A 2013 documentary directed by Andrew Garrison is hands-down one of the best leadership films I have seen recently. I doubt that was the director’s intent, but from my perspective he has done just that.
“Trash Dance” follows Allison Orr from start to finish as she takes on the unlikely and difficult project of choreographing and staging a modern dance piece for a group of sanitation workers to perform in full gear utilizing their trucks and garbage cans.
To add to the obvious challenges Orr must overcome, the sanitation workers haven’t been consulted or involved in coming up with this “big idea.” They don’t embrace the idea with anything that resembles enthusiasm. (A situation many nonprofit staff and volunteers face frequently.)
The film’s unusual storyline makes it appealing to a diverse audience. After all, who wouldn’t be compelled to watch all the way to the end to find out if an artsy dance choreographer can successfully convince hard-working sanitation employees to perform a modern dance piece? And wouldn’t you stay tuned to see a dance performed with garbage trucks and trashcans?
While I thoroughly enjoyed the film’s storyline, I was captivated by the leadership skills Ms. Orr demonstrated throughout the entire process. She wins the support and respect of the reluctant and uninterested sanitation workers by getting to know them, learning about their jobs, uncovering hidden talents and engaging them as collaborators in the project. She spends as much time learning about them as she does producing the actual dance. As a result, she wins the respect of the workers as they develop a sense of ownership in the project. Along the way, the workers become co-creators as well as willing participants.
In the end, everyone feels an enormous sense of pride and accomplishment with what they created and performed together. To me, that’s what great leadership can accomplish in any setting.
I believe watching this film could foster new insights and spark engaging discussions about leadership among staff and volunteer groups. Viewing it would be especially helpful to those who are about to take on leadership roles in new situations and/or with new groups of people.
You can access “Trash Dance” through Netflix or Amazon (to rent or buy), or watch the trailer for free.
If I haven’t convinced you to watch this film yet, here’s one more reason. Near the end of the film, soft music plays as a lone sanitation worker controlling the actions of a massive crane performs an elegant “ballet.” It is breath-taking. (really!)
