The School at Jacob's Pillow Announces New Choreography Program
By: BWW News Desk Nov. 02, 2017
Jacob's Pillow announces the launch of The Ann & Weston Hicks Choreography Fellows Program in summer of 2018, marking continued implementation of Vision '22, the institution's five-year growth plan to support and expand its role as a year-round center for dance creation and research.
Directed by two revered artists and mentors, Dianne McIntyre and Risa Steinberg, this ten-day program is underwritten for eight, early-career choreographers approximately 20-30 years of age. Specifically designed for artists looking to advance their work, refine their choreographic voice, and expand their network, this program creates an intimate choreographic intensive at The School at Jacob's Pillow, a world renowned center for professional dance training.
From June through August, The School at Jacob's Pillow will offer five additional Professional Advancement Programs: Ballet, Contemporary, Musical Theatre Dance, Art of Photographing Dance, and a rare, in-depth, two-week program in Gaga: The Movement Language of Ohad Naharin.
"Bessie Schönberg, from 1980 until her death in 1997, taught choreography at the Pillow in a way that so many in our field remember," says Jacob's PillowDirector Pamela Tatge. "After conducting extensive research to understand what this program should encompass for today's artists, we are honored that Dianne and Risa accepted our invitation to turn this research into a vibrant, dynamic program that takes advantage of all that the Pillow has to offer. I'm so grateful to our Trustee Ann Hicks and her husband Weston for making this possible. We're thrilled to host a choreographic program again, along with the continuation of five, deeply-respected Professional Advancement Programs, including our annually-changing program that this year will focus on Gaga."
In 2018, The School moves into its brand new home-the $5.5 million, 7,373 square foot, state-of-the-art Perles Family Studio-praised as a "study in cutting-edge design" (Architectural Digest). Bringing together a faculty of renowned artists across multiple disciplines, The School at Jacob's Pillowoffers incomparable experience in furthering artistic development and professional opportunities. Faculty are both revered legends and today's most esteemed dance innovators. They lead classes, rehearsals, and seminars while coaching and guiding dancers inside and outside of the studio. Living and studying at the Pillow means performing weekly for Festival audiences, taking Master Classes with Festival artists, seeing at least ten to fifteen companies on three stages, attending public talks by artists and dance scholars, viewing exhibits, and researching personal dance interests, or assigned topics in the Jacob's Pillow Archives.
"At the Pillow, I see dancers gaining a deeper understanding of the intensity necessary to live and work as a dance artist. They depart with confidence, possibilities, tools, and a supportive peer and artist network that will enable them to do just that. Working in the Perles Family Studio this year will magnify this experience, for both our dancers and artist faculty," says "J.R." Glover, The Carole and Dan Burack Director of The School at Jacob's Pillow.
Visit jacobspillow.org for more information. Program details, artist faculty updates and bios, and application requirements will be announced December 1.
The Ann & Weston Hicks Choreography Fellows Program, August 21-31
Led by long-time transformative dance artists and mentors, Dianne McIntyre and Risa Steinberg, eight inaugural Choreography Fellows will be guided through extensive studio time to evolve a choreographic idea. The program is fully process-oriented, with no expectation for an end product or showing. Fellows will use discussions, assignments, and feedback sessions to craft and evolve choreography. Festival choreographers, guest choreographers, and other professionals will meet with Fellows throughout the program to share additional insights and career advice.
Each of the eight Choreography Fellows will be able to invite two dancers to join them, ensuring that work developed at the Pillow can continue in their home communities, if desired. Fellows will have all participation costs underwritten, except for travel expenses. Each dancer will receive a modest participation stipend.
"Through guidance, feedback, and exposure to the work of established choreographers, the young Fellows will have the dedicated time and space to answer: Who am I as an artist? What do I want to say? And how do I want to say it? The Fellows will also receive widespread attention as a result of their connection with the iconic Jacob's Pillow," says Program Director Dianne McIntyre.
"The future of art lives in the hands of the makers and the doers. To have platforms that mentor and support the continuing growth of choreographers is invaluable. This new initiative at Jacob's Pillow will offer the Fellows an ability to cross reference the past, viewed through the Archives, with the present by viewing live performances and interacting with some of today's makers. It is a privilege to be a part of this new endeavor," says Program Director Risa Steinberg.
Dianne McIntyre is a dancer, choreographer, and cultural investigator, who creates work in dance, opera, film, and theatre, including Broadway. Known for collaborations with live "jazz" musicians, she founded and directed Sounds in Motion Company and School in Harlem for many years. She has held residencies at Baryshnikov Arts Center and Dance Place, with recent commissions by Dance Theatre of Harlem and two at New York Live Arts. Screen credits include Beloved and Miss Evers' Boys, garnering her an Emmy nomination, while her dance-driven dramas, drawn from interviews, include I Could Stop on a Dime... and Open the Door, Virginia! Honors include three New York Dance and Performance ("Bessie") Awards, the 2016 Doris Duke Artist Award, a Guggenheim Fellowship, two honorary degrees, numerous grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, NYSCA, and other funders as she continues to mentor, teach, and choreograph with her own ensembles, numerous universities, American Dance Festival, and Jacob's Pillow.
Risa Steinberg is an active member of the dance community as a performer, teacher, re-constructor of the works of José Limón, and mentor to young, emerging, and established choreographers. A former principal dancer with the American Repertory Dance Company, Anna Sokolow's Player's Project, Annabelle Gamson, Bill Cratty Dance Theater, Colin Connor, and José Limón Dance Company, Steinberg has also been a guest artist with choreographers including DanzaHoy of Caracas, Venezuela, Sean Curran, and Wally Cardona. Her acclaimed solo concert, A Celebration of Dance, featured repertory from Isadora Duncan to contemporary choreographers. She is faculty at The Juilliard School since 2001 and held the position of Associate Director of Juilliard Dance from 2009-2016. She is on the Artists Advisory board for the José Limón Dance Foundation and is on the selection committee of The Bessies. Steinberg is currently the Choreographic Advisor and Rehearsal Coach for Brian Brooks Moving Company, Kate Weare Dance Company, and is a performer in Sleep No More.
Gaga: The Movement Language of Ohad Naharin, June 25-July 8
Gaga is an innovative movement language created by Ohad Naharin, hailed as one of the world's most preeminent contemporary choreographers. Honed through his work as Artistic Director of Israel-based Batsheva Dance Company, Gaga has far-reaching influence on current dance training internationally, as a rigorous and empowering language for dancers to discover the many and varied nuances of their moving bodies and imaginations.
Two former Batsheva Dance Company members, now Gaga senior instructors, will guide this multi-sensory, physically challenging, two-week immersive experience for dancers to directly connect to the intent and expressive powers of Gaga. Each day will begin with a Gaga/dancers class, similar to the ones given to the Batsheva Dance Company. Repertory rehearsals will require applying Gaga principles to deeply research and embody Naharin's choreography. A Gaga Methodics session concludes the day for dancers to deepen their research and ability to use and understand fundamental elements of the language. Each week features a master class and career-building discussion with Festival artists, including one with Mr. Naharin, as well as Open Rehearsals for Festival audiences, held on the iconic outdoor stage, on June 30 and July 7.
For 25 dancers at an advanced pre-professional or professional level, age 18 and up.
Ballet, June 11-24
Directed by ballet luminary Anna-Marie Holmes, dancers are prepared for the artistic range and technical rigor required to gain work with leading classical ballet companies. An exciting, first challenge will be learning and refining the performance quality of a new work, created on them, by the highly sought-after choreographerAnnabelle Lopez Ochoa in five days. Lopez Ochoa and dancers present the work's world premiere at the June 16 Season Opening Gala.
Dancers are also coached in classical solo, pas de deux, and ensemble works by renowned artistic directors and principal dancers. These repertoire classics, and the new Lopez Ochoa work, are performed June 23 for Festival audiences on the Pillow's iconic outdoor stage.
Anna-Marie Holmes is an internationally acclaimed choreographer, coach to principal dancers worldwide, master teacher, and dance luminary. Holmes is a recipient of the prestigious Dance Magazine Award and an Emmy Award for her staging of Le Corsaire for American Ballet Theatre's PBS Great Performances.
For 22 advanced pre-professional or professional level ballet dancers, age 16 and up.
Contemporary, July 9-29
Under the direction of contemporary dance mentor and master teacher Milton Myers, daily studio work and weekly performance experiences prepare dancers to meet the expectations and requirements of today's most in-demand artistic directors. In 2018, dancers will work with choreographers Ronald K. Brown, Cayetano Soto, and Didy Veldman to deepen their ability to communicate stylistically diverse choreographic intent and become articulate, versatile artists. Dancers will present the works in progress created on them on the iconic outdoor stage for Festival audiences on July 14, 21, and 28. Master Classes and career-building discussions led by Festival artists and attending Festival performances, talks, and events add depth and breadth to the dancers' studio experiences.
Milton Myers is recognized worldwide as a master teacher, choreographer, company teacher, and is on the faculties of The Ailey School, the Ailey/Fordham B.F.A. Program, and The Juilliard School. Philadelphia-based composer, pianist, and synthesist John Levis serves as Music Director.
For 24 contemporary dancers at an advanced pre-professional or professional level with strong performance skills, age 16 and up.
Musical Theatre Dance, July 30-August 20
Chet Walker and award-winning Broadway choreographers, directors, composers, arrangers, and musicians collaboratively create original numbers weekly on the program's performers. Shared as works-in-progress for Festival audiences on August 4, 11, and 18, this work quickly creates an ensemble able to shift between characters, moods, and styles. With the same dedicated, fast-paced rigor used to mount Broadway productions, artist faculty and performers build a body of dance and vocal work that is presented as a benefit for The School at Jacob's Pillow on August 19. Held in the Ted Shawn Theatre with a live band, and perhaps an appearance or two by alumni of The School, this is an exciting culmination to three weeks of morning-to-night studio experiences. Artist Faculty are announced in the spring to accommodate the professional commitments of musical theatre directors and choreographers.
Chet Walker, who was a prominently featured performer in the musicals of Bob Fosse, is the conceiver of the Tony Award-winning musical Fosse. An internationally lauded director and choreographer, his work in the Tony Awarded Best Musical Revival Pippin earned a 2013 Tony Nomination for Best Choreography and a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Choreography.
For 24 musical theatre performers, with singing and acting experience, at an advanced pre-professional or professional dance level, age 16 and up.
Art of Photographing Dance, August 21-26
Directed by award-winning dance photographer Rose Eichenbaum, photographers will focus on developing a more highly attuned photographic eye, personal aesthetic, and build confidence behind the lens. In addition to honing technical skills, students will work toward an understanding of the mechanics and vocabulary of dance movement while strengthening communication skills to work with dancer-models collaboratively, safely, and effectively. Assignments will be broad in range and scope to enhance the photographer's capabilities for creating action shots, portraits, documentary, commercial and editorial work, and fine art images. Sessions will take place in studios, on the stage, and in site-specific locations on and around the beautiful Pillow grounds. Photographers will also attend Festival performances, rehearsals, and events, and have access to the renowned Jacob's PillowArchives in this fully dance-immersive experience.
Rose Eichenbaum is an award-winning photographer and one of the most respected photojournalists working in the arts today. Eichenbaum has more than 25 years experience teaching and has photographed many of the world's most celebrated dance companies and solo artists. Eichenbaum is also the author of several books including Masters of Movement: Portraits of America's Great Choreographers, The Dancer Within-Intimate Conversations with Great Dancers, and Inside the Dancer's Art-A Thirty year Photographic Journey.
For 13 photographers with prior photography training, age 16 and up. Prior dance photography experience is not required.
The School at Jacob's Pillowis one of the most prestigious and sought-after international dance training centers. Six professional advancement programs connect a highly accomplished student body of young dance artists with an artist faculty of the field's foremost legends and innovators. Beginning in 2018, The School moves into the new, cutting edge-designed, state-of-the-art Perles Family Studio where classes and rehearsals are open for public observation. The School is one of only five organizations in the United States selected for the Talented Students in the Arts Initiative award, a collaboration between the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and the Surdna Foundation, Inc. Through the Initiative, The Fund for Jacob's Pillow School Endowment was established to ensure the availability of scholarships, world-class faculty, and free access to all Festival performances and events for all faculty and students. Alumni of The School include dance luminaries such as Nikolaj Hübbe, Meredith Monk, Mia Michaels, and Robert Swinston; choreographers John Heginbotham, Emery LeCrone, Loni London, Paloma McGregor, Mark Morris, Nelly Van Bommel; Bessie Award winners Doug Elkins, Sydnie L. Mosley, Caleb Teicher, Melissa Toogood, Anna Schon; Princess Grace Award winners Craig Black, Paige Fraser, Jacqueline Green, Jacqulin Harris; just to name a few. Others often appear in Dance Magazine's "25 To Watch," on Broadway, in companies worldwide, and return to the Festival as artistic directors, choreographers, performers, and artist faculty. For more information, visit www.jacobspillow.org/education/school.
Jacob's Pillow is a National Historic Landmark, recipient of the National Medal of Arts, and home to America's longest-running international dance festival. While celebrating its 85th Festival in 2017, the Pillow announced its transition to becoming a year-round center for dance through a five-year strategic plan titled Vision '22. Each Festival includes more than 50 national and international dance companies and over 350 free and ticketed performances, talks, tours, classes, exhibits, events, and community programs. The School at Jacob's Pillow, one of the most prestigious professional dance training centers in the U.S., encompasses the diverse disciplines of Ballet, Contemporary, Musical Theatre Dance, an annual rotating dance program, Choreography, and Photography. The Pillow also provides professional advancement opportunities across disciplines of arts administration, design, video, and production through seasonal internships and a year-round Administrative Fellows program. With growing community engagement programs, the Pillow serves as a partner and active citizen in its local community. The Pillow's extensive Archives, open year-round to the public, chronicle more than a century of dance in photographs, programs, books, costumes, audiotapes, and videos. Notable artists who have created or premiered dances at the Pillow include choreographers Antony Tudor, Agnes De Mille, Alvin Ailey, Donald McKayle, Kevin Mckenzie, Twyla Tharp, Ralph Lemon, Susan Marshall, Trisha Brown, Ronald K. Brown, Wally Cardona, Andrea Miller, and Trey McIntyre; performed by artists such as Mikhail Baryshnikov, Carmen de Lavallade, Mark Morris, Dame Margot Fonteyn, Edward Villella, Rasta Thomas, and hundreds of others. On March 2, 2011, President Barack Obama honored Jacob's Pillow with a National Medal of Arts, the highest arts award given by the United States Government, making the Pillow the first dance presenting organization to receive this prestigious award. For more information, visit www.jacobspillow.org.
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