Dance

During the benefit screening of the Wim Wenders film Ella Baff, the artistic director of Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival, shared memories of the renowned German choreographer Pina Bausch. It seems she performed just once at Pillow in 1968 in a program created by Ted Shawn.

Jacob’s Pillow Dance and MASS MoCA will co-present leading Australian contemporary dance company Chunky Move in Connected. Based in Melbourne, the company brings “blasts of choreographic excitement” (Jack Anderson, New York Times) to its performances.

Darrah Carr Dance will present two separate repertories-ModERIN and Irish Extravaganza. Both will feature Irish duets and fusion works, with the Irish Extravaganza also concentrating on traditional group dances. The program will also feature live music on the accordion and spoons

January 2012 will kick off the momentous 80th Anniversary of Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, a National Historic Landmark, National Medal of Arts honoree, and America’s longest-running international dance festival. Founded in 1933 by modern dance pioneer Ted Shawn as a retreat for his company of Men Dancers, Jacob’s Pillow has been a mecca of dance for eight decades.

The Nutcracker has become the messenger for classical music in a world dominated by Katy Perry, Justin Bieber and the Kardashians. Audiences young and old love it.

In extending the movements of dance to the aerial apparatus of the circus, modern dancers add immeasurably to the pleasure of performance. Fly by Night's festival was thrilling.

Joining the ideas of the circus arts with dance opens up the eyes to unimagined images of moving beauty. Tidrick is a determined and brilliant choreographer and performer who deserves a wide audience.

Jacob's Pillow is a national treasure bringing world class dance to the Berkshires. Over the course of the season we have enjoyed the distinct and unique differences between companies. Arguably, from the audience's point of view, Pillow saved the best for last closing the season in the Ted Shawn Theatre with a 30th anniversary performance of Mark Morris Dance Group. They have become a franchise for Tanglewood so we were treated to having the company open and close the season of dance in the Berkshires.

Cisne Negro Dance Company is one of South America's leading dance organizations. It was easy to see why on stage at New York's Joyce Theatre. Rooted in classical ballet forms, the dancers’ moves range from classic positions to poses and gestures only a superb athlete could achieve. In familiar moves members of the company take off in unexpected and delightful tangents.