Week Seven at Jacob's Pillow
Bill T. Jones/ Arnie Zane and Shamel Pitts
By: Pillow - Jul 29, 2025
In Week 7 of the 93rd Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, Touch of RED by Shamel Pitts | TRIBE will get a Jacob’s Pillow premiere that has been five years in the making. This performance will be a homecoming: Shamel Pitts and his company were developing Touch of RED during a Pillow Lab residency in the original Doris Duke Theatre when the building was lost to a fire in November 2020. Now, after premiering the work thanks to a Jacob’s Pillow co-presentation at MASS MoCA in October of 2022, and offering a brief excerpt during the Doris Duke Theatre Opening Celebration on July 9, Touch of RED will run August 6 through 10 in the new, internationally lauded venue.
Called “a dazzling show,” (Fjord Review), the one-hour piece—set in a stylized boxing ring—examines the way Black men are perceived and perceive themselves in contemporary society, incorporating the footwork of boxing, the African American jazz dance style Lindy Hop, Gaga movement language, and nightlife culture. Pitts, whose works “push against the boundaries of identity” (Dance Magazine), is an award winning choreographer, dancer, and artist who received a 2024 MacArthur Fellowship.
In the Ted Shawn Theatre, Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company will make their first appearance at the Pillow since 2012, running August 6 through 10. Now in their 43rd year, the company is performing two seminal works from their historic repertoire: D-Man in the Waters set to Felix Mendelssohn’s soaring Octet for Strings (1989) and Story/ (2013) performed to Death and the Maiden by Franz Schubert played live. . One of the most innovative and powerful forces in the contemporary dance world, Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company is known for performances that explore beauty and abstraction as well themes of identity, form, and social commentary. The company has a deep history with the Pillow and has performed here ten times between 1989 and 2012.
Select schools from the American College Dance Association’s National College Dance Festival, the culmination of the organization’s regional festivals, will take over the outdoor Henry J. Leir stage on Wednesday, August 6 at 5:30pm. Also on the outdoor stage during Week 7 are Ice Theatre of New York, which makes its Pillow debut with ice dance and skating works created by dance choreographers on Thursday, August 7 at 5:30pm. Closing out the week of outdoor performances will be Michela Marino Lerman on Friday, August 8 and Saturday, August 9 at 5:30pm, as she leads an ensemble of tap dancers and musicians in a piece celebrating the legacy of Betty Carter.
Week 7 will also bring a much-anticipated PillowTalk on Saturday, August 9, with Bill T. Jones. This PillowTalk is a rare opportunity to hear Jones—one of the dance world’s foremost trailblazers and a MacArthur “Genius” Award winner—speak firsthand about art and life. Also on August 9, the public is invited for a Pause in the Process showing with The School at Jacob’s Pillow Tap Dance Performance Ensemble.
And on Sunday, August 10, from 11am-12pm, participants of all ages are invited to Dance to the African Drums: A Family Experience.
“As we enter the second half of the 93rd Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, I am especially thrilled to welcome Shamel Pitts and TRIBE for their homecoming with Touch of RED in the new Doris Duke Theatre,” said Pamela Tatge, Executive and Artistic Director at Jacob’s Pillow. “I can’t wait to witness the intimate and virtuosic duet in the boxing ring-like environment we can create for the work in the new Duke. Having Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane company back at the Pillow that same week will be so special, as they perform the iconic D-Man in the Waters (which was created the same year as the company’s Pillow debut) and we can’t wait to hear Jones’s insights during his PillowTalk. And we always enjoy hosting schools from the American College Dance Association, furthering our mission to nurture and give opportunity to the next generation of artists. It will be an incredibly meaningful, inspirational week at the Pillow.”
All performances are now on sale. Outdoor performances include the option to purchase Rain or Shine tickets, which allow guaranteed access to an indoor venue in the event of inclement weather. Tickets to Shamel Pitts | TRIBE begin at $85. Tickets to Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company begin at $65. Tickets to the American College Dance Association and to Ice Theatre of New York are Choose What You Pay, allowing ticket buyers to set the price of their purchase, with Rain or Shine tickets available for $40. Tickets to Michela Marino Lerman begin at $40, with Rain or Shine tickets available for $50.
ABOUT SHAMEL PITTS | TRIBE
Dancer, artist, and choreographer Shamel Pitts creates provocative dance works that “push against the boundaries of identity” (Dance Magazine). His company TRIBE will perform Touch of RED, inspired by the rapid-fire footwork of boxing, the African American jazz dance style Lindy Hop, Gaga movement language, and nightlife culture. Set in a stylized ring, this dance duet examines the way Black men are perceived and perceive themselves in contemporary society.
Pitts is a 2020 Guggenheim Fellow, a 2024 Doris Duke Artist, and recently received a 2024 MacArthur Fellowship. He is the recipient of a 2018 Princess Grace Award in Choreography, a 2019 NYSCA/NYFA Artist Fellowship Award in Choreography, and a 2024 Knight Choreography Prize. Pitts’s “BLACK series” has toured extensively worldwide since 2016.
To complement his week-long performance run in the Doris Duke Theatre, Shamel Pitts has also been commissioned by Jacob’s Pillow to create a digital-first work for audiences to experience on their own devices from anywhere in the world. This piece, titled O.K., is created by Shamel Pitts | TRIBE and Edson Pavoni, and uses multimedia to express the intense intimacy between the performers in Touch of RED. It will be released alongside the company’s performances in the Doris Duke Theatre in early August.
ABOUT BILL T. JONES/ARNIE ZANE COMPANY
Now in its 43rd year, Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company is one of the most innovative and powerful forces in the contemporary dance world. Emerging from years of collaboration between Bill T. Jones and Arnie Zane, their performances foreshadow issues of identity, form, and social commentary that would change the face of American dance.
A Tony Award-winning choreographer, dancer, and director, Bill T. Jones has received a MacArthur “Genius” Award, recognition at the 2010 Kennedy Center Honors, two Tony Awards for Best Choreography, and the 2010 Jacob’s Pillow Dance Award. Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company has performed worldwide in over 200 cities, in 30 countries on six continents. The company has a storied history of performing at Jacob’s Pillow, having appeared ten times previously, beginning in 1989 and most recently in 2012.
This summer, the company will present an electric program featuring a seminal work by its founders: the exuberant Bessie Award-winning D-Man in the Waters (1989), a work set to music by Felix Mendelssohn that captures the resilience of a generation during the 1980s AIDS epidemic. In addition to this signature work, Jones will also present a pièce d’occasion: a site-based version of Story/ (2013) with new stories and live music accompaniment by a string quartet, performed by musicians Pauline Kim, Conrad Harris, Celia Hatton, and Andrew Janss.
Check out this playlist on Jacob's Pillow Dance Interactive, with clips curated by Director of Preservation Norton Owen to celebrate Bill T. Jones:
https://danceinteractive.jacobspillow.org/playlists/celebrating-bill-t-jones/#1
ABOUT AMERICAN COLLEGE DANCE ASSOCIATION
Jacob’s Pillow proudly hosts a night of performances by college and university dance programs from around the country, all selected from their American College Dance Association regional conference. This year’s selected performances include pieces from Bates College; Fresno City College; Rutgers University; University of California, Irvine; and University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.
The American College Dance Association (ACDA) supports and promotes a wealth of talent and creativity from college and university dance departments. Each spring, ACDA organizes eleven regional conferences at various member colleges and universities around the country, featuring performances, workshops, panels, and classes. These regional conferences provide the opportunity for undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, and guest artists to have their dance works adjudicated by a panel of nationally recognized dance professionals in an anonymous and constructive setting. Adjudicators select works for the Gala Concert, a culminating event of the conference, and for the ACDA National College Dance Festival. Jacob’s Pillow then selects work from the National College Dance Festival to present on the Leir Stage.
ABOUT ICE THEATRE OF NEW YORK
Ice Theatre of New York is the first non-profit ice dance company in the nation, blending artistry and athleticism to elevate skating as a performing art. This one-night performance will allow Berkshire audiences a rare opportunity to enjoy ice skating in the summer, with dancers performing in skates atop a special flooring.
Founded in 1984 by Moira North, Ice Theatre of New York has presented over 125 original works from acclaimed skating, ballet, and modern dance choreographers. The company presents dozens of free public performances each season at iconic New York locations, including Rockefeller Center, Bryant Park, and Central Park’s Wollman Rink. With a diverse ensemble of skaters and a commitment to innovation, Ice Theatre of New York is a unique gem of New York’s cultural scene, creating mesmerizing performances that merge dance, ice, and storytelling.
ABOUT MICHELA MARINO LERMAN
Michela Marino Lerman is a tap dancer, choreographer, musician, and educator, celebrated for her dynamic performances and innovative approach to tap. Recognized by Downbeat Magazine as “jazz’s premier tap dancer,” her work explores the intersection of tap and jazz, elevating tap as both dance and music. This summer, Lerman leads an ensemble of three tap dancers and four musicians in Steppin’ with “The Kid”: A Celebration of Betty Carter, honoring iconic vocalist and one of Lerman’s greatest inspirations, Betty Carter.
A lifetime honorary member of The Copasetics and recipient of the Hoofer Award, Marino Lerman has performed at iconic venues like the Kennedy Center, Jazz at Lincoln Center, and Carnegie Hall. Mentored by tap legends Gregory Hines, Buster Brown, and others, she has collaborated with jazz greats including Wynton Marsalis, Esperanza Spalding, and Jon Batiste. As a teacher, Marino Lerman shares her expertise at universities and tap festivals worldwide, continuing to push the boundaries of tap dance in music. In 2021, she was featured on one in a set of five Commemorative Forever Stamps, issued by the U.S. Postal Service, celebrating tap dance as an American art form.
PERFORMANCE & TICKET DETAILS
Tickets are on sale now; online at jacobspillow.org and via phone at 413.243.0745
To learn more about our select Livestreams and Encore Streams, and to register to watch for free, visit jacobspillow.org/live
Shamel Pitts | TRIBE
August 6-August 10; Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday at 8pm; Friday and Sunday at 2:30pm
Doris Duke Theatre | Tickets from $85
Livestream: Thursday, August 7 at 8pm
Encore Stream: Sunday, August 10 at 8pm through Monday, August 11 at 8pm
Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company
August 6-August 10; Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday at 7:30pm; Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 2pm
Ted Shawn Theatre | Tickets from $65
American College Dance Association
Wednesday, August 6 at 5:30pm
Henry J. Leir Stage | Choose What You Pay; Rain or Shine tickets from $40
Ice Theatre of New York
Thursday, August 7 at 5:30pm
Henry J. Leir Stage | Choose What You Pay; Rain or Shine tickets from $40
Michela Marino Lerman
August 8-August 9; Friday and Saturday at 5:30pm
Henry J. Leir Stage | Shine Only from $40; Rain or Shine tickets from $50
ADDITIONAL EVENTS
Morning Classes
August 5-8; Tuesday through Friday, 9-10am
Open to all dance experience levels, ages 16+. Offered weekly through the summer in Sommers Studio. $15 per class; $60 for 5 class card. Pay via online pre-registration or cash/card at the door.
- Ballet with Isadora Wolfe: Tuesdays through August 19
- Modern/Contemporary with Sayer Mansfield, Ryoko Kudo, Sarah Zehnder, and Barbie Diewald: Wednesdays through August 20
- West African Dance & Spiritual Well-Being with Truth Hunter, Tara Murphy, and Noel Staples-Freeman, with live drumming by Aimee Gelinas and Daniel Cohen: Thursdays through August 21
- Zumba® or The Quilombo Experience with Luana Dias David: Fridays through August 22
In Studio Pause in the Process Showings by The School: Tap Dance Performance Ensemble
Saturday, August 9, 1pm
Perles Family Studio | FREE
Join The School’s Tap Dance Performance Ensemble for an informal sharing of their work in the studio together during their second week of the 2025 Tap Dance Program. Led by Program Directors Derick K. Grant and Dormeshia, this showing will include work by renowned Artist Faculty Heather Cornell and Sam Weber. Seating is limited; priority entry given to visitors who pre-register online. Walk-ups are also welcome, pending availability.
PillowTalk: Bill T. Jones
Saturday, August 9, 4pm
Blake’s Barn | FREE | Livestream available, no registration required.
Bill T. Jones is one of the dance world’s foremost trailblazers and a recipient of a MacArthur "Genius" Award, two Tony Awards for Best Choreography, and the Human Rights Campaign Visibility Award. Jones’s dances are invitations to celebrate humanity, beauty, and justice. This PillowTalk is a rare opportunity to hear him speak firsthand about art and life, in conversation with Scholar-in-Residence Aimee Meredith Cox.
Workshop with Festival Artists: Tap with Derick K. Grant
Sunday, August 10, 10am-11:30am
Open to all dance experience levels, ages 12+
Join Tap artist and choreographer Derick K. Grant for an exhilarating tap class that celebrates rhythm, technique, and expression. With a famed dance career spanning three decades and starring in iconic productions like Bring In ‘Da Noise, Bring In ‘Da Funk and Imagine Tap, Grant brings a wealth of knowledge and a passion for storytelling through sound and movement. Wear comfortable clothing; sneakers or hard soled shoes/tap shoes recommended.
Dance to the African Drums: A Family Experience
Sunday, August 10, 11am-12pm
Sommers Studio | Registration required
Join artist Noel Staples-Freeman for a joyful West African dance class for family members of all ages. Explore the vibrant rhythms and movement of West African culture while connecting with each other through dance. This fun and playful class invites creativity, learning through play, celebrates family bonds, and offers a unique opportunity to experience the joy of movement together. We’ll also explore the roots of traditional movement and the stories they tell, deepening our connection to the culture. $30 per class, per family. Recommended for all ages. Class size will be limited to 12 families per event.
Jacob’s Pillow partners with Barrington Stage Company’s Celebration of Black Voices
featuring Kia The Key & Company
Saturday, August 5, 5pm
The Common, 100 First St, Pittsfield, MA 01201
Jacob’s Pillow partners with Barrington Stage Company’s 5th annual Celebration of Black Voices festival to present Kia The Key & Company. Led by Artist Director Shakia “The Key” Barron, the program begins with an interactive lecture demonstration, followed by excerpts from the company’s latest work The Gathering. Participants of all ages are invited to learn, move, and celebrate in this joyful, community-centered event. For more information, please visit: https://www.jacobspillow.org/events/celebration-of-black-voices/.
FESTIVAL EXHIBITS & ARCHIVES – ONGOING
CONNECTING THROUGH TIME: 50 SEASONS WITH NORTON OWEN
Curated by Pillow alum Wendy Perron, American dancer and choreographer, dance historian, and former Editor-in-Chief of Dance Magazine, this exhibit celebrates Director of Preservation Norton Owen, who for fifty seasons has delved into the past to highlight the present and look toward the future. Blake’s Barn and the Norton Owen Reading Room; open Tue-Sun, noon through final curtain.
DANCING THE ALGORITHM
Curated by Katherine Helen Fisher, this exhibit features artists whose works illuminate how the dancing body doesn’t just adapt to technology, but shapes it, challenges it, and celebrates the new possibilities it creates. The exhibit includes Lamentation: Dancing the Archive, an installation inviting audiences to engage with a 360° film of Martha Graham’s iconic solo, created by Xin Ying with Katherine Helen Fisher, Alan Winslow, and Kate Ladenheim. The exhibit features works by Memo Akten, Lauren Bedal, Shimmy Boyle, Mingyong Cheng, Kianí Del Valle, Hamill Industries (Pablo Barquin and Anna Diaz), Nora Gibson, David Wallace Haskins, Katie Peyton Hofstadter, KAMBARA+ (Yayoi Kambara), Armon Naeini, Operator (Ania Catherine and Dejha Ti), and Daniel Sierra. The score for the interactive exhibit space is composed by Josh Kadish / Vviota. Doris Duke Theatre Gallery; Open Wed-Sun, noon through 15 minutes after final curtain.
AILEY CONNECTIONS
With connections spanning more than seven decades, the Pillow and Alvin Ailey have been aligned in spirit since two of Ailey’s earliest works were performed here in 1954. Encompassing such Ailey icons as Carmen de Lavallade, James Truitte, and Judith Jamison, this exhibition curated by Norton Owen highlights some of the remarkable history that these two landmark dance institutions have shared.<> Ted Shawn Theatre Lobby; open Tue-Sun, noon through final curtain.
Jacob’s Pillow Archives/Norton Owen Reading Room
This spacious, informal library and reading room allows visitors to view videos, browse through books, access the Pillow's computer catalog, or peruse permanent collections of Pillow programs and photographs from the Archives. The Reading Room and new Special Collections Room also feature historical costumes selected by Costume Curator Caroline Hamilton, recent donations, and more archival treasures from the Stephan Driscoll Collection. Blake’s Barn; open Tues.-Sun., noon through final curtain.
Online Exhibit: Jacob’s Pillow Dance Interactive
This evolving online resource features breathtaking video highlights of Pillow performances from the early 1930s through today, with an expanded section of multimedia essays featuring talks, photos, and other exclusive content organized into various themes. danceinteractive.jacobspillow.org.