PillowVoices: Dance Through Time
Jacob's Pillow Archives
PillowVoices: Dance Through Time brings listeners closer to notable dance artists connected with Jacob's Pillow, from 1933 to today. Each piece exemplifies Jacob's Pillow's mission to 'support dance creation, presentation, education, and preservation; and to engage and deepen public appreciation and support for dance' by utilizing archival recordings brought to life in the personal stories and narration of current thought-leaders and scholars. Jacob's Pillow, lauded by The New York Times as "the dance center of the nation," is a National Historic Landmark, a recipient of the prestigious National Medal of Arts, and home to America’s longest-running international dance festival, located in the Berkshires of Western Massachusetts.
PillowVoices is directed and produced by Jennifer Edwards. Ellis Rovin and James Sleeman are our composers and engineers. Music for the opening is by J.S. Bach and the closing theme is by Jess Meeker, both performed by Meeker. Content curator is Norton Owen, and associate curator is Patsy Gay.
PillowVoices is directed and produced by Jennifer Edwards. Ellis Rovin and James Sleeman are our composers and engineers. Music for the opening is by J.S. Bach and the closing theme is by Jess Meeker, both performed by Meeker. Content curator is Norton Owen, and associate curator is Patsy Gay.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Jan 27, 2024 • 24min
The Dance Between Choreography & Technology
Christy Bolingbroke, Executive / Artistic Director of the National Center for Choreography - Akron, explores the relationship between choreography and technology. They discuss the incorporation of technology in dance performances, the themes of intimacy and technology in 'Stardust', the process of composition and editing in dance films, and the impact of technology on choreography in live performances.
Dec 30, 2023 • 26min
Remembering Gus Solomons jr
Jennifer Edwards hosts this episode honoring Gus Solomons jr, the celebrated choreographer, writer, and teacher. As the first Black dancer in the Merce Cunningham Dance Company, Solomons was both a trailblazer and a trendsetter, forming his own company and making more than 150 works before his death in August 2023 at the age of 84.In this episode: Excerpts from Mondays with Merce: Episode 14 Merce as Model (2010). Director/Producer: Nancy Dalva. (c) Merce Cunningham Trust. All rights reserved.Resources:Mondays with Merce #14: Merce as Model, with Gus Solomons, Jr.Remembering Gus Solomons Jr. 1938 - 2023Gus Solomons Jr., 84, Dies; a Rare Black Presence in Experimental DanceChoreography in Focus: Wendy Perron and Gus Solomons Jr.
Nov 25, 2023 • 36min
Trisha Brown: Choreographer and Visual Artist
Jennifer Edwards hosts this episode focused on Trisha Brown, one of the most celebrated choreographers to emerge from Judson Dance Theater and the postmodern era. Brown is in conversation with Deborah Jowitt, the influential choreographer, scholar, dance critic, and educator. We also hear from art historian and Brown specialist Susan Rosenberg.Essay on Trisha Brown: https://danceinteractive.jacobspillow.org/themes-essays/women-in-dance/trisha-brown/
Oct 28, 2023 • 25min
Creating with the Cosmos
Many choreographers draw inspiration from their ancestors, nature, and the spiritual world, and Teena Marie Custer explores some examples with help from Sandra Laronde, Christopher K. Morgan, Ananya Chatterjea, Michelle N. Gibson, and others.
Sep 30, 2023 • 27min
Umfundalai Technique with Dr. Kemal Nance, Part 2
In this second part of a 2-episode series, Dr. C. Kemal Nance examines the movements, meaning, and structure of the contemporary African dance technique known as Umfundalai.https://www.umfundalai.net
Aug 26, 2023 • 18min
Kariamu Welsh, Founder of Umfundalai, with Dr. Kemal Nance, Part1
Dr. C. Kemal Nance hosts this episode honoring Dr. Kariamu Welsh and celebrating the dance technique that she developed called Umfundalai.https://www.umfundalai.net
Jul 29, 2023 • 23min
Remembering Bessie Schönberg
Jennifer Edwards hosts this episode honoring the life and legacy of teacher and choreographic mentor, Bessie Schönberg. Included are excerpts of D.A. Pennebaker's documentary film entitled, "Bessie: A Portrait of Bessie Schönberg," with remembrances from Merce Cunningham, Jerome Robbins, Meredith Monk and from Schönberg herself.Schönberg speaking about how to watch dance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DaAI6uyUn0Y
Jun 24, 2023 • 41min
On Site Dance with Stephan Koplowitz
With the help of his colleague Elise Bernhardt, Stephan Koplowitz traces his early years at Jacob's Pillow, where ideas were planted that led to a fruitful, life-long career and his book entitled “On Site: Methods for Site-Specific Performance Creation.” Featured are inside looks at Dancing In The Streets and Grand Central Dances, as well as Joanna Haigood's thoughts about her work process as a site choreographer. Book, "On Site: Methods for Site-Specific Performance Creation" https://www.stephankoplowitz.com/onsitebookVideo, "Fenestrations" (1987) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxCkkMPypGcVideo, "Fenestrations2" (1999) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcMW78qRuSo
May 20, 2023 • 34min
Dramaturgy at Jacob’s Pillow
Poet and dance writer Karen Hildebrand hosts this two-part podcast, focusing on dramaturgy and dance. In this second part, Hildebrand explores how dramaturgs have worked with choreographers at the Pillow, focusing on works by Bebe Miller, Jane Comfort, and Rennie Harris. Hildebrand is the former editorial director for Dance Magazine, and a past editor in chief of Dance Teacher magazine.
Apr 29, 2023 • 16min
What is Dramaturgy in Dance?
This podcast explores the role of dramaturgy in dance, focusing on the responsibilities of a dramaturg and their impact on productions. It discusses the importance of coherence and the outside eye in choreography, as well as the collaboration between choreographers and sound designers. The dynamic between the dramaturg and the person in charge is explored, along with the influence of dramaturgy on performances. The podcast also delves into how choreographers' familiarity with the dance field impacts decision-making, and showcases three different works that highlight the role of dramaturgy in dance.
