PillowVoices: Dance Through Time

In this episode we share a PillowTalk that took place at Jacob's Pillow on August 15, 2021. Pillow Scholar and Associate Curator Melanie George hosts this conversation with a foremost tradition-bearer of Black American social dance, LaTasha Barnes. Through her work, The Jazz Continuum, Barnes places jazz dance in the context of House, Hip-Hop, Waacking, and Lindy Hop. LaTasha Barnes is an internationally-recognized and award-winning dancer, choreographer, educator, performer, and ambassador of culture. She has been honored to be a frequent collaborator with Dorrance Dance, Ephrat Asherie Dance, Ladies of Hip-Hop, and Caleb Teicher & Company.Special thanks to New England Public Media for their support of this episode of PillowVoices.

In this episode hosted by Jennifer Edwards, we celebrate the life, work, and impact of Anna Halprin (1920-2021). A visionary force in both dance and healing, Halprin played a crucial role in the evolution of post-modern dance and developing ethical social practice through art. We learn about Halprin's work from scholars Ninotchka Bennahum and Wendy Perron, from Halprin biographer Janice Ross, and from Anna Halprin herself.Special thanks to New England Public Media for their support of this episode of PillowVoices.*Audio note: in this episode, Ellis Rovin was our composer and editor; our engineer was Adam BW

Dance writer Wendy Perron, a former associate director of Jacob's Pillow, explores Grand Union, a maverick 1970s improvisation group based in downtown New York. Perron tells their story through the voices of four key members: Yvonne Rainer, Steve Paxton, Trisha Brown, and David Gordon.Special thanks to New England Public Media, for their support of this episode of PillowVoices. 

Professor of dance at UCLA and Pillow Scholar, Lionel Popkin explores the complicated history and relationship between Indian dance, American modern dance, and Jacob's Pillow. Posing pointed questions about the 'use' of Indian dance movement and esthetics in the work of The Denishawn Company, the curatorial lens applied to Indian dance over time, and ultimately the influence and legacy of those choices on the dance landscape of today.Introduction to BharatanatyamLakshmi Vishwanathan: https://danceinteractive.jacobspillow.org/lakshmi-vishwanathan/varnam/Ragamala: https://www.ragamaladance.orgShantala Shivalingappa: http://shantalashivalingappa.com/en/Nrityagram: https://nrityagram.orgAkram Khan: https://www.akramkhancompany.netAakash Odedra: https://aakashodedra.comPramila Vasudevan: http://www.aniccha.orgHari Krishnan: https://www.indance.caLionel Popkin: http://www.lionelpopkin.org

Into Sunlight trailer: https://vimeo.com/131009698STILL: https://vimeo.com/476315913/3a7f9258bb 

Explore Artists Mentioned in This Episode:Christopher K Morgan and ArtistsDaystar Rosalie JonesLemi PonifasioNeil IeremiaMoss PattersonSantee SmithRed Sky PerformanceRosy SimasEmily JohnsonMaura GarciaBrooke SmileyDakota CamachoAnthony Hudson Timothy White EagleAKU-MATU Alison Akootchook WardenDeeper dive: Code Switch Episode, "The Hawaiin Language Nearly Died. A Radio Show Sparked its Revival."PillowPlaylist: Indigenous Dance of the Americas 

As mentioned in this episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NckTgsBsrKEAuthor Mindy Aloff shares stories from her  book Hippo in a Tutu: Dancing in Disney Animation along with screening brief film excerpts that illustrate the evolution of dance used in Disney animation from the 1930s to 1950s. Joined by Marge Champion, who is interviewed for Hippo in a Tutu and was the dancer and live model for both Snow White and the Hippopotamus Ballerina in Fantasia. Moderated by Jacob's Pillow Director of Preservation Norton Owen. Watch the award-winning short film, Keep Dancing. (https://vimeo.com/153283760) "Singularly endearing!" - The New York Times"Keep Dancing is a testament to the vitality of existence." - Slash Film"Elegant gem of a film" - City Arts"Enchantingly inspiring film!" - BackstageAfter celebrated careers, legendary dancers Marge Champion and Donald Saddler became friends while performing together in the Broadway show Follies in 2001. When the show closed, they decided to rent a private studio together, and they have been choreographing and rehearsing original dances ever since. At age 90, they continue to pursue their passion for life through their love and mastery of dance. Keep Dancing seamlessly blends nine decades of archival film and photographs with present-day footage to tell a story through dance of the passing of time and the process of aging.Official Selection at South by Southwest, Dance on Camera at Lincoln Center, Silverdocs, Sedona International Film Festival and over 25 other international film festivals. Nominated for the IDA Short Documentary of the Year Award.

In part 2 of this several-part series, we explore how dancers and choreographers have embodied and confronted social constraints and constructs. Highlighing conversations between Pillow Scholar Maura Keefe and Carmen de Lavallade, Tere O'Connor and Jawole Willa Jo Zollar, we discover personal, artistic, and political perspectives on age, culture and queerness.

In part 1 of this several-part series, we explore how some artists and thought leaders position the role and influence of governmental programs and political figures on the arts, as well as how artists excavate politics and socio-political content for creative inspiration. Drawing from the work of Liz Lerman and Mark Dendy, we explore how some artists make such work. We also experience a conversation between political commentator Rachel Maddow and Pillow Scholar Suzanne Carbonneau as they discuss the role of government, and government funding, in the arts.

PillowVoices composer and engineer Ellis Rovin takes inspiration from the Pillow's earliest composer-accompanist, Jess Meeker, with rare interviews shedding light on dance in the 1930s and the early days of Jacob's Pillow.