherish the fullness of their hybrid medium as well as their own friendship and collaboration." Their fifth adult dance-play, Lost Arroyos, follows several characters as they explore class struggles, race boundaries and blurred identities woven within the American cultural tapestry. Lost Arroyos, will premiere at HERE Arts Center in NYC in June 2007.

In March 2004, Bunning choreographed Under Covers, which premiered at the Brooklyn Arts Exchange for which she was awarded a space grant. Using five dancers, Under Covers, is a carousel of movement that is corralled, manipulated and tangled into the material of a "larger than life" circular skirt. In the fall of 2004, Under Covers was presented in the Dancenow/NYC Festival at the Joyce SoHo and in July 2005 performed in the International Dance Festival at the Ailey Citigroup Theater.

In 1999, Treehouse Shakers created its first children's production, Flying Through Rainbows. This dance-play about the letter "O" in search of her true identity, premiered with a successful run at Nada 45 during the 1999 Niño Nada festival in New York City and has since been commissioned for art communities throughout the tri-state area. Flying Through Rainbows has also been a featured segment on Fox 5-TV's Good Day NY and received praise from The New York Times. The End of Winter, a play about saving the Earth from Peuwina Pollution, has been performed throughout Manhattan including; The Children's Museum of the Arts, Manhattan Treehouse, L.I.F.E. Homeless Shelter, and the Rye Arts Center in Rye, New York.

Animal Rhythms: Two African Tales premiered in February 2002 at the L.I.F.E homeless shelter and has toured across the United States ever since. Notable venues include: Jacob's Pillow, Tribeca Film Festival, World of Nations Festival in Florida, Battery Park City's Go Fish Festival, and Manhattan's Calliope Playhouse, to name a few. While performing Animal Rhythms in Brooklyn, New York Magazine exclaimed, "Even Manhattan chauvinists have to admit there's reason to cross the East River." Animal Rhythms introduces audiences to rhythm, modern dance and storytelling.

In 2004, Treehouse Shakers created Desert Travels: Tales from the Middle East which premiered in New York City and continues to be performed nationwide. Desert Travels gives young audiences a mesmerizing taste of life in the Middle East by portraying the sights, sounds and stories of this remarkable and distinguished culture. In 2004, Desert Travels received a Meet The Composer Fund Grant for the performance at DeBaun Auditorium in New Jersey as well as a BOCES and Wyoming Arts Council Grant for the 2004 tour to Wyoming. In 2005, Desert Travels was awarded grants from LMCC's MCAF and the Puffin Foundation, for performances at the Ailey Citigroup Theater in New York City.

In 2006, Treehouse Shakers presented Coyote’s Dance: Tales of the American Indian on tour in Wyoming. In April 2006, Coyote’s Dance had its New York City premiere at the Ailey Citigroup Theater. The performances received funding from LMCC's Fund for Creative Communities/NYSCA and LMCC's Manhattan Community Arts Fund/DCA. Coyote’s Dance follows Coyote, who is both clown and teacher, on a humorous journey of deceit and adventure. Performed in native-influenced costumes, headdresses and a lively mixture of movement-styles, Coyote’s Dance was praised by the New York Times and featured in New York Magazine, Time Out Kids, NY1's Parenting Report, Village Voice, and The Daily News. Bunning and McEwin were interviewed by New York Cool and Small World Productions both online for their collaboration. Coyote’s Dance is currently touring in notable venues across the nation.

Board of Directors

President: Joseph Stecher
Vice Presidents: Julia Morris and Mara McEwin
Treasurers: Geri Pell and Emily Bunning
Secretary: Atul Singh
Other Directors:
Jeffrey Mousseau
Linda Novak
Malla Perry

Co-Founders' Bios

Emily Bunning (Artistic Coordinator, CO-Founder) graduated from Stephens College and is a Wyoming native. As a co-founder of Treehouse Shakers, she has choreographed, created and produced several dance-plays for children and adults. Her work has most recently been presented at the Ailey Citigroup Theater, Jacob's Pillow, The International Dance Festival, Dancenow/Joyce SoHo, HERE Arts Center, BAX and Tribeca Film Festival, as well as in Wyoming, New Jersey, Arizona and Florida.

Emily performed with Aviva Geismar/Drastic Action Dance Company for 8 years. They toured to Germany in July 2006 and have also performed in Canada, Milwaukee, and at the West End Theater, WAX, Joyce SoHo, and Symphony Space in NYC, as well as attending Djerassi Artists Residency in CA. She received a scholarship to attend the Trisha Brown Repertory Workshop in 2001. Emily has also performed with Gotham Group Dance, Dura Mater and Valerie Green/Dance Entropy, which included a tour of Serbia in 2001. She was invited back to Serbia to teach, choreograph, and perform with the ERGstatus Dance Theatre.

Her teaching experience includes numerous guest artist appearances at Western Wyoming College, as well as conducting workshops while on tour and teaching dance to girls living at the Euphrasian Residency in New York City. Emily's approach to dance is based on finding the most organic and continuous ways of moving while exploring unpredictable patterns. The shapes of her abstract movement define the emotional, literal, and cultural map of each dance.

Mara McEwin (Artistic Director, CO-Founder) is a writer, actor, director and storyteller. Originally from Wyoming, Mara holds a B.F.A in Theatre from Stephens College in Columbia, MO. She taught grades k-eighth while serving as an actor in residence and assistant to artistic producer of Southwest Children’s Theatre Productions, Rebecca Morgan. Since living in NYC, she co-founded Treehouse Shakers with Emily Bunning. She has written and directed and sometimes acted in all of Treehouse Shakers dance-plays. In 1999, Mara also created Ninopalooza, an all day rock concert for kids of all ages as well as Nino Nada, a summer festival of children’s work.

Some of Mara’s favorite acting credits include Bloomsday on Broadway with Frank McCourt and Stephen Colbert as well as The Sandpiper at Symphony Space, NYC. She has also performed with numerous companies such as Manhattan Theatre Club, Playwrights Theater, Eugene O’Neill by-the- Sea- Festival, 13th St. Theatre, Grove St. Playhouse, Todo Con Nada, Cypreco Theater, Cinasphere, Ridicu-Fest 2000, Chekhov Vaudeville Festival, among others. She has worked in films, print ads, television and commercials.

Mara is proud to be a storyteller in residence for the organization Early Stages, Inc. She has performed as a storyteller at assemblies throughout the nation's private and public schools, festivals, theaters and private events. She had been a featured storyteller for Baby Gap stores in both Manhattan and Connecticut and the Tribeca Film Festival. She is an adjunct faculty member for the English department at Dowling College as well as an affiliate of Manhattan Writers Coalition and a past board member for The Storytelling Center in New York. Most recently Mara was awarded “Best Storyteller of New York” by the New York Press.

Performers Bios:

Stephanie Angelil (actor) holds a BA from the University of Delaware and has studied at Weist Barron, T. Schreiber Studios and Induloop in Manhattan. She has appeared in several student films for NYU, NYFA and SVA and independent films including "The Runner," "Lovesick" and "Lenny and Oz (episode 2)." Her theatre credits include the 2002 FringeNYC Festival, The Strawberry One-Act Festival, "Look Homeward Angel," "Jane Ho," "The Vagina Monologues," and "Nice Guys Finish…" She is also filming/producing/acting in a short film of which she co-wrote and is dancing with “The New York City Kitties”. Stephanie is delighted to be back for her second year with The Treehouse Shakers and thanks her family, friends and all those who support her.


Jessica Anthony (actor) hails from the great state of Iowa but the wild-west piece of her heart remains in Seattle where she received a B.A. in Dance from the University of Washington. Since moving to New York in 2004, Jessica has been performing with the dance theater company Jane Comfort and Company. She studies voice with the amazing Diane Tauser and is on the board of Zocalo Fine Arts Studio, an organization devoted to bringing quality fine arts training to the community of East Harlem. Jessica started her first year as an assistant preschool teacher to four year olds at The Family Annex, and she is loving the privilege of being part of these amazing young lives. This is her first performance adventure with the Treehouse Shakers, and she is honored to be part of such a fantastic group of people. Jessica lives with her husband in Brooklyn where they are seeking to cultivate the wild-west feel with a small outdoor space and monthly potlucks.


Bryan Campo (actor) thanks the Treehouse Shakers for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to portray a global icon, Miss Dolly Parton. New York Theater: Brigadoon (Charlie), Happy Hour (on stage and after work). Film: 2K3, The Making Of, The Good Sheperd. Julie and the Clown. TV: Law and Order, Martha Stewart the Apprentice. A big thank you to God and the universe for the freedom to pursue dreams.


Caroline Edelen (actor) is originally from Miami, Florida and moved to New York 4 years ago. She is a graduate of Stephens College with a BFA in theatre. She worked regionally at various theatres in Miami. Credits include Crazy for You, Sweet Charity, 42nd Street, Company and most recently appeared in the world premiere of Just A Kiss at The New Theatre. She loves being a Treehouse Shaker and is thankful to be reunited with her fellow alumni.


Amber Ford (actor) is thrilled to be working with Treehouse Shakers! She received her BFA in acting from Stephens College and is a Wyoming native. Some of her favorite roles include: Hunyak from CHICAGO, Judy from PERFECT WEDDING, and Mrs. Fraser, Amanda, Brenda, Catherine, Debbie, Helen, Ally, Kelly, Sasha, and Chatterley from CARL THE SECOND. She would like to thank her friends and family for their love and support.


Sergio Fuenzalida (actor) is currently playing Dean Martin at the Kraine Theater in "That's Life." Other favorite roles include Teddy Heelin at The New Irish Center and Big Maggie Anthony at The American Place Theater in "The Matador." Thanks to my family, friends, and the Treehouse gang for the opportunity and support.


Roderick Jackson (Music Composition and Drummer) Originally from Ohio, Roderick relocated in 1990 and began to study the rhythms, dances, and instruments involved in the Afro Haitian, Afro Brazilian, West African, South African, Angolan, Korean, and Japanese cultures. Roderick is currently Music Director for Batoto Yetu Children’s African Dance Company. He has also collaborated with several dance companies, such as: Chet Walker’s (conceiver and co-choreographer of Broadway’s "FOSSE") Eight and Ah 1 Dance Ensemble, Omar Edwards’ (Broadway’s " Bring In Da Noise, Bring In Da Funk") Jeremiah Funk Ensemble, David Pleasant’s Riddim Athon Percussion Ensemble (which deals with Black American music and the Gullah Culture) and Young Soon Kim's White Wave Rising Dance Company. He also assisted film director Jonathan Demme in developing scene music for the motion picture "Beloved", starring Oprah Winfrey and Danny Glover. Roderick was the understudy for the lead percussionist role of "Chaka", in the Broadway musical Marie Christine, starring Audra McDonald. He has recorded works for The Children’s Television Workshop, Sesame Street, Rabbit Ears Productions, and The Smithsonian Institute.

Roderick is a percussionist on staff at the Alvin Ailey School of American Dance and Broadway Dance Center. He was part of the cultural traditions faculty at Jacob’s Pillow for the years 2000 and 2003. He has been a faculty member of renowned dance teacher/choreographer Earl Mosley’s GreenHouse summer dance intensive since 2003. Roderick is the founder of Palms Down Inc. through which he creates afro-percussion based CD’s for dance and movement. www.palmsdown.com Roderick has been a collaborating with the Treehouse Shakers since 2001.

Kristy Kuhn (dancer) returned to the East Coast after earning an MFA in Dance from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She has enjoyed performing with the fabulous Treehouse Shakers since 2004. She also dances with Gina Gibney Dance in addition to teaching movement workshops and serving as the company’s Community Coordinator. Kristy has performed choreography by Fresh Blood Productions (KC Chun and Jennifer Schmermund), Courtney Drasner, Allyson Green, Stephan Koplowitz, Nicole Roberson, Ann Robideaux and Alexandra Shilling. She has performed in Taiwan, and most recently in China where she had the pleasure of working with the dance faculty and students of Bucknell University. She holds a BS in Biology and Dance Minor from Bucknell and has been commissioned as a guest artist in the Theatre and Dance Department. Kristy is a certified personal trainer and will be completing her 200-hr yoga teacher certification through Yoga Works in Spring 2007.


Larissa Laurel (actor) is originally from Texas and is proud to be part of Treehouse Shakers and Animal Rhythms. She is a graduate of both Brooklyn College and AMDA and also studied at Stephens College and Univ. of North Texas. Larissa performs throughout NYC doing theater and also works in commercial print. She most recently can be seen in the September issue of Latina Magazine.


Mark Sopchak (Composer) is a composer, musician and chef. He studied music composition at the Evergreen State College and has performed and written numerous orchestral and electronic pieces. Since moving to NYC he has composed music for several Treehouse Shakers productions and Squatters by Alive Process Theater Company. When he’s not writing music, Mark works as a pastry chef in NYC restaurants and plays the ukulele.


Sarah Young (dancer) received her BFA in Dance with a minor in International Arts from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. Through her studies, she received a Ford Foundation Fellowship and traveled to Zimbabwe to study indigenous dances and performed for Zimbabwe's Ministry of Culture. In 2002, Sarah founded Flying Art, an international exchange of art among children, creating links between children throughout the United States and worldwide, www.flyingart.net While in NYC, she has performed Steven Koplowitz’s Grand Step Project, on board with Ann Robideau and Alexx Shilling, with RedShift Dance, and Stefanie Nelson. She currently performs with David Dorfman Dance and is so glad to have been one of the Treehouse Shakers since 2003

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If you would like to make a donation to Treehouse Shakers please contact Emily Bunning at (917) 749-2909, or email us at contactus@treehouseshakers.com

Become a leaf donor to our tree today!

Treehouse Shakers
Radio City Station
P.O. Box 186
New York, NY 10101-0186
(212) 715-1914
contactus@treehouseshakers.com

Emily Bunning, Artistic Coordinator "Mover"
Mara McEwin, Artistic Director "Shaker"

site design:
Wade Hampton
wade@transflux.com