TALKING ROOTS: TREES OF WITNESS

On July 17, 2021 BANDALOOP, the Confederation of Ohlone, and the Lucas Artists Program hosted a vertical dance production at Montalvo Arts Center. This event helped teach community members about scientific theory and traditional understandings of forest systems, land management, and environmental justice and featured the songs, voices, and stories of our Ohlone community.

This event was lead by BANDALOOP choreographer Amelia Rudolph and the Confederation of Ohlone Council Woman Charlene Eigen-Vasquez. It included a new outdoor vertical dance production performed by BANDALOOP as they performed in the forests of Montalvo along with a performance by Ohlone dancers.

The project began with a weeklong residency at Montalvo Arts Center that helped to engage a network of indigenous elders, healers, scholars, scientists, and artists with the youth and South and East Bay communities. The goal was to show how we’re connected to the forest systems and how to protect and care for them to assure sustainability for future generations.

Read more about the event here and check out this video from the event!