Making Change from the Ground Up with Allison Orr '93

In 2019, Allison Orr ‘93 was invited to Wake Forest to create an amazing event that someone described as being “as close to a sacred moment on this campus that I’ve seen.” More than two-and-a-half years in the making, “From the Ground Up” was a collaboration between Wake Forest’s iPlace and Allison’s dance company Forklift Danceworks, whose mission is to use creative dance to build community. Housekeeping staff, arborists, turf crew members, locksmiths and carpenters were among the nearly 70 participants that performed on Hearn Plaza in an original “civic spectacle". In this conversation, Allison shares her experiences and insights on the intersection of art, community, and social justice. From her travels to Venice and her connections to Wake Forest, to her activism and the creation of performance projects like 'From the Ground Up', Allison emphasizes the importance of collaboration, relationship-building, and the role of dance in fostering social change. She reflects on her journey as an artist and educator, highlighting the power of creativity to inspire dialogue and community engagement.