World Premiere of ‘Being Future Being’
Broad Stage performers engaged in an Indigenous-led ceremony in an ode to the divine connection between humans and trees.
On Thursday, Sep. 8, 2022, students and faculty on SMC’s main campus were invited to view and participate in a unique call for environmental justice. BroadStage, a performing arts theater in Santa Monica put on three exhibitions in an effort to advocate for the protection of trees.
Ashley Pierre-Louis, interpretive dancer, performed in the first showcase, which took place in front of the library on the campus. Pierre-Louis spoke to students and others spectating, explaining her connection to what she called fire trees, or trees having survived fires or being threatened by urbanization, such as the one right next to the currently on-going construction on campus. “The tree is looking for a way out, growing out away from the math and science buildings,” Pierre-Louis said.
Speakers playing brown noise blasted as Pierre-Louis danced around the circumference of the tree. She further emphasized the importance of honoring “our connection to our more than human kin,” as in respecting trees and other plants as living beings just as we do other humans.
The second performance was by Stacey Lynn Smith along with Jasmine Shorty, who was covered in a large quilt costume. The quilt, made up of several small quilts sewn together, was made by individuals from different parts of the world in community quilting sessions, explained creative producer George Lugg. Each one was covered in dreams and hopes for the future, a couple read “Love,” “Joy,” and “Peace.” Smith danced around the tree in an emotional performance as Jasmine made small steps toward the spectators present, her very slow steps representing the hyperslow movement of a tree as it grows.
“This tree… It’s been here a long time and has witnessed many things in its life; beautiful things, difficult things and many passing by… We are taking time to gather around it to offer it protection and strength,” Lugg said.
Life itself is a dance and a tree has its own form of dance, spanning decades and centuries across time. Its expression being the color of its leaves, the falling of dead ones, and the flourish of new ones.
The power of a silent statement can move people to consider perspectives with a new openness as it stimulates introspection and deep thought. In the last exhibit, choreographer Emily Johnson and dancer Sugar Vendil, used their presence with three trees to tell the audience a story of relationship.
Surrounded by trees, bold whispers filled the art building courtyard. Johnson’s story, told in a whisper, cried out against climate change as it has allowed for many trees to perish from insect overpopulation. Many of Johnson's childhood trees in Alaska are now gone, and for her, the quiet whispers represent a gesture of attentiveness.
The performance of the Whisper Tree inspired people to listen. Emily Johnson broadens this on her event website, ‘Being Future Being’ saying, “The multilayered performance becomes a site for transformation, ushering into focus new futures with the potential to reshape the way we relate to ourselves, our environment, and to the human and more-than-human cohabitants of our world”.
Not only are trees a home to many creatures that are crucial to our ecosystem but they also represent the spiritual connection that is so innate to human kind. Through dance do we generate the feelings of gratitude towards the trees that represent physical and spiritual nourishment and connection. Although trees may not appear to dance, we are encouraged by the dancers to sway with them in appreciation.
