Choreographer’s Note: Trees

By Morgan McEwen, Artistic Director and Choreographer

The seed for Trees was first planted when our grant writer, Stace Brandt, sent me a New York Times article about Dr. Suzanne Simard, knowing my passion for creating dance that speaks to environmental and social impact. The article immediately drew me in, and I soon found myself immersed in Dr. Simard’s groundbreaking book, Finding the Mother Tree. Her research unveiled a remarkable truth: that trees are not solitary beings, but members of vast, supportive networks; communicating, sharing resources, and caring for one another through underground fungal systems called mycorrhizal networks.

The ideas within this work struck me on a deeply human level. I saw so many parallels between the unseen support systems in forests and the connections we rely on in our own communities. Originally, I set out to create a 20-minute ballet to include in a triple-bill program. But as I began working with the dancers, it became clear that the emotional and conceptual depth of this piece demanded more. I made the decision to pull Trees from that program, understanding that it was meant to grow into something larger—an evening-length ballet all its own.

In this work, the dancers embody not only the trees themselves but also the invisible forces that bind them—networks of support, care, and resilience. With a lush original score performed live by a 10-piece string ensemble, Trees invites the audience into a world that exists beneath the surface: one of deep-rooted connection, silent communication, and shared survival.

This ballet is a reflection on the strength we find in community, on what holds us together when the world above feels uncertain. Thank you for joining us and for allowing this work to take root in your imagination.

- Morgan McEwen