the Dancing Forest

is an

interactive art installation

which offers a

playful and immersive experience

that celebrates

human connection and the joy of embodied exploration.

the concept:  The Dancing Forest engages your playful self through kinetic interaction where physicality becomes art. The Forest provides a platform for physical harmony, for one person or many. The swaying and interconnected dance of the structure creates a feedback loop of movement and pure joy. Hesitant leaning quickly transforms into ecstatic leaps, the Forest easily holding the space for exploration and interaction. 

the object: The installation consists of a field of 19 steel poles in a triangular grid, 2 feet apart, standing 9 feet tall in a dense tensegrity structure. The poles are attached to the ground with swivel joints, and to each other at the top with elastic webbing. The webbing network is supported at the outer edges by a steel ring 10 ft up, which is suspended from tall outer columns using guy lines and ground anchors. At the top of each pole are sensors and lights on a custom circuit board, in a 3D printed case linked in a wireless network. An outermost ring of poles and cables supports a small shade area and comfortable seating for an audience.  See video

Check out our website theDancingForest.art and instagram @samFabricatesfor more photos and information

(and for donation links without the platform fee here!)

the story

The Dancing Forest inspires people to embrace the innate joy of playfulness, vulnerability, and self-expression. The piece is strong, energetic, deep, and inviting. As participants engage with the tilting poles and witness the enchanting interplay of light and motion, the beauty of physical connections become apparent- with the sculpture and with one another. Every pole tilts the rest, all movements are connected, and everyone dances and plays together. 

Ultimately, the installation aims to cultivate a sense of belonging and unity within the community, where the boundaries of self dissolve, and the exuberant spirit of our inner child emerges ecstatic with the joy of itself and others. 

The Dancing Forest is an artifact of our profound love for engineering and aesthetic and personal challenges. It serves as an artistic expression that merges technology, movement, and human interaction. The installation not only explores technical and creative abilities but also creates an environment that fosters joy and unity among participants.

the installations & ask

We've brought the Dancing Forest magic to a number of wonderful places over the last five years, each time developing the design, increasing the installation, and creating more play. It’s moved people at Lakes of Fire 2018, MI, Figment 2018, IL, unSCruz 2023, CA, and Burning Man 2018, 2022, NV. 

We want to bring the forest to Burning Man in 2023 and unScruz again in 2024. We're pretty darn excited about its newest improvements and additions, and we can’t wait for more people to play in it. We will continue to improve and show the piece into the future.

The Dancing Forest is a manageable sized installation built by a small, dedicated crew (one version fits in a Prius!). It costs a modest amount – but it's more than can be practically spared by the crew. This is art for the community, and it takes community support to make it happen.

The beauty of only needing a modest amount – $3,000 – is that every donation has a big impact. Donations are going to steel poles and cable, circuit boards with LEDs and microcontrollers, lithium-ion batteries, rigging hardware and 3D printing filament. In our wildest dreams of funds, we’ll add improvements that’ll greatly improve the experience of the sculpture, like seating and shade, and we’ll invest in tools for the future of the sculpture. 

Your help makes a big difference- sending money our way, and sending this link around to your community. Have you played in the Dancing Forest? Share your story to your friends and tag us! We want to hear all about it. 

some about us

The Dancing Forest has mostly been created over the last five years by Sam Cooler aka greeeene. She is a scientist and engineer who wants to create clever, refined, strong, joyful installation pieces. Her desire is to create a space in which participants connect meaningfully with themselves and with others through shared interactions with the piece.

Mostly, Sam likes to think of something interesting for an object to do, then figure out how to make it real. It's been a passion to make the Dancing Forest more thrilling and magical every year.

Over the years, she has been joined by a lovely, amazing, hard working, fun set of people.

Currently, Taylor Alexander aka Sequoia plays a key role in developing the electronics and advancing the structure and publicity. Olivia Barrett has invested a ton of love and effort into the piece, year after year. Several other friends have helped with building, installation, design, transportation, and play. Even more random burners have been roped into moving poles around. To all of them Sam says "thank you so much!"

We all hope you have a wonderful time in the Forest.