Workshops

Treehouse Shakers
Offers workshops and performances for the whole family!
If you are a school, community group, or have a special event, our children's dance-plays will liven any special occasion.
Workshops
Try one of our workshops. We offer a variety of different workshops catered to special age ranges. We can do a 45 minute workshop to a whole weekend of learning!

“The Treehouse Shakers workshops engage children perfectly. The children participate with joy in the interactive process. Mara and Emily help them to build, tell and understand the stories using their own bodies, rhythms and imaginations. Amazing.”
-Julia Morris, Storyteller and Educational Specialist


STORY-DANCE
Taught by Emily Bunning & Mara McEwin

Running Time: 45 minutes
Price: Call for details, based on group size and location
Age: 4 & Up!

Description: Catered to specific ages, this workshop gives students a chance to explore modern dance, learn some basic acting warm-ups, and begin to mix text and movement using age appropriate literature.

*If a Treehouse Shakers' performance is a part of the package, this workshop adds elements of the performance. Audiences will be even more connected to the performance they are about to see!


WORLDLY STORYTELLING
Taught by Mara McEwin

"My class is an English Second Language class with very low leveled and quiet children. Mara was amazing with them. She brought out their confidence and built up their self-esteem. I had never seen my students so motivated and interested. I am extremely happy that my class had this opportunity to grow. Mara is an intelligent, creative, and hard working artist that was able to bring out the best in my students. Thank You!"
-2nd grade teacher, P.S. 104, New York, NY

Running Time: 45 minutes
Price: Call for details, based on group size and location
Age: 2 - 18

Description: Voted the "Best Storyteller in Manhattan" by New York Press, storyteller and actor, Mara McEwin teaches students how to tell a story, using body, voice, and lots of imagination. During the 45 minutes, she also tells her own worldly tales that will delight and excite the listeners. This workshop can also be extended into a longer and more detailed residencey, based on a school's curriculum.

* This workshop can also be linked to a writing extension, Once students learn how to tell a story (from their imaginations) they are encouraged to write and illustrate their new stories.
Age: 7 and Up!
Writing Extension: Additional 45 minutes
Price: call for details, based on group size and location
RHYTHM MOVEMENT
Taught by Emily Bunning

"A positive introduction to the world of dance."
-JoAnn Heimes, 1st Grade Teacher, Rock Springs, WY

Running Time: 45 minutes
Price: Call for details, based on group size and location
Ages: 5 and up!
Description: Emily Bunning, choreographer and dancer, has the students explore rhythm, shape, and sounds with their bodies. Through creative movement exercises they learn travel patterns with level and momentum. Great for students looking to try a new form of dance!


STAFF DEVELOPMENT
Taught by Mara McEwin

"Thank YOU! The teachers all raved about your workshop. And I had a chance to look through the handout you put together for them -- what a resource! Thank you so much. "
-Paula Heitman, Lutheran Medical Center

Description: Staff Developments for preschools, elementary schools, & colleges can be tailored to your teachers’ or administration’s needs. With twelve years experience teaching creative drama, writing, and storytelling, Mara fully engages teachers, as she leads them through a dynamic and unique learning experience. Her lessons can be applied easily to the classroom, and all Staff Developments come with a teacher’s reference package. She can provide an hour, to an entire weekend of workshop learning


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* If one of the Treehouse Shakers' performances is part of your oveall package, we can add elements of our dance-play into the workshop setting, giving students a positive introduction into the show they are about to see.

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FOR BOOKING INFORMATION:
PLEASE CONTACT MARA MCEWIN AT 212.715.1914 OR
contactus@treehouseshakers.com

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Desert Travels
Tales from the Middle East
Retold by Mara McEwin &
Choreographed by Emily Bunning
Desert Travels Desert Travels is a performance mosaic of modern dance, storytelling and live music that will sweep audiences across the desert on a magic carpet of stories. Join in these heart-warming Middle Eastern folktales as rats marry princesses, storks speak and the desert sand becomes a tent, lending lessons of generosity, forgiveness and cooperation.


Animal Rhythms
The Day It Rained &
Jackal and Hare,
Retold by Mara McEwin &
Choreographed by Emily Bunning
Animal Rhythms are two African Folktales told through modern dance, rhythmic sounds and storytelling! You are invited to enjoy the rhythmic adventures of these delightful folktales. Through the use of body drumming, modern dance and storytelling, Animal Rhythms follows several animals as they learn about helping, sharing, working and friendship.

Animal Rhythms has children explore rhythm as they create the sounds of the ancient story drum using their own bodies and are introduced to modern dance through the characters onstage. The humorous animals journey through their stories in bright African costumes and enchanting animal headdresses created by Kate Cusack. Emily Bunning's Afro-influenced movement beats to live African drumming by Roderick Jackson and an original music score by Mark Sopchak. We look forward to sharing our newest children's dance-play that will keep children and adults drumming and dancing in their seats!


Coyote's Dance
Retold by Mara McEwin &
Choreographed by Emily Bunning
Coyote's Dance envelops the culture and story of Coyote, whose exploits are recounted among many of the North American Indian nations. Audiences follow Coyote, who is both clown and teacher, on a humorous journey of deceit and adventure. Coyote’s Dance is performed in native-influenced costumes, headdresses and a lively mixture of movement-styles from various Indian nations. The dance-play expresses the remarkable vitality of the cultures to which these stories belong. Coyote’s Dance is excellent for all ages, and can be presented with additional workshops that include; drumming, storytelling and dance tailored to accommodate the appropriate age range.

* Please call Mara at (212) 715-1914 for performance prices.

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Contact Information

For more information regarding booking a performance or any of these workshops, please contact us at
(212) 715-1914
Or by e-mail at contactus@treehouseshakers.com

Emily Bunning, Artistic Coordinator
Mara McEwin, Artistic Director

MAILING ADDRESS
Treehouse Shakers
Radio City Station
P.O. Box 186
New York, NY 10101-0186