Treehouse Shakers

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 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.  The company 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.

Their young audience 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.

Touring Repertoire for Young Audiences & Families:

*New!* Hatched
Hatched, a new play by Treehouse Shakers will premiere in April 2012 at the Long Island Children's Museum and is available to tour for 12/13.  Written by Mara McEwin, Hatched is the original story of a newborn chick who emerges from her shell to a strange, and busy world. Created especially for the youngest of all audience members - babies, toddlers and preschoolers ages 0-4 - Hatched is told through movement, music, puppets, and very little human dialogue.
Suggested audience: Birth through age 4 and their caregivers
Running time: 45 minutes
Performers: three

Let’s Talk About IT - a dance play for teens
Suggested audience: teens and pre-teens
Running time: 60 minutes
Performers: Six

Animal Rhythms: African Folktales
Desert Travels: Tales from the Middle East
Coyote’s Dance: Tales of the American Indian
Suggested audience: preschool-middle school and families
Running time: 45 minutes
Performers: Six, including live percussionist

For adults - Lost Arroyos, Outside of Kissing Rock 
(please contact for details)

View Upcoming Performances