Virtual Pillow Views: Celebrating Creativity

April 2013

Greetings!

Activity abounds year-round at the Pillow, nowhere more excitingly than in the Doris Duke Theater where resident artists are busily making new work during Creative Development Residencies. All of the artists represented below have made work at the Pillow, and some of these clips feature the results of that onsite creativity.

But wherever these dances were made, it's clear that creativity is part of the Pillow's DNA. And we're delighted to celebrate the new life of this Spring season by sharing some new online videos!

Norton Owen
Director of Preservation
Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival

Newest Additions

Dance Heginbotham in Twin

John Heginbotham was onsite just two weeks ago to work on his newest project, a collaboration with Colin Jacobsen and Brooklyn Rider. While that dance is still in process, here is a 2012 work titled Twin with music by Aphex Twin and a clearly discernible mirror image motif as well as some challenging unison movement.

Jonah Bokaer's Singular Vision

Two of the works that Jonah Bokaer presented this past summer were U.S. premieres that had just been unveiled in Europe, but there was much about these works that was being created on the spot. Visual artist Daniel Arsham crafted new scenic elements for each performance and, with the stage doors of the Duke open behind him, nature's own surprises became part of the show.

More Resident Artists

Doug Elkins and Fräulein Maria

Arriving onsite this week for a Creative Development Residency is Doug Elkins, whose relationship with the Pillow stretches back more than 30 years to his summer as a scholarship student. This clip is actually a montage of two moments from his classic mashup of The Sound of Music, capped off by Elkins himself interpreting "Climb Ev'ry Mountain" as only he can.

Yo-Yo Ma Plays; Mark Morris Dances

One of the most enduring works ever created at the Pillow was Mark Morris's Falling Down Stairs, a collaboration with Yo-Yo Ma which was conceived as part of the "Inspired by Bach" television series encompassing all of Bach's cello suites brought to life by different artists. The entire film is well worth seeing, while this tantalizing excerpt shows off the exceptional space of the Doris Duke Theatre in a way you may have never experienced.

Collaborating with Trisha Brown

Set and Reset is generally regarded as one of Trisha Brown's greatest works, not only for the dynamic dancing but also because of the striking costumes and decor by Robert Rauschenberg and the memorable score by Laurie Anderson. But did you know that this landmark collaboration started right here at Jacob's Pillow? Have a look and transport yourself back to the early 1980s.

Twyla Tharp and The One Hundreds

Another unforgettable moment in time was the rehearsal week for Twyla Tharp's revival of her 1970 group work, The One Hundreds. With dozens of community members on the grounds each day working with Tharp and her dancers, there truly was "a whole lot of shakin' goin' on" (as Jerry Lee Lewis so memorably sings in the score for this dance). You can see Tharp herself leading the troops.

Ted Shawn's Symphonic Visualization

The entire decade of the 1930s might be seen as one extended residency period at the Pillow, as Ted Shawn made new works with his groundbreaking company of Men Dancers throughout these years. Here's a true rarity, one of the few times that Shawn worked with a symphonic score. And thanks to a recent synchronization project, the dance can now be seen with its original accompaniment after more than 75 years of silence.

In Case You Missed It...

Other resident artists:

Virtual Pillow Views represents the monthly culmination of many hours of research, curatorial selection, video editing, and writing. If you enjoy this publication, please consider making a donation to help us continue sharing the latest additions to Dance Interactive with you.

Header Photo Credits (left to right): Ted Shawn, photo Shapiro Studios; Drew Jacoby, photo Liza Voll; Cynthia Gregory, photo ©Jack Vartoogian/FrontRowPhotos; Savion Glover, photo Len Irish; Shantala Shivalingappa, photo C.P. Satyajit