Jacob's Pillow Presents Les Ballets Jazz de Montreal in 3 Works, 6/30-7/4

Les Ballets Jazz de Montréal, the acclaimed contemporary dance company renowned for its quirky choreography, dynamic movement quality, and sleek technique, performs at Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival June 30-July 4.

This Canadian-based repertory company, lauded as "athletic, versatile, and physically beautiful" (Michael Crabb, Pointe Magazine) will present three colorful, exuberant works; Les Chambres des Jacques by Aszure Barton, and Locked Up Laura and Zip Zap Zoom by international choreographer Annabelle Lopez Ochoa.

Aszure Barton's Les Chambres des Jacques incorporates daily life and its trivialities into the choreography. Roslyn Sulcas of The New York Times calls the work "a rare instance of a dance that feels as if it were plucked straight from the choreographer's extremely specific imagination and set, full-grown, onstage. Les Chambres offers an entire world, full of surprise and humor, emotion and pain, expressed through a dance vocabulary that takes ballet technique and dismantles it to near-invisibility." The work uses a diverse score that ranges from classical Antonio Vivaldi arias through to Yiddish and Gypsy music, lending the choreography an eclectic backdrop. Aszure Barton is recognized as one of Canada's leading choreographers, and has choreographed for prestigious individuals and companies worldwide including Mikhail Baryshnikov, Fang-Yi Sheu, The National Ballet of Canada, American Ballet Theatre, Sydney Dance Company, The Juilliard School, The Martha Graham Dance Company, and Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. Barton's company has performed at Jacob's Pillow in 2004, 2005, and 2006, and she served on the faculty of The School at Jacob's Pillow in 2009.

The program offered by Les Ballets Jazz de Montréal at Jacob's Pillow is rounded out by two works by half-Colombian half-Belgian Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, hailed the "rising star of the Dutch dance scene" (NRC newspaper). This award-winning choreographer is extremely versatile, having worked for dance companies such as Pennsylvania Ballet, Royal Ballet of Flanders, and Ballet Hispanico, as well as creating fresh new work for theatre, opera, and musical theatre. Locked Up Laura is a sensual, leggy duo originally created for Les Ballets Jazz in 2008. The intricate en pointe partnering of Locked Up Laura creates "an intertwining choreographic snapshot of an artist in turmoil" (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette).

In Zip Zap Zoom, the choreographer places her dancers into the spectacular virtual world of an online game. The audience becomes the ‘player,' witnessing these avatars (alter egos used on internet forums and in online gaming) as they move according to the commands of the game. This witty, topical work combines sophisticated multimedia set projections with energetic, hip-hop-inspired dancing.

Founded in 1972, Les Ballets Jazz de Montréal has developed loyal audiences around the world, as well as in its native Canada. Its tours have taken the company across North and South America, Australia, Russia, Africa, and throughout Europe.

Known as a ‘feel good company' of exquisitely trained contemporary dancers, Les Ballets Jazz de Montréal (also known as BJM DANSE MONTRÉAL) explores the creative side of contemporary trends, while remaining firmly committed to classical aesthetics. Making a conscious effort to remain accessible, the company is praised for its ability to connect with both informed audiences and those new to dance. Recently, under the direction of Louis Robitaille, the company has commissioned and performed works by choreographers such as Crystal Pite, Mauro Bigonzetti, and Rodrigo Pederneiras. This engagement marks the ensemble's Jacob's Pillow debut.

On July 4, 10am-1pm, Jacob's Pillow hosts "Let's Dance!" a new community event aimed at encouraging participation in dance, especially among teens and adults. The event features free dance workshops in Pilates, Zumba, swing dancing, free performances by Boston Tap Company and a group known as Ballroom Dance for Tough Guys, giveaways, music, and food and drink. A free Master Class with Festival artist Camille A. Brown will also be offered for intermediate/advanced dancers (registration required, call 413.243.9919 x5 for information).

Tickets on sale now online at jacobspillow.org, via phone at 413.243.0745, or in person at Jacob's Pillow. The box office hours are Monday through Friday, 10am-5pm, with extended hours during the Festival. Pillow Members receive exclusive benefits. To become a Member call 413.243.9919 x125

Jacob's Pillow is located at 358 George Carter Road in Becket, MA, 01223 (10 minutes east on Route 20 from Mass Pike Exit 2). The Jacob's Pillow campus and theaters are handicapped-accessible.

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