Hi there,

I have moved my blog to a new location.

Check it out now at:http://forkliftdanceworks.blogspot.com/

Thanks!
Allison Orr

FLDW is turning 5 this week, for it was in Aug of '01 that Forklift was created. I was riding in the car with my husband, Blake (best FLDW fan there is by the way!) from Steamboat to Denver, Co. We were working hard to think of name to call my company. It seemed that it was time to have an official name, and I didn't want to do what most modern dance companies do and name the company after myself (Martha Graham, Paul Taylor, Merce Cunnningham, Katherine Dunham, Alvin Ailey, Jose Limón...they all did it that way). So we thought about it during our vacation in Colorado and somewhere along the road to Denver Blake came up with the name. I had the danceworks part already, I just needed the forklift which he came up with. So that's how it happened. Funny- I think many of my really good brainstorms come up in car rides.

So the company is turning five. Kind of hard to believe but then when I think about it yes, it has been 5 years of good, sometimes hard, often intense, and incredibly satisfying work. And it is all very much still in process- for I still am figuring out how to move forward in a sustainable and meaningful way as an artist, dancer and choreographer. Lately moving forward has meant slowing down (with the arrival of Genevieve), but I think I was really ready to do that. We artists work so hard. I remember I used to think that if I wasn't in dance class than someone out there was and he/she was getting better than me. Or maybe my ten minutes of fame were ticking by and I needed to get busy making something impressive!

But as I have stayed with it, I have become less urgent about working all of the time and making that dance to end all dances. I feel more and more like I have my whole life to do this work and that really there is no rush. I think I have also (and am still actively doing) given up wanting to be famous. Sure, it would be great to make more money and have more access to the "art world", but that isn't why I am doing this work. I am doing it because it makes my life richer- and hopefully the lives of others fuller, too. I like my job as a choreographer (and I see it as a job, too- I provide a needed service to my community!) and it doesn't depend upon ending up in the history books or getting that critical acclaim. Of course it feels good to be noticed and appreciated, but I am happy to see that all that drives me less and less.

ok- enough philosophy-sing. Let's get to the real deal-- here is a recent pic of Baby G. yes, we know she is sooo gorgeous!

Tomorrow marks two months now that the BEST baby in the world made her entry into our lives- Genevieve Elizabeth Trabulsi-Orr. Now I guess every parent thinks his/her baby is the best, but really and truly she is! I have spent the last two months resting, snuggling, playing, and just staring at this amazing new person. I can't get enough of her. Her new accomplishments include a wide array of sounds that I like to call dolphin talk and being able to get her hands inside of her mouth. She also likes to smile- a lot!

So my summer plans include a lot of what I have been doing for the past two months- hanging with the "G". I feel so blessed to have all this time with her, and I can't wait to see where she goes and what she figures out next. Attached is a photo of Genevieve in her favorite Brooklyn-T. Back to baby watching!

It is 11:37pm and I can't sleep because this baby is doing a lot of boogie-ing. Funny that our nickname for this child is boogie- because he/she sure likes to move. So I decided I would get up and try some blogging- why the heck not!

Oh Mother finished nearly a month ago and I have been meaning to write all about it. It went very well- easy for me as producer and fun for me as choreographer. We got a really nice review and great audience response. I loved working with all of the other mama choreographers and keeping it all as simple as I could. And I liked my dance, too- which is a big added bonus. I have uploaded a few pics from the show for your viewing pleasure. One of a few of the mamas (Jennifer, Michele and Caroline) backstage and one of Kent, the brave man in the show! Here are links to the preview and review, also:

Review link: http://www.austinchronicle.com/issues/dispatch/2006-02-17/arts_review3.html

Preview link: http://www.austinchronicle.com/issues/dispatch/2006-02-10/arts_feature4.html

I think the show closed just in time, though, as I as beginning to feel that my body wanted to begin easing down into less and less doing and more being. I have been keeping busy with yoga and swimming, which I feel so blessed and grateful to get to do right now. I pretty much have all my stuff organized and am ready to take a break from teaching and company admin for a few months while I cuddle up with this new human being about to enter my life. I am excited and very curious- can't quite imagine my new life yet but know it will be very, very different.

think I will get back to yoga now and see if I can get the baby to sleep a little- at least for a little while.

Bueñas noches, Allison

It is Thursday and I have just finished eating a delicious cheeseburger. I have been craving that cheeseburger for a couple days now and I think it was exactly what I needed. Now I am well fortified to face the final last minute preparations before the show this weekend and next.

I've got the program to finish, costumes to finalize and a title to come up with. Somehow I have left the title to my own dance to the last minute- it totally slipped my mind. With titles, I either think of them right away or have to work for days to come up with something. No clear title has hit me, but I am sure hoping it will land in my hand in the next few hours as finishing the program is now just waiting for me!

I have had such a good time making my trio for Oh Mother. I keep telling people it is the easiest thing I have been doing, and that really is true. I just decided to make it simple and it really worked. And a ten minute piece is nothing compared to the hour-long dance I choreographed last spring.

But now it is nap time- ever crucial part of my day that allows me to teach until 8pm at night. So signing off to digest that cheeseburger and sleep a little- life is good.

I came across a request for text contribution for a small publishing project by Atopia Projects (www.atopiaprojects.org). The invite sounded very intriguing- for it promised publication in Japan as part of collaborative project with Dance Box (http://www.db-dancebox.org/). The invite asked for details of the first movements of my day upon waking. I was asked to describe my actions from my point of view as a dancer, and to refer to them both in how they connect to the everyday and how these movements might be experienced, choreographed, and re-created by the reader.

So I took the challenge and came up with a paragraph of writing. Here it is below. I love the idea of being connected to other choreographers writing about such a simple human task- waking up.

Upon waking, I carefully roll over to look at my alarm clock to see what time it is. I roll gently as I am nearly 8 months pregnant and do most activities, especially those first in the morning, with more attention and care these days. I move slowly, breathing deeply, and encourage my mind and body to relax in order to gently greet the day. If I decide after looking at the clock to get out of bed, I usually still spend a minute or two considering the possibility of getting out of bed. Pretty soon I begin to feel interested in getting up. The process of moving from a horizontal position on the bed to a vertical position on my feet takes time, and I try not to rush. Often I pull my knees in towards my chest and then stretch my legs away from me, arching my back just a little. Sometimes I wiggle and circle and hands and feet. Usually I reach over to the side of the bed for a tissue to blow my noise and to drink a few sips of water. At this point, vigorous sneezing has usually begun so I feel even more compelled to get to a vertical position. Pulling with my right arm, I drag my body on its side to the edge of the bed and carefully push myself up to sitting, moving sequentially through my spine. I place my feet on the ground nearly simultaneously, then circling them a little before finally using my arms to push my body to vertical. I spend just a moment feeling the weight in feet before looking around. My eyes become alert, and they guide me through the mess of the pillows on the floor to my next most important and immediate stop- the toilet. (Pregnant women will know why there is no delay here).

Yesterday I had rehearsal #1 for this new piece I am creating for "Oh Mother." The other two dancers, Andrea and Jennifer, are just dreamy! I love working on this dance. I taught about 1/2 of the first section and then made up of nearly all of the rest of that section after rehearsal. Now I just need to work out the beginning part which is all me, my solo which is the 2nd section, and the 3rd and final section. I have some balloon props that I am working with for the 3rd section and am probably going to have to ask some non-pregnant folks to help me blow them up so I can stretch them out. Blowing up a big balloon ain't no easy task for a pregnant woman. You see my diaphragm is kind of squished by the baby and expanded uterus and then I get this feeling that I might wet my pants if I blow to hard. Time to bring in assistance I think! But I got all my horses in order (you will just have to come and see the dance to figure out what that means) so I think I am on my way with this dance. Now I just need a title. And here is a little pic of me and Jennifer (2 of the 3 dancers for this new dance). Enjoy!

Well holidays are over and it is time to get back to work. Respond to emails, pay bills, get ready for school to start again, and make a dance! I have been back in the studio this week and last working on my newest work- a trio for Oh Mother- the show I am producing in Feb. The concert will feature 5 other choreographers who are also mothers- in some state or other- and I am just doing a small, simple number- or at least that is what I am promising myself. But today it actually looked like the dance might come out pretty easy.

I have the music for each 3 sections chosen and the basic ideas mapped for what is happening in the dance. Today I started putting movement to the music and found it was pretty easy to come up with material. I really love that when that happens- when it just flows. And I am so inspired by my pregnant form now, as certain pretty simple shapes and movements read very differently. There is, I am noticing, a lot to work with. Very exciting. And I have such a sense of relief that this really might be simple, easy, and fun. Pretty painless and actually good for me. I don't want to sound like making dances isn't always good for me, but it can be hard work. Hard work to figure out the choreography, the why, the how it all comes together, and even when to have rehearsals. So I am enjoying the nice ride of this new dance- thank you Oh Mother!

and here is a little photo of me working with my newest prop- a horse and cowboy- round 'em up!

What I really love about Thanksgiving is the quiet feeling I sense from the world around me. The streets aren't crowded, there isn't a lot of noise outside, and I have a feeling that people are resting and taking time just to be still- or maybe stiller. It might be the effects of eating turkey and pecan pie, but for one day a year (maybe new year's day and christmas for some), the neighborhood seems to slow down. There really isn't much to do besides clean up from the meal and hang out anyway, so what's the rush?

Slowing down to just notice myself, those around me, how I feel, my body, anything really-is a good thing. I have been learning that with my pregnancy, because my body just can't go as fast as it used to. I have to slow down- to rest, eat, and sleep when I need to. It is a blessing in many ways for me, because even when I am getting lots of work done and accomplishing important tasks, I think I sometimes miss things because I am focused on what I think I need to accomplish right then. The world doesn't get to surprise me if I am pressing too hard to finish what I feel is most important.

So today I was surprised by quiet- I think I'll go take a nap!

it is monday and i have been without my computer for nearly two weeks. i am now ready to have it back- really. all this freedom to work differently without technology has blown over and life without my computer is getting to be just a pain in the butt! since so much of running my company is admin work, i need my computer to make progress on my books, grant writing, emails, etc. so i am ready to have it back now. Ok, computer gods?

and the other big thing is that i am so hungry and there are no snacks here in site. i am going to have to run to a taco stand soon. i have been hesitant about writing about my current physical state on my blog- something about making this news so public scares me. But I decided last night while I was trying to get to sleep that it is just fine to say this on my blog- so here goes- I am pregnant! Is that a topic for a dancer and choreographer to write about? I think yes, for this is influencing my work in so many ways. And most of you that read this blog knw me and already know about my pregnancy anyway, so I decided I was making a big deal out of nothing.

So I think I will spend the next few months writing some about this pregnancy and new life forming inside of me and how it is affecting me as an artist. So far I can tell that I am learning a lot about trust and letting go. Yes, I know we all hear about that a lot- but really and truly I am. I promise. I have to let go when my body says eat- and I say no, not again. Or when I have to get up one more time to pee, or when i feel a little flutter and know some fabulous new being is beginning his/her own dance inside of me. It is awe inspiring, really...

but now I have to eat!