MISSION & PURPOSE STATEMENT

Treehouse Shakers’ (THS) mission is to create original dance-plays, workshops and artistic experiences that encourage multi-generational audiences to create a greater connection to their community. Since our 1997 NYC founding, we have created 20 original works that explore narrative styles through universal themes. Our roster addresses every age level within youth programming, from babies to teens. Helping solidify our role in the American theater scene, we were the first U.S. company to tour a dance-play specifically for babies, Hatched, in 2012. We remain one of the few companies making work for the Very Early Years. Our work is sometimes the first performance many young people experience. With each new performance, we aim to set the artistic bar higher, challenging our artistic process and the thinking of young audiences. 

Increasing the reach of our work, we tour nationally and partner with local schools, community organizations and non-profits to provide thousands of free and low-cost tickets and programming to underserved youth and families. Complimenting performances, THS provides teacher trainings and residencies for students that focus on the arts including storytelling, dance, music, theater, and writing.

Board of Directors 

Executive Committee
President
Ms. Geri Pell
Private Wealth Advisor
President, Geri Pell & Associates
Westchester, NY

Vice-President
Ms. Mara McEwin
Artistic Director & Co-Founder Treehouse Shakers, Inc.
New York, NY

Co-Treasurer/Financial Chair
Christopher Kim
Vice-President J.P. Morgan
Westchester, NY

Co-Treasurer
Ms. Emily Bunning
Artistic Coordinator & Co-Founder Treehouse Shakers, Inc.
New York, NY

Secretary/Benefit Chair
Michael Walsh
Chair Benefit Committee
Producer, Casting Director, Studio Manager
New York, NY

Additional Members

Zafir Buraei, P.H.D.
Assistant Professor Pace University
New York, NY

Emily Regas
Director of Major Gifts at
United Hospital Fund
New York, NY

Sarah Young
Educator, Movement Specialist
Guild Certified Feldenkrais® Practitioner
Northampton, MA

David Zimmerman
Theater Producer & Events Manager
Jersey City, NY

Artist Advisory Board

Tadej Brdnik
Program Director
Former Principal Dancer
Martha Graham
New York, NY

Elise Drew
Dancer, José Limón Dance Company
New York, NY