Treehouse Shakers Presents Two Shows For Families and Young Audiences, 5/4, 5/7

Treehouse Shakers presents "Animal Rhythms - Two African Folktales, " a dance-play for all ages, playing Tuesday, May 4 at 11am and Friday, May 7 at 11am at The Ailey Citigroup Theater, Joan Weill Center for Dance (405 W. 55th Street, Corner of 9th Ave, NYC 10019). All tickets, $15, available by calling (212) 715-1914, or contactus@treehouseshakers.com.

Public Transportation: A, B, C, D, 1 to 59th Street/Columbus Circle, Walk West to Theater. Cash or Checks only.

Treehouse Shakers also presents "Let's Talk About IT!" an original dance-play for teens, playing Wednesday, May 12 at 11AM, Thursday, May 13 at 11AM, and Saturday, May 15 at 2PM at Manhattan Movement and Arts Center (248 West 60th Street, Near West End Avenue, NYC 10023). All tickets $20, also available by calling (212) 715-1914, or contactus@treehouseshakers.com. Public Transportation: A, B, C, D, 1 to 59th Street/Columbus Circle, Walk West to Theater. Please also contact for group rates. Cash or Checks only.

"Animal Rhythms: Two African Folktales" - includes The Day It Rained and Jackal and Hare, in a lively adaption by Mara McEwin. Through the use of body drumming, modern dance and storytelling, "Animal Rhythms" follows several animals as they learn about sharing, working and friendship. "Animal Rhythms" has audiences 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. Audiences take a humorous journey with the animals through these stories illustrated by bright costumes, live Afro-influenced movement, to a lively and enthusiastic original score. The show's cast includes Emily Bunning, Malinda Crump, Larissa Laurel, Mara McEwin, Roderick Jackson, and Elise Smith. Choreography is by Emily Bunning, music by Roderick Jackson and Mark Sopchak, and costumes by Kate Cusack.

Let's Talk About IT!" is written by Mara McEwin, and the cast includes Malinda Crump, Mara McEwin, Amber Ford, Maxx Passion, Elise Smith and Josh Tag. Choreography is by Emily Bunning, costumes created by Patti Gilstrap, video design by Kinetiscope's Greg Slagle, and lighting by Dan Ozminkowski.

With "Let's Talk About IT," Treehouse Shakers has developed a show for teens about teens. Through the vocabulary of dance, world folklore, real-life stories, and video interviews of everyday teens, "Let's Talk About IT!" is a performance that deftly and humorously explores intimacy, relationships and the choices many teens face in the turbulent twists of everyday life. "Let's Talk About IT!" intertwines artistic mediums with grace and subtlety; movement sculpted with words; and video projections are combined with dance to further illuminate the story. The show tells the story of the teen body as it transitions from childhood to adulthood through a unique blend of modern dance and the use of Bunning's personal spin on hip-hop. McEwin's voice is in the retelling of traditional world folklore, based on pre-teen and teen interviews with those from a variety of various genders, races and neighborhoods. This melding of old and new storytelling, develops the story of being a young adult in new age world, while still holding onto the conflicts, thoughts, hopes of teens throughout the centuries.

"We are thrilled to present both of these shows this May," said Treehouse Shakers' Artistic Director, and writer, Mara McEwin, "We had such an overwhelming response to Let's Talk About IT!, with the initial premiere on tour in rural Wyoming then in NYC at The Peter Jay Sharp Theater, in the spring of 2009. All of our different audiences responded in such a positive way. We are also delighted to present Animal Rhythms, one of our most popular dance-plays. We have audiences who come back to see the show year after year. Adults seem to enjoy it as much as their child counterparts. We are excited to share these shows with even more audiences this year, and in the future."

Treehouse Shakers, Inc. is a non-profit dance and theater company 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, teens and adults in many of New York City's established performance venues, as well as theaters, schools and festivals across the nation.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. Treehouse Shakers is unique in its offering young audiences a guided look at modern dance through meaningful and fun storytelling.

This program is supported, in part, by public funds from the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs and the New York State Council on the Arts.

More information available by visiting: www.treehouseshakers.com