TRASH DANCE/SXSW

Final night of SXSW for films and Abe and I were fortunate to see Andrew Garrison's documentary TRASH DANCE.  Some time last year Abe and I were sold out of the Trash Dance Project performance of city sanitation workers in a choreographed dance by Allison Orr.  It poured the day of the performance so I did not feel so badly.  This movie brought it all to us: the choreographer's process, the personal tributes told by the sanitation workers, the evolution of a dance and most importantly the building of relationships.  This film could be renamed DIGNITY.  Allison Orr brings to us her dignified presentation of the men and women who pick up trash in the city of Austin.  Her pure interest in these workers is evident throughout the film. We learn of their lives, their hard work, their talents and other interests, and how they feel about their work.  All of this is done by her riding their trucks with them, learning how to haul trash, pick up dead animals, on and on.  And then she gains their trust and has them collaborate on a dance performance with the best original music created by Graham Reynolds.  Is there anything in Austin Graham doesn't create music for?  He is so talented and generous in sharing his musical wisdom.

After the film a Q&A with the filmmaker, choreographer and some of the sanitation workers.  The audience couldn't clap long enough and hard enough to show how much we LOVED this film.  The most telling feature of this film was watching the hundreds of Austinites who came to this performance in the pouring rain and applauded these workers, their trucks and the creative artists who brought us this ray of sunshine.  If you can see this film don't miss it.  It is inspirational.