named programs · 10 · from sources
What they call their work
Arts in Education Residencies
Workshops and educational programs for students and teachers focusing on storytelling, dance, music, theater, and writing, often provided free or at low cost to underserved schools.
Flutter
A discovery play for babies ages 6–18 months and their caregivers, introducing the four seasons through sensory-rich, movement-based theater.
Hatched
A sensory-rich farm adventure for ages 0–6, following a newborn chick’s journey through music, puppetry, and play.
Let’s Talk About IT!
A dance-play for teens exploring friendship, intimacy, and identity through movement, storytelling, and film.
Olive & Pearl
A cozy, sensory-rich adventure for ages 2–5, centered on a young girl and her Granny sharing stories and dreams in a home made of soft fabrics and imagination.
Sail Away
A sensory-filled play for children ages 18–24 months and caregivers, offering a gentle ocean adventure through movement and imagination.
The Boy Who Grew Flowers
A magical tale for ages 4–10 combining music, movement, and puppetry to explore kindness and embracing differences.
The Deepest Breath
A theater and dance performance for ages 9–13 following a curious reader’s journey through ocean wonders and emotional growth.
The Littlest Cove
An interactive seaside adventure for ages 3–6, using movement and storytelling to explore a hidden world of creatures and wonder.
Under the Tangle
A dance-theater adventure for ages 8+ featuring a young girl navigating a mystical maze, emphasizing courage and self-discovery.
activities · 8 groups
What they do
-
Cultural Exchange and Mutual Understanding Programs 1 activity
- Conduct international arts education outreachLed drama camps and arts education programs in China—including Shanghai, Beijing, and surrounding provinces—in partnership with UOutlook and Star America Preschools—extending its educational mission beyond the U.S.
-
-
Original Dance Performance Production 1 activity
- Create and tour original dance-theater performances for youth and family audiencesDevelops and tours original dance-plays and sensory-based theater productions for audiences ranging from infants to teenagers, both locally in New York City and nationally. Since 1997, the organization has created over 20 original works, including the first dance-play for babies by a U.S. company, which have been performed in theaters, schools, and festivals across the United States.
-
-
Comprehensive K–12 Arts Education 1 activity
- Deliver arts education programs for students and educatorsProvides in-school residencies, public workshops, and staff development programs in storytelling, dance, creative drama, and writing for individuals from preschool through graduate school. Programs align with educational standards such as the Blueprint for Dance and include hands-on tools and reference materials for classroom application.
-
-
Literary Events & Workshops 1 activity
- Offer adult creative writing programsHosts a 15-week intensive writing program for adults focused on creating stories, plays, or children’s books, covering narrative development, dialogue, structure, and trends in children’s literature.
-
-
Virtual Education Continuity Programs 1 activity
- Produce digital and remote arts content for childrenCreated Pillow Fort, a 9-part web series for children ages 3–7, during the pandemic to engage youth in the arts from home, expanding access to creative content beyond live performances.
-
-
Puppetry and Improv Theater Programs 1 activity
- Produce sensory-rich discovery plays for infants and toddlersProduces and performs interactive, sensory-based theater experiences tailored to very young children, including Flutter for babies aged 6–18 months (exploring the four seasons), Sail Away for toddlers aged 18–24 months (centered on ocean exploration), and Hatched for children aged 0–6 (using movement, puppetry, and music to explore farm life). These plays feature tactile elements, original music, movement, and live performer interaction in immersive environments.
-
-
Performing Arts Ticket Access Programs 1 activity
- Provide accessible and inclusive theater experiencesOffers discounted tickets for low-income families and Title I schools, free or affordable programming for underserved communities, and Relaxed Performances designed for audience members with sensory processing conditions, autism, and learning or intellectual disabilities during its NYC performance season.
-
-
Youth Theater Arts Education 1 activity
- Support LGBTQIA+ youth through creative expression and history researchOperates Branching OUT, an initiative offering after-school programs and performance opportunities for LGBTQIA+ youth and allies aged 12–18, supporting identity exploration through the creation of narratives in forms such as podcasts, dances, songs, or poetry. Also offers a research program enabling NYC high school students to earn service credits by researching queer history and developing educational materials.
-
financials · form 990 · fy2025
revenue
Total revenue$400K
Contributions & grants$229K57%
Program service revenue$109K27%
Investment income$1K0%
Other revenue$61K
expenses
Total expenses$349K
Program expenses82%
Admin / overhead13%
Fundraising6%
Salaries & benefits$19K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineProfessional Fees
balance sheet
Total assets$58K
Cash$58K
Investments$0
Liabilities$92K
Net assets$-34K
Liquid reserves2.0 mo
6 years on record · 2020–2025 · YoY revenue +14.8%
relationships · 17
Who they work with
- Beth Sholom Day Camp Partner — Partner organization hosting a Treehouse Shakers performance residency.
- Emily Bunning Partner — Choreographer and teaching artist who leads staff development workshops on incorporating dance into classroom instruction.
- Emily Bunning Partner — Co-founder and choreographer who has shaped the company's dance-theater productions since its inception in 1997
- Mara McEwin Partner — Co-founder and storyteller who creates and performs in productions such as "Story and Music" and "Flutter"
- Mara McEwin Partner — Collaborates with Treehouse Shakers as an awarded storyteller in joint performances for young audiences.
- Mara McEwin Partner — Conceives, directs, and writes productions for Treehouse Shakers.
- Mara McEwin Partner — Contact point for student inquiries regarding the Branching OUT research initiative.
- Mara McEwin Partner — Storyteller and actor who leads the Worldly Storytelling workshop, teaching students to use voice, body, and imagination to tell global folktales and create their own stories.
- Marble Collegiate Church Funder — Provides grant support through its Easter Offering Grant for Branching OUT school programming.
- Materials for the Arts Funder — Supports Treehouse Shakers' 2025–2026 season.
- National Endowment for the Arts Funder — Supports Treehouse Shakers' 2025–2026 season programming.
- New York City Department of Cultural Affairs Government — Funds Treehouse Shakers in partnership with the City Council.
- New York State Council on the Arts Funder — Provides funding support for Treehouse Shakers' programming with backing from the Governor's office and State Legislature.
- Roderick Jackson Partner — Collaborates with Treehouse Shakers as a renowned musician in joint storytelling and music performances for families.
- Roderick Jackson Partner — Renowned musician who collaborates with Mara McEwin in storytelling performances for young audiences
- Star America Preschools Partner — Collaborated to lead drama camps in China for young children.
- UOutlook Partner — Partnered to lead drama camps in Shanghai, Beijing, and surrounding provinces in China.
strategies · 3
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Arts-in-Education for Developmental Engagementmethodology: arts-integrationBy integrating the arts—specifically dance, storytelling, and creative drama—into early learning experiences, Treehouse Shakers enhances developmental outcomes such as sequencing, literacy, imaginative thinking, and critical thinking in young children, because artistic engagement aligns with and supports cognitive and emotional development across stages.
- Inclusive Access Model for Universal Arts Participationmethodology: universal_access_to_artsBy removing financial, sensory, and social barriers through subsidized tickets, community partnerships, relaxed performances, and sensory-rich design, Treehouse Shakers increases access to the arts for neurodiverse, underserved, and disabled audiences, because equitable access ensures that all children and families—regardless of ability or socioeconomic status—can benefit from artistic experiences.
- Interdisciplinary, Sensory-Based Theater for Early Childhoodmethodology: sensory_and_movement_based_theaterBy designing original performances that combine movement, puppetry, music, and sensory stimuli tailored to developmental stages (e.g., infants, toddlers), Treehouse Shakers creates meaningful first theatrical experiences that foster exploration, imagination, and learning, because sensory and physical engagement is foundational to how very young children understand and interact with the world.