Dance Troupe's Residency Deepens Ties With Berkshire Community
Thasia Giles of Jacob's Pillow said the organization has been growing its partnerships with the rest of the community.
The office of Cultural Development announced Tuesday a community partnership with the Brooklyn-based Urban Bush Women Dance Company, providing 30 teenage girls a chance to participate in workshops with the troupe.
Further, the group is holding two community workshops for men and women of all ages throughout the county. There will also be a dance party at the Crowne Plaza, which is open and free to the public.
"Adolescences is a time of self exploration and discovery. For three magical mornings, from 10 a.m. until noon, at the Berkshire Music School UBW Company of young vibrant, professional women will provide an opportunity for 30 Pittsfield teenage girls, 15 to 18 years of age, to delve into the question of who am I through dance," Shirley Edgerton, chairwoman of the project.
The project is a partnership between three entities: the Lift Ev'ry Voice Festival, the city, and Jacob's Pillow. The troupe will arrive on Monday, June 20 and will be involved in a series of events tied in with the Berkshire community. Edgerton said the teenage girls involved will be able to attend a lecture at First Church, dance at Jacob's Pillow, attend workshops, and end with a moderated talk by the company's founder Jawole Willa Jo Zolla.
"As a countywide project, we will build community and bridges instead of walls, as Billy Crystal elegantly stated at Muhammad Ali's funeral," Edgerton said.
At total of 30 teenagers will be able to participate and Edgerton is asking for those interested to contact her "right away" to get signed up.
Meanwhile, the Lift Ev'ry Voice Steering Committee is sponsoring three workshops for the entire community. Two will take place at MassMoCA in North Adams and one will take place at the Olga Dunn Dance Studio in Great Barrington.
"The Urban Bush Women are an extraordinary, 32-year-old company that has ignited the dance world with a vision of women moving together to express not only their power but their vulnerability and a quest for unity, solidarity, inspiration, for women across the world, across generations," said Sandra Burton, of the Lift Ev'ry Voice Steering Committee.
She added, "we welcome you to come and experience the vision of community that is different through using your body to connect with ideas and fellow citizens."
The dance company will be staying at homes in Pittsfield and will be performing at the Pillow during the residency. Manager of Community Engagement and Public Programs at Jacob's Pillow Thasia Giles said the partnership helps build on the Pillow's connection with the community at large.
"Jacob's Pillow is becoming more involved in our local Berkshire community than ever before and we are looking forward to supporting our neighbors with our resources," Giles said. "It is important for us that we are able to deliver these type of experiences to our neighbors in Berkshire County."
Already the Pillow provides more than 250 exhibits, events, and performances free to the public, bringing in people who often can't attend the performances, she said. Partnering with the organizations and bringing the company all over the county helps the Becket performance space "deepen its engagement" with the Berkshires.
"The more I was researching and, the more amazing this is," said Director of Cultural Development Jennifer Glockner. "It's so, so exciting. We are inviting young people and people of all ages."
The Urban Bush Women project's schedule is below.
UBW Berkshire Residency Schedule
Tags: dance, festival, jacob's pillow,
