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Forklift Danceworks

Forklift Danceworks Activating Communities Through Creative Collaboration

Founded in 2001 by Artistic Director Allison Orr, Forklift Danceworks actively engages wide and diverse communities through the creation of unique dance projects featuring all kinds of people. Using the movement that comes from daily life as the choreographic starting point and casting community members as the primary performers in these projects, Forklift presents dances in intimate theaters to m

assive outdoor venues. With past projects in over 20 various communities, previous dances have included City of Austin sanitation workers, City of Austin firefighters, Venetian gondoliers, two steppers on the steps of the Texas Capitol, guide dogs and their owners, and most recently Austin Symphony Conductor Peter Bay. With a focus on relationship building, our community-engagement process aims to keep the community at the center of our art-making while creating innovative and award-winning art projects.

Operating as usual

You fuel our creative spark at Forklift Danceworks. 💥Our spectacular dance performances not only elevate the art of the ...
12/08/2022

You fuel our creative spark at Forklift Danceworks. 💥

Our spectacular dance performances not only elevate the art of the everyday, but they also provide paid opportunities for working artists.

Every year, we pay over 40 artists, musicians, producers, and team members to help us put on our one-of-a-kind shows.

As we aim to raise $20,000 by the end of 2022, your donation supports creative workers in our community.

Join our friends at Keep Austin Beautiful this Saturday, December 10, from 9 a.m. - 11 a.m. to help pick up litter in an...
12/07/2022

Join our friends at Keep Austin Beautiful this Saturday, December 10, from 9 a.m. - 11 a.m. to help pick up litter in and around the Colorado River!

Choose from eleven sites at the lake for your ideal experience, whether paddling on a kayak in the water or walking along the trail. Don't forget to wear your favorite holiday outfit! 🎄

Sign up here! https://www.givepulse.com/event/334894-December-Clean-Lady-Bird-Lake?referring_group_id=51

We love bringing people together with art--and with food! Thank you so much to our amazing in-kind food providers for Th...
12/06/2022

We love bringing people together with art--and with food!

Thank you so much to our amazing in-kind food providers for The Way of Water: Waller Creek cast meals Mom and Pops and board member Manuel Flores, Southside Flying Pizza, 512 Cookies, Word of Mouth Catering, and Gumbeaux ToGeaux!

Want to work with this amazing team? We're hiring a development assistant, which will support our artistic and developme...
12/02/2022

Want to work with this amazing team? We're hiring a development assistant, which will support our artistic and development teams.

This position ensures the timely completion of donation acknowledgments, maintains accurate donor records, and supports the successful implementation of fundraising events and activities.

Check it out here: https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/3373022061/?refId=yaf%2FPp62TfSg7IYC%2Fwgh4Q%3D%3D

Art is in the water in Austin. Forklift Danceworks could only spring from our creative city, with collaborative partners...
11/29/2022

Art is in the water in Austin. Forklift Danceworks could only spring from our creative city, with collaborative partners and generous supporters like you.

With 30 different performance projects and partnerships with eight Austin city departments Forklift is an innovator in community engagement and the arts.

This , support Forklift Danceworks as we keep the arts for everyone in Austin.

Your donation supports a national arts leader and unique Austin treasure.

Contribute here: https://crm.bloomerang.co/HostedDonation?ApiKey=pub_6587d141-eb1c-11ec-af60-02eab0531019&WidgetId=9411584

Austin Watershed Protection isn't afraid of the rain and neither is Forklift Danceworks! The Way of Water: Waller Creek ...
11/19/2022

Austin Watershed Protection isn't afraid of the rain and neither is Forklift Danceworks! The Way of Water: Waller Creek is going on as scheduled tonight! 🌧️

It's going to be chilly and drizzly tonight, so bundle up! Feel free to bring a poncho, blankets, and a towel to put on the bleacher seating, so you can stay warm and dry.

⏰ Leave early so you have plenty of time to navigate downtown. Box offices open an hour before the shows.
🌉 Enter the park at the 14th Street and Red River bridge; you'll enter Creek Show and then head to the Forklift box office
🎟️ We'll have limited walk up tickets available at the box office, which opens at 6pm for the 7pm show and 8pm for the 9pm
💺 Bleacher seating is first come, first served
🚧 Enjoy seeing our finale performances in a working flood control facility!

We had a full house at the premiere of "The Way of Water: Waller Creek" last night, and we are expecting a packed audien...
11/18/2022

We had a full house at the premiere of "The Way of Water: Waller Creek" last night, and we are expecting a packed audience tonight as well!

A few things to know as you get ready for tonight's show:

⏰ Leave early so you have plenty of time to navigate downtown. The Box Office opens 1 hour before each performance.
🚌 Consider taking the bus, ride-share, or biking
🌉 Enter the park at the 14th Street and Red River bridge; you'll enter Creek Show and then head to the Forklift box office
🎇 We are part of Creek Show presented by Waterloo Greenway, so you can enjoy public art along Waller Creek before or after the performance
🧣The audience sits entirely outside, so dress warm!
🚧 Enjoy seeing Austin Watershed's amazing team show of their skills

Thank you to our amazing sponsors of "The Way of Water: Waller Creek!" The generous support of The Alice Kleberg Reynold...
11/16/2022

Thank you to our amazing sponsors of "The Way of Water: Waller Creek!"

The generous support of The Alice Kleberg Reynolds Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, Mid-America Arts Alliance, Texas Commission on the Arts, Austin Community Foundation, H-E-B, The Watershed Association, Six Square Austin's Black Cultural District, and Red Bluff District, who are making this performance possible!

Thank you to our friends at Art Spark Texas, who are providing audio description for the 7pm performance of "The Way of ...
11/15/2022

Thank you to our friends at Art Spark Texas, who are providing audio description for the 7pm performance of "The Way of Water: Waller Creek" this Friday!

Please contact [email protected] if you are interested in attending and would like to have AD provided.

Since we're only a few days away from our big premiere, we're releasing more tickets for The Way of Water: Waller Creek!...
11/14/2022

Since we're only a few days away from our big premiere, we're releasing more tickets for The Way of Water: Waller Creek!

The performances are THIS Thursday at 7pm, Friday at 7pm and 9pm, and Saturday at 7pm and 9pm at Waterloo Greenway.

Make sure to reserve your tickets now! Only a limited quantity of tickets will be available at the door.

Grab 'em here: https://www.forkliftdanceworks.org/projects/the-way-of-water/

11/10/2022

From swimming pools to creeks, Forklift choreographers have long been inspired to bring people together at the water.

Hear My Park, My Pool, My City participant Pearl Cox and The Way of Water collaborator Ramesh Swaminathan from Austin Watershed share what's so special about working with Forklift.

“We’re there to tell the story of their work,” she said, “and they’re co-creating it with us.”Check out this Sightlines ...
11/09/2022
Forklift's 'The Way of Water' celebrates those who steward the city’s waterways — Sightlines

“We’re there to tell the story of their work,” she said, “and they’re co-creating it with us.”

Check out this Sightlines piece on our collaboration with Austin Watershed!

Forklift Danceworks will present its newest work ‘The Way of Water: Waller Creek’ Nov. 17 through Nov. 19 at Waterloo Greenway in downtown Austin. Five performances are planned as part of Creek Show 2022. The show is a collaboration between Forklift and the Austin Watershed Protection department...

Some Forklifters doing the dang thing today. Check  to find a polling place and GO VOTE! 🗳
11/08/2022

Some Forklifters doing the dang thing today. Check to find a polling place and GO VOTE! 🗳

We need around 50 volunteers to help us pull off "The Way of Water: Waller Creek!" We're expecting more than 3000 people...
11/07/2022
The Way of Water: Waller Creek

We need around 50 volunteers to help us pull off "The Way of Water: Waller Creek!"

We're expecting more than 3000 people to watch our Watershed Protection Department perform in the show, coming up November 17-19.

Volunteers will support the Forklift's small but mighty team with set up, parking, distributing surveys, ushering, and more! Sign up to get to see the show, get a guest ticket, and contribute to this performance like no other.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0c44a9ae2ba7ffc43-theway

Please review the available slots below and click on the button to sign up. Thank you!

📣 We still have seats available at the 9pm Way of Water shows--reserve your free tickets now! 🎟️https://www.forkliftdanc...
11/04/2022

📣 We still have seats available at the 9pm Way of Water shows--reserve your free tickets now! 🎟️

https://www.forkliftdanceworks.org/projects/the-way-of-water/

Looking for a ticket to a different performance?

👷 Volunteer with us to see the show and get a guest ticket https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0c44a9ae2ba7ffc43-theway

🤝 Become a sustaining donor and get a guaranteed seat at any Forklift show
https://crm.bloomerang.co/HostedDonation?ApiKey=pub_6587d141-eb1c-11ec-af60-02eab0531019&WidgetId=3204096

📧 Sign up for our email list to hear first when we release new batches of seats
http://eepurl.com/cFhAOf

We're looking for volunteers to support "The Way of Water: Waller Creek" coming up November 17-19 at Waterloo Greenway.V...
10/28/2022

We're looking for volunteers to support "The Way of Water: Waller Creek" coming up November 17-19 at Waterloo Greenway.

Volunteers get a seat to the performance, so if you can't find a ticket at your preferred time, consider volunteering!

Sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0c44a9ae2ba7ffc43-theway

What a fantastic press conference and preview of The Way of Water: Waller Creek yesterday! Thanks Rep. Lloyd Doggett and...
10/26/2022

What a fantastic press conference and preview of The Way of Water: Waller Creek yesterday!

Thanks Rep. Lloyd Doggett and Sheryl Cole for speaking.

And thanks to our amazing collaborators Austin Watershed and Waterloo Greenway and our friends Keep Austin Beautiful Colorado River Alliance Wimberley Valley Watershed Association and The Little Petal Alliance for coming out! 💙💙💙

“How does water move, and who is watching that movement? Who is managing and protecting that? It’s fascinating for me to...
10/21/2022

“How does water move, and who is watching that movement? Who is managing and protecting that? It’s fascinating for me to look at this as a choreographer…Water is a great connector, and the watershed touches so much in our city."

Read more about "The Way of Water: Waller Creek" in this Arts and Culture Texas interview with Krissie Marty, Forklift's Associate Artistic & Community Collaborations Director, who is directing this fall's performance.

http://artsandculturetx.com/the-way-of-water-forklift-danceworks-to-premiere-new-production/

Rain at the Waller Creek Inlet Facility! 🌧️ The Inlet is part of a system that helps reduce the risk of flooding in down...
10/18/2022

Rain at the Waller Creek Inlet Facility! 🌧️ The Inlet is part of a system that helps reduce the risk of flooding in downtown Austin, by capturing water and releasing it into Lady Bird Lake.

The tunnel between the Inlet and the lake is approximately 5,600 feet long. It lies 70 feet below the surface and ranges in size from 22 to 26 feet in diameter.

For our next performance "The Way of Water: Waller Creek" from November 17-19 Forklift will gather more than 2,000 people at the Waller Creek Inlet Facility to experience the work of Austin Watershed.

Make sure to reserve your tickets here: https://www.forkliftdanceworks.org/projects/the-way-of-water/

Get ready to meet us at the creek! Tickets are now available for The Way of Water: Waller Creek, November 17 at 7pm, Nov...
10/14/2022

Get ready to meet us at the creek! Tickets are now available for The Way of Water: Waller Creek, November 17 at 7pm, November 18 & 19 at 7pm & 9pm at .

Forklift will gather over 2,000 people for a spectacular performance in collaboration with Austin Watershed at the massive Waller Creek Tunnel Inlet Facility.

With a live original score by Graham Reynolds and dramatic lighting, The Way of Water: Waller Creek will illuminate the perspectives of city employees who work to protect Austin from flooding, along with the environmental and engineering systems that enable this work.

Reserve your free tickets here! https://www.forkliftdanceworks.org/projects/the-way-of-water/

Our aquamarine dream came true last night at Forklift Fantasia. We raised over $140,000 to support our newest project, T...
09/30/2022

Our aquamarine dream came true last night at Forklift Fantasia. We raised over $140,000 to support our newest project, The Way of Water!

We are so grateful for our event committee, sponsors, collaborators, guests, and volunteers for contributing to this fantastic night. Thank you!!! 💙 💙 💙

We can’t wait to see everyone tonight at Forklift Fantasia! You can buy tickets at the door and free parking is availabl...
09/29/2022

We can’t wait to see everyone tonight at Forklift Fantasia!

You can buy tickets at the door and free parking is available at the The Capital Visitors Center Parking Garage.

Did y’all catch  talking all things Forklift Fantasia on  this morning? 🌅☕️We have tickets left so make sure to grab the...
09/28/2022

Did y’all catch talking all things Forklift Fantasia on this morning? 🌅☕️We have tickets left so make sure to grab them in our bio to join us tomorrow night!

We're baffled by this fabulous raffle! Enter to win one of ten luxurious packages lovingly arranged by Basket Case Desig...
09/21/2022

We're baffled by this fabulous raffle! Enter to win one of ten luxurious packages lovingly arranged by Basket Case Design at Forklift Fantasia: The Shape of Water.

PS- You don't have to be present to win, so grab a few even if you can't make it to the party.

Tickets start at $25--click the link below to enter!

https://hellofund.io/bidapp/index.php?slug=fldw&id=%23auction_preview_container_top

🏖️ Vacation Home
Leave Austin behind for a quiet long weekend in Horseshoe Bay, right in the heart of the Texas Hill Country. Situated on Lake Lyndon B. Johnson and the southern branch of the Colorado River, this resort community is perfect for swimming, fishing, boating, and serene water views. Horseshoe Bay Lakehouse for three nights; sleeps eight people.

🎵 Live Music & Theater
Explore the Live Music Capital of the World, including shows at The Paramount Theatre, Parker Jazz Club, The Mohawk, The VORTEX, A Christmas Carol at ZACH Theatre, and The Black Keys at Moody Center.

💎Jewelry Lovers Package
14k yellow gold Luna Diamond Necklace from Eliza Page featuring an elegant laurel motif measuring 1.25" and set with .15 carats of white round brilliant cut diamonds, suspended from a delicate 18k gold cable chain.

🤘 Tourist In Your Own City
Austin isn’t just for tourists; explore our beautiful city with a two-day pass for two people to the Austin City Limits Music Festival (ACL), featuring a diverse lineup of acts with nine stages and 100+ performances. Spend an evening at Q2 Stadium with Austin FC, Verde! Listos! And finish the week wearing your best burnt orange, cheering on the Longhorns! Hook ‘em!

✨Family Package
Enjoy a special sneak peek for four people during this one-night preview of Creek Show 2022 on Nov. 10th! Guests will have exclusive access and can beat the crowds before the official public launch of Creek Show unveils on Nov. 11-20. Creek Show 2022 will run along Waller Creek once again from 9th Street to Waterloo Park, with nine dazzling illuminated art installations presented by Waterloo Greenway.

🧖‍♀️ Treat Yourself!
Treat yourself to a weekend of beauty, start with a Cut & Color by Alex Smallwood, create cherished memories with a Portrait Session by Sarah Bork Photography. Finish the weekend enjoying a lake house vibe on South Congress with an evening stay at Hotel Magdalena.

🍝 Austin Restaurants & Experiences
The age old question, “What’s for dinner?” We have ALL the answers, with gifts from Gusto Italian Kitchen + Wine Bar, Fresa's Mattie's, Local Foods, Lenoir, Launderette, Justine's Brasserie and more there’s an option for every craving.

💐 Date Night
The perfect date night stay-cation begins with a gorgeous floral arrangement by House of Margot Blair, an assortment of beautiful treasures from Fail Jewelry, a Negroni & Italian Food Basket from Austin Wine Merchant gift basket and a One-Night Stay for Two and Breakfast for Two at Corner Restaurant.

🧘The Health Nut
Spend 2023 focused on your health and well being with a year of Juiceland’s smoothies, juices, superfood bowls, lattes, and healthy meals to-go. Incorporate movement with a ten class pass from Paul Kevin Smith Yoga, increase your healing and range of motion with four sessions from The Stretch Zone, and recenter with a session from Light Family Acupuncture.

☁️A Much Needed Retreat
Create peace, tranquility, and rejuvenation in the space of a weekend with Lucent Wellness Experiences. The gorgeous Wimberly landscape is the perfect backdrop to devote time to your self-care, nourishing food, vinyasa yoga, hiking, journaling, and massage.

🎭 Broadway Brunch
Broadway Brunch is a fun-loving group of philanthropic music-lovers who gather one Saturday morning per month to enjoy live music, fellowship, and high-level fundraising for the arts.

09/12/2022

Tag a friend you're going to dance with at Forklift Fantasia: The Shape of Water! 🪩

Don't forget to get tix at bit.ly/fldwfantasia

A new report focused on Waller Creek shows that urban green spaces are providing a  benefits for wildlife, supporting bi...
09/08/2022
New UT research shows Austin’s creeks do more than just control floods

A new report focused on Waller Creek shows that urban green spaces are providing a benefits for wildlife, supporting biodiversity, sequestering greenhouse gases, capturing air pollutants, and cooling air temperatures.

https://www.kxan.com/news/local/new-ut-research-shows-austins-creeks-do-more-than-just-control-floods/

New research from the University of Texas showed Austin’s creeks have more benefits for our area than just controlling floods.

Address

2023 E Cesar Chavez Street
Austin, TX
78702

Telephone

(512) 222-5287

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-unforgettable dances with all kinds of peoples, often with performers one might not typically think of as dancers

-community-based performances that educate, provoke thought, and remind us of our connections to each other

-workshops and classes for all kinds of movers- both trained dancers and people completely new to dance

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With support, Forklift Danceworks “The Way of Water” engages frontline civic workers, local artists, and neighborhood residents in a practice of community-based dance-making. Beginning with a performance featuring Watershed Protection employees and community residents confronting flooding issues, the initial development of “The Way of Water” will form a performance model to be toured to other communities, modified to reflect the particular challenges, opportunities, and culture of each cast of collaborators.
Had a great time playing at the premiere of Forklift Danceworks Way of Water this last weekend. As always, Forklift brought rain to Austin, but we played five shows anyway! The string quartet was a highlight for me, and I'm working on more arrangements for them for the upcoming Ruins the Holiday show at the Long Center. Just the other morning I was doing what I could do to destroy Deck the Halls in 5/8 time.

Video credit: Jeremy Bruch
Thanks to our fearless partners at Forklift Danceworks and our very own Watershed Protection employees, the show goes on! We hope to see you tonight for The Way of Water: Waller Creek
Excited for the premiere of Forklift Danceworks' Way of Water: Waller Creek today, Friday, and Saturday! I'll be performing my original score with a 6 piece band including Alexis Ebbets Buffum, Zach Matteson, Luis Bellorín, Ilia De La Rosa, and Jeremy Bruch. Trying out Ableton 11 for the first time! Plus the strings are going through my pedal board. Head to Forklift Danceworks for more information. See you there!
We're pleased to share that 2022 Artistic Innovation Award grantee Forklift Danceworks will present "The Way of Water: Waller Creek," Nov. 17-19, 2023, featuring Austin Watershed Protection Employees at the Waller Creek Tunnel Inlet Facility at Waterloo Greenway in Austin, Texas.

Forklift Danceworks activates communities through a collaborative creative process. This project is part of a multi-year artistic residency for Forklift Danceworks with the City of Austin Watershed Protection Department (WPD) in Austin, Texas.

Congratulations to Forklift Danceworks Artistic Director Allison Orr and the participants and collaborators!

-AAA
We are proud of our partners at Forklift Danceworks for bringing awareness to the importance of our watersheds. There are still tickets available for their upcoming FREE performance the Way of Water. Join us to celebrate the people who work to keep our watersheds healthy and learn how you can help! Get your tickets here: https://www.forkliftdanceworks.org/projects/the-way-of-water-global/

*As a reminder, a watershed is a land area that channels rainfall to creeks, streams, and rivers, and eventually into outflow points such as reservoirs, bays, and the ocean.

Please join us November 17-19 for "The Way of Water: Waller Creek" performance created by Forklift Danceworks. Remaining tickets will be released on November 14, & volunteer positions are open now! www.forkliftdanceworks.org
My latest piece for SightlinesSightlines is about 'The Way of Water,' an upcoming Forklift Danceworks show at Waterloo Greenway featuring Austin's Watershed Protection employees and their vehicles!
Join us, Waterloo Greenway, & Forklift Danceworks for a unique dance performance, coming soon! FREE tickets for the 9pm shows are still available.
📣Reserve your seats now at
www.forkliftdanceworks.org/proj.../the-way-of-water/
Join us for The Way of Water: Waller Creek presented by our partners Forklift Danceworks featuring Austin Watershed Protection Employees at the Waller Creek Tunnel Inlet Facility at Waterloo Greenway.

Visit https://www.forkliftdanceworks.org/projects/the-way-of-water/ for more information!

Joined Forklift Danceworks, with founder and artistic director Allison Orr and Community Collaborations Director Krissy Marty, together with State Representative Sheryl Cole and Jorge Morales, at Waterloo Greenway's beautiful inlet facility to preview their new work with Austin Watershed. We were joined by Keep Austin Beautiful, Rain to River, Colorado River Alliance, and more Central Texans working to keep our waterways clean and healthy and to keep Austin green.
Allison Orr and I finally got to meet in person!

She's the founder of Forklift Danceworks, the coolest nonprofit dance company ever, where we just completed an engagement. Seriously! They highlight grace and artistry in unexpected places like garbage collection! Check out the documentary "Trash Dance" on Amazon Video.

This morning, part of the Texas Water Trade team attended the press conference for The Way of Water: Waller Creek. It was a beautiful morning to mingle at Waterloo Greenway and hear from speakers such as US Representative Lloyd Doggett and TX Representative Sheryl Cole.
We enjoyed seeing a sneak peek of the Forklift Danceworks performance. The production incorporates the perspectives of the city employees who work hard to keep the Waller Creek area of Austin from flooding.
The performance will be at the Waller Creek Tunnel Inlet Facility at Waterloo Greenway on Nov. 10-12.

Waterloo Greenway
Via the Wesleyan University Connection: "Wesleyan Connected to Five National Dance Project Grant Recipients." Read more:
https://newsletter.blogs.wesleyan.edu/2022/10/11/krishnan-one-of-five-wesleyan-connected-national-dance-project-grant-recipients/ NEFA Urban Bush Women Nia Love Dance Forklift Danceworks Wesleyan University Press Time Lapse Dance Doris Duke Charitable Foundation Mellon Foundation Wesleyan University Alumni
T-Minus 1 week until Forklift Fantasia: The Shape of Water! VIP tickets are still available!

Our event co-chairs Nathan Idais and Kathy Garza Smith are ready to kick off an evening celebrating all things water!

Join Allison Orr Vanessa AlvaradoFlores Kevin Witcher Sarah Bork Sarah Finley Paul Slutes Krissie Marty Penny Snyder Ale Lamadrid De Hamlet Ezequiel Calderon Jr. Adriana Gomez Graf Patrick Landrum Gretchen LaMotte and more!

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