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Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/540151
www.urban-forestry.com 27 Q&A with Angela Hanson How did the crew respond to the idea of a dance perfor- mance? AH: At first, there was some reluctance from the crew about the project, but the Austin crew is used to getting lots of diverse and sometimes bizarre assignments, as other municipal forestry crews and managers proba- bly have experienced. Some took just five sec- onds of convincing, while others took a bit more. The choreographers and others who developed the performance spent months doing rides-along with the crew beforehand, and I think that really helped the crew warm up to the idea. What was the performance night like for you? AH: It was a treat to see all of the pieces come together for the performance. As I was watching the performance with a perpetual smile on my face, I thought about that innocent inquiry I had sent to the choreographer one year ago to ask about the possibility of a performance like this. It was incredible to see the eventual incar- nation. The crew really worked hard to prepare for the show. Even though there was a 90% chance of rain on both nights of the performance, the rain held off and allowed for two beautiful and flawless performances. The live orchestra and studio lighting as well as vocal recordings of the crew speaking about their jobs and what their work means to them—all made for a magical experience. Do you feel The Trees of Govalle accomplished its goal of bringing more awareness to urban forestry in Austin? AH: I believe that the success of this performance was its ability not only to bring the crew together in a way no other team-building exercise could have done, but also its ability to share awareness of the work of arborists and forestry crews with a segment of the population that is not the typical urban forestry "choir." The arts scene in Austin is very strong so it made sense to tap into that. I spoke to some attendees from non-forest- ry backgrounds and one said that one of the pieces brought her to tears. Public servants get a bad rap and I think that part of that is due to a lack of awareness and empa- thy for the hard work that they do every day, despite often working against adverse forces and very high expecta- tions. The forestry crew is composed of everyday public servant heroes and my intention with initiating this crazy idea was to help others see that as well. To that end, I deem the performance a success. "And the more we watched and lis- tened, the more pow- erfully we felt that immense pecan tree as a living creature, something with its own vitality and drive." —Robert Faires of the Austin Chronicle in his review of The Trees of Govalle Photo: Leon Alesi Photo above: Amitava Sarkar Photo below: Leon Alesi