IdeasCityWS panel discussion: "From the Ground Up" and workforce development
In October 2019, Wake Forest University housekeeping staff, arborists, turf crew members, locksmiths and carpenters were among nearly 70 staff members who participated in “From the Ground Up,” an original dance performance held on Hearn Plaza. Directed by Allison Orr (’93) of Forklift Danceworks in Austin, the production elevated the dedicated people whose skillful work often goes unseen. 
To commemorate the anniversary of this groundbreaking event, IdeasCityWS will host a “Beta Bonfire” panel discussion on Thursday, Dec. 10 at 5 p.m., looking back at the production through the lens of workforce development. Christina Soriano, associate provost for the arts and interdisciplinary initiatives associate professor, will moderate the virtual conversation.
Presenters include:
- Allison Orr, Founder and artistic director of Forklift Danceworks in Austin, Texas;
- John Shenette, Vice president of Facilities and Campus Services at Wake Forest University;
- Stephanie Poskin, Senior director of Wake Forest Facilities Support Services & Operations;
- Kobak Taylor, “From the Ground Up” performer and Wake Forest Facilities and Campus Services locksmith;
- Cynthia Wilson, “From the Ground Up” performer and Wake Forest custodial department team lead; and
- Matt Crawford, Senior theatre major from Austin, TX, and a student leader on the “From the Ground Up” project.
A documentary that captures the spirit of the performances is available for viewing as background for the discussion.
The event is free and open to the public. Registration is available here.
Categories: Events, Faculty News, Staff News
'From the Ground Up' showcased facilities staff and their contributions to campus
Housekeeping staff, arborists, turf crew members, locksmiths and carpenters were among the nearly 70 participants performing on Hearn Plaza in the original dance piece “From the Ground Up.” Performances were held on Oct. 3, 4 and 5.
Click here to download the program.
More than two-and-a-half years in the making, “From the Ground Up” was a collaboration between Wake Forest and Forklift Danceworks, a dance company based in Austin, Texas, whose mission is to use creative dance to build community. Cindy Gendrich, theatre professor and director of the University’s Interdisciplinary Performance and Liberal Arts Center (IPLACe); Christina Soriano, dance professor and associate provost for the arts and interdisciplinary programs at Wake Forest; and John Shenette, vice president, facilities and campus services, were the forces that helped move the project forward.
For more information and a video about the production, visit here.
Categories: Inside WFU, Staff News
WFU facilities team to star in 'From the Ground Up' on Hearn Plaza
This announcement was e-mailed to students, faculty and staff on Sept. 24 by Wake Forest Communications and External Relations:
Zero turn and walking wing mowers will move in unison. A telehandler, backhoe and skid steer will dance on Wake Forest University’s Hearn Plaza. For three nights, the University’s iconic Quad will be transformed into a stage to showcase the work of the facilities and campus services staff.
Students, faculty and staff are invited to attend the performance and celebrate Wake’s facilities team members. “From the Ground Up” will be held Oct. 3, 4 and 5 at 7 p.m. on Hearn Plaza. The event is also free and open to the public. Limited bleacher seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. There will be some space available on the lawn. Folding chairs and umbrellas are not permitted. The performance lasts approximately one hour.
More than 60 team members from Wake Forest Facilities and Campus Services, including custodial, maintenance and utilities, landscaping, construction, and waste reduction will be the stars of “From the Ground Up.” Using original choreography and music, the performance will highlight the grace and skill in the work that keeps campus running.
“From the Ground Up” is a collaboration between Wake Forest and Forklift Danceworks, a dance company based in Austin, Texas, whose mission is to use creative dance to build community. Wake Forest is one of three in a set of dances for campus employees, created through residencies at host colleges or universities.
Wake Forest’s Interdisciplinary Performance and Liberal Arts Center (IPLACe) was awarded grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and the New England Foundation for the Arts to help fund the interdisciplinary collaboration.
You can read more about “From the Ground Up” on the University news site.
Here’s what students, faculty and staff need to know ahead of the performance:
Staging and equipment on the Quad: Forklift Danceworks and Wake Forest Facilities and Campus Services will be preparing Hearn Plaza for the performance of “From the Ground Up.” Beginning Sept. 30, teams will be bringing scaffolding, lighting, staging, bleachers, and other equipment needed for the performance onto the Quad.
Parking lot closures: One-half of parking lot N will be blocked off Sept 30, Oct. 2, 3, 4 and 7. Traffic flow into Lot N on these days may be blocked at times. On Oct. 5, the entire lot will be closed all day. Parking Lots A and P will close at 4 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 3 and Friday, Oct. 4 in order to empty out and to accommodate event parking in the evening. These parking lots will be available for faculty/staff parking during the day.
Increased activity and noise on Hearn Plaza: During rehearsals and the performances on Oct. 3, 4 and 5, students living in residence halls surrounding Hearn Plaza will experience more activity than usual between the hours of 6 and 9 p.m., including music and theatrical lighting. The performances are free and open to the public and a large number of local community members are expected to attend.
Getting around Hearn Plaza: Walkways around the Quad will be unavailable to pedestrians at various points during the show. Students are encouraged to use the side and front entrances to residence halls rather than Quad entrances during the performance hour between 7 and 8 p.m.
Hearn Plaza returns to normal: Facilities and Campus services expects the production materials will be completely removed from Hearn Plaza by Monday, Oct. 7.
Categories: Inside WFU
Artists partnering with Facilities/Campus Services on large-scale performance
Dance company choreographer Krissie Marty, center, talks with landscapers Andrew Norton, left, and Chris Boston.
Wake Forest and Forklift Danceworks are co-creating “From the Ground Up” – a dance featuring the movement and stories of custodial, maintenance and utilities, landscaping, construction, and waste reduction employees.
Through a series of residencies, Forklift artists are partnering with Wake Forest Facilities and Campus Services staff on a large-scale performance to take place on Hearn Plaza on Oct. 4 and 5.
Wake Forest’s Interdisciplinary Performance and Liberal Arts Center (IPLACe) has been awarded grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and the New England Foundation for the Arts to help fund the interdisciplinary collaboration with Forklift Danceworks – a dance company based in Austin, Texas, that activates communities through a collaborative creative process.
More information is available here.
Categories: Events, Inside WFU, Staff News
