Six New Reasons to Visit Jacob’s Pillow
Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival in Becket, Massachusetts is always in flux. Here are some of the new things that greeted me during my visit on July 16.
Moving Still.
A stunning exhibit of Lois Greenfield’s latest photos (based on her book of the same title) dazzles the eye in Blake’s Barn until August 28. Director of Preservation Norton Owen has adorned the photos with his own fanciful extensions.
Amy Marshall dancers, photo by Lois Greenfield
Living history.
The newly expanded Norton Owen Reading Room is a place to immerse yourself in videos, books and artifacts dating back to the 1930s. Norton told me that the Hubbard Street Dance Chicago dancers were avidly watching videos of Crystal Pite and of previous performances of their company.
A new director.
Already in this first season with director Pamela Tatge, it’s easy to see she is full of energy. She gave a warm, enthusiastic curtain speech before the Hubbard Street show that put the audience in a mood to enjoy and be curious.
Good eats.
Two new restaurants,
run by a local business, have set up outposts on campus: Haven Café and No. Six Depot with Snack and Coffee Bar. Yum.
The Pillow Store.
This year they are selling a T-shirt with a universal message, and, as usual, the biggest stash of dance books and DVDs sold anywhere.
The Dance Interactive site.
The site has sprouted new features including a fun (and frequently changing) Guess Game and a selection of playlists grouped around themes like international artists and storytelling duets. Now you can have them sent directly to your email.
And of course, the same old wonderful reasons.
When you step onto the Pillow grounds, you are surrounded by dance. The festival offers a fantastic diversity of dance in two theaters and the Inside/Out stage. The School at Jacob’s Pillow gives aspiring dancers a wide array of experiences. Recently I saw Hubbard Street Dance Chicago perform some choice works by Pite, William Forsythe and Alejandro Cerrudo. Coming up is Wendy Whelan’s new project with Brian Brooks and a slew of other tantalizing programs. Click here for the full schedule.
