Swimmers in ‘Bartholomew Swims,’ 2017. Photo by Amitava Sarkar.
This year, one of the more innovative arts organizations in Austin turns 20 years old. Through expressive and engaging choreography, Forklift Danceworks partners with a variety of the city’s behind-the-scenes communities: Austin’s sanitation workers, pool maintenence crews, Austin Energy, and more. The dances help shine a light on the less-noticed everyday choreography, like the odd grace of a trash truck or the delicate work of maintaining Austin’s dozens of public pools. “We make dances with people who don’t always think of themselves as dancers,” says Allison Orr, Forklift’s Artistic Director.
To celebrate its 20th anniversary, Forklift presents an outdoor screening of Trash Dance on July 10, followed by more programming this summer and fall, including a celebration at Umlauf Sculpture Garden on October 28th. And recently, frequent collaborator Graham Reynolds released a collection of music he composed for Forklift productions. This week on My KUTX, Orr is our guest DJ, taking you through Forklift’s two decades via the music that has inspired her and the dancers. Hear My KUTX on Saturday, June 26 at 6 p.m. or listen anytime in the player at the top of the page.
–Art Levy // producer, My KUTX
Playlist:
1. Graham Reynolds – “Trash Trucks”
2. Irma Serrano – “Flor del Rio”
3. NOOK Turner – “The A” (feat. Dok Holiday)
4. Glen Campbell – “Wichita Lineman”
5. Journey – “Don’t Stop Believin'”
6. Graham Reynolds – “Aquatics Maintenance”
7. Earth, Wind & Fire – “September”
8. Dolly Parton – “Here You Come Again”
9. Graham Reynolds – “Jerry In The Bake Shop”
10. Vicente Fernández – “Volver Volver”
11. Leonard Cohen – “Traveling Light”
12. Graham Reynolds – “Dance For A Crane, Pt. 2”
