Where Choreography Meets Farm Machinery

The Hay Rake Ballet—a choreographed dance performance of farm machinery—made its modest but moving debut during the 2024 Farm/Art DTour. Now, we are continuing our collaboration with choreographer, and former resident artist, Sarah Gordon Butler and a cast of adventurous local farmers led by Andy Enge to grow the Ballet into a full scale production coinciding with the complete process of making hay in fall 2026.

Framing everyday farming practices within a classical dance aesthetic, the Ballet pays homage to the inherent craft and significance of family farm-scale agricultural practices. It represents a rare fusion of contemporary art and lived rural experience, offering a window into the culture embedded in agriculture and space for inspiration, creative exploration, and pride of place.

Artist's Field Research

The 2025 growing season was all about research and development—as we evolve this work from a proof of concept into a fully choreographed, multi-act performance and test what works in concert with the harvest.

Much like farming itself, the work requires adaptability and flexibility, with its final choreographic form dependent upon daily conditions and relationships with the farmers who “read” the score of the land based on their unique knowledge.

Coming September 2026

Join us for the full scale production as we “make hay while the sun shines." More details to come.

Farming on any scale is highly choreographed. Farmers interact on the land with machinery, animals, and one another. They must be ready to improvise: the dance changes depending upon the task, the crew and tools needed to accomplish it, and the weather. Though it is seldom considered an aesthetic practice, with the proper perspective and sensitive guide, its beauty and power can be recognized and celebrated.”