Brazil's Grupo Corpo lights up the Ted Shawn Theatre stage

12:00AM / Thursday, June 03, 2004Print Story | Email Story

Becket - For Jacob's Pillow's opening week in the Ted Shawn Theatre, June 23-27, the astonishing GRUPO CORPO lights up the stage with dynamic dancers and opulent choreography. Artistic Director Paulo Pederneiras and choreographer Rodrigo Pederneiras direct this Brazilian group, in which they mix ballet training, modern dance, and Brazilian inflection. A brightly sophisticated use of set, lighting, and costume design makes a highly integrated marriage of dance and design. When the Pillow's Executive Director Ella Baff introduced Grupo Corpo to the festival audience in 1999, she saw the potential for this little-known Brazilian dance company to develop a following in the Berkshires, and since then its appearances have been a hotly sought ticket. This summer marks the company's fourth appearance at the Festival in the last six years, establishing them as a clear audience favorite. For this appearance, the program includes the first Pillow performance of "21," and "Nazareth," which has not been performed at the Pillow since 1999. PERFORMANCE AND TICKET INFORMATION FOR GRUPO CORPO: Evening performances are Wednesday, June 23 through Saturday, June 26 at 8pm, with a shortened family matinÃ©e performance on Saturday, June 26 at 2pm, and a regular length matinÃ©e on Sunday, June 27 at 2pm. Tickets are $55 for evening performances and for the Sunday matinÃ©e. For the Saturday matinÃ©e, adult tickets are $35 and specially priced $10 Youth Tickets (for ages 13 and under, accompanied by an adult) are available. Tickets may be purchased by calling the Box Office at 413.243.0745, faxing orders to 413.243.0749, or ordering online at www.jacobspillow.org. Jacob's Pillow is located on George Carter Road in Becket, MA; 10 minutes East on Route 20 from Mass Pike Exit 2. The works "21" and "Nazareth," from 1992 and 1993 respectively, embody the company's rigorous background in ballet with a combination of Brazilian music, movement, and spirit. Both works include bright, colorful sets, from the quilt-like red backdrop of "21" to the giant flowers decorating the glowing background in "Nazareth." Both works feature a cohesive unity between the choreography and design elements, created by the long-running collaborative team of Freusa Zechmeister (costumes), Fernando Velloso (sets), and Paulo Pederneiras (lighting). Marco AntÃ´nio GuimarÃ£es' score for "21" is performed on tape by UAKTI, the celebrated Brazilian ensemble which performs on instruments made of PVC plastic tubing. UAKTI also recorded the Philip Glass score for Grupo Corpo's "Seven or Eight Pieces for a Ballet," performed at Jacob's Pillow in 2002. JosÃ© Miguel Wisnik's score for "Nazareth" is based upon the works of Brazilian pianist and composer Ernesto Nazareth, who was acclaimed for his early 20th century tangos and polkas. Formed in 1975 in the Brazilian city of Belo Horizonte, Grupo Corpo was founded by Paulo Pederneiras with five of his brothers and sisters and some of their friends. Rodrigo Pederneiras began choreographing for the company soon after its formation, but he did not have his first major "hit" with the company until 1985 with "Preludios," set to Chopin. Since the creation of "21" in 1992, Grupo Corpo's international reputation has gained widespread attention. They performed as the resident company in Lyon's Maison de la Danse from 1995-1999, and since then they have toured annually in the U.S. as well as across Europe and Brazil. FREE EVENTS THIS WEEK: Norton Owen and Lynn Garafola, curators of the exhibit "America's Irreplaceable Dance Treasures," screen and discuss their favorite film clips of ballet, modern dance, and movie musicals during the PillowTalk DANCE TREASURES ON FILM on Wednesday, June 23 at 5pm. Modern dance pioneer Anna Halprin makes her first Pillow appearance for the PillowTalk A VISIT WITH ANNA HALPRIN on Saturday, June 26 at 4pm. She discusses her life, art, and new biographical film, "RETURNING HOME" (screening that evening as part of Dance Movies). Inside/Out performances include: Pennsylvania's PHRENIC NEW BALLET on Wednesday, June 23; Brazil's "one woman percussion ensemble" RITMICOS/CINTIA CHAMECKI on Thursday, June 24; NETTA YERUSHALMY on Friday, June 25; and THE SCHOOL AT JACOB'S PILLOW: BALLET dancers in the work of Leslie Browne on Saturday, June 26. FUNDING CREDITS: As of April 2004, support for Festival 2004, including presentations and educational programs, has been provided by Doris Duke Charitable Foundation; The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation; The Wallace Foundation; Surdna Foundation; The Prospect Hill Foundation; William Randolph Hearst Foundation; National Endowment for the Arts; Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency; The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation; Altria, Inc.; The Shubert Foundation; Leir Charitable Trusts in Memory of Henry J. Leir; The Ridgefield Foundation; The Gladys Krieble Delmas Foundation; William J. and Dorothy K. O'Neill Foundation; National Dance Project and Expeditions program of the New England Foundation for the Arts; The Harkness Foundation for Dance; Alex Toys; Dance Heritage Coalition; Evelyn Stefansson Nef Foundation; CapezioÂ®/Ballet Makers, Inc.; Banknorth Massachusetts; Berkshire Bank; Onota Foundation; Big Y World Class Market; Arch W. Shaw Foundation; Health New England; Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation; the Pillow Business Alliance; and our Members. Major endowment funding comes from the Talented Students in the Arts Initiative, a collaboration of the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and the Surdna Foundation; and The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. ABOUT THE PILLOW: Located in the town of Becket, Massachusetts, internationally acclaimed Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival was originally a family farm in the 1700s and served as a station on the Underground Railroad in the 1800s. Legendary dancer, teacher, and choreographer Ted Shawn established the Festival in 1933 as a showcase for his company of Men Dancers. The Pillow encompasses 162 acres and 30 buildings, including three stages, four dance studios, a restaurant, a pub, housing, Archives, and administrative offices. During the 10-week summer festival, the Pillow attracts thousands of visitors to see world-class dance on three stages and enjoy hundreds of free events, including performances, lectures, tours, film showings, exhibits, and talks with the artists. The Festival is augmented by The School at Jacob's Pillow, which draws a world-class international roster of students and faculty; the Archives, which are open to public access; an Intern Program, which trains arts administrators and theatre technicians for professional careers; support for artist development of new work with Creative Development Residencies; commissions and world premieres; and year-round Community Programs throughout the Berkshires. Jacob's Pillow is a National Historic Landmark, designated by the federal government as an exceptional cultural venue that holds value for all Americans. SCHEDULE: June 23-27 WEDNESDAY, JUNE 23 PillowTalk: Dance Treasures on Film 5pm, Sommerspace, FREE Inside/Out: Phrenic New Ballet 6:30pm, Inside/Out stage, FREE Pre-Show Talk: Grupo Corpo 7:30pm, Sommerspace, FREE Grupo Corpo 8pm, Ted Shawn Theatre, $55 THURSDAY, JUNE 24 Inside/Out: Ritmicos/Cintia Chamecki 6:30pm, Inside/Out stage, FREE Dance Movies Hollywood veteran Marge Champion and Robert Osborne, from Turner Classic Movies, screen and discuss scenes from classic musicals. 7:45pm, Doris Duke Studio Theatre, $7 Pre-Show Talk: Grupo Corpo 7:30pm, Sommerspace, FREE Grupo Corpo 8pm, Ted Shawn Theatre, $55 Post-Show Talk: Grupo Corpo Ted Shawn Theatre, FREE FRIDAY, JUNE 25 Inside/Out: Netta Yerushalmy 6:30pm, Inside/Out stage, FREE Dance Movies Original short films from Pillow artists past, present, and future. 7:45pm, Doris Duke Studio Theatre, $7 Post-Show Talk: Dance Movies Doris Duke Theatre, FREE Pre-Show Talk: Grupo Corpo 7:30pm, Sommerspace, FREE Grupo Corpo 8pm, Ted Shawn Theatre, $55 SATURDAY, JUNE 26 Pre-Show Talk: Grupo Corpo 1:30pm, Sommerspace, FREE Grupo Corpo (Shortened Show) 2pm, Ted Shawn Theatre, $35, $10 (Youth Ticket) Dance Movies: Tales of Beatrix Potter Choreographed by Sir Frederick Ashton 2:15pm, Doris Duke Studio Theatre, $7, $5 (Youth Ticket) PillowTalk: A Visit with Anna Halprin 4pm, Sommerspace, FREE Inside/Out: The School at Jacob's Pillow- Ballet 6:30pm, Inside/Out stage, FREE Dance Movies Short films from the Dance Films Association's Dance on Camera Festival, and a special appearance from Anna Halprin. 7:45pm, Doris Duke Studio Theatre, $7 Pre-Show Talk: Grupo Corpo 7:30pm, Sommerspace, FREE Grupo Corpo 8pm, Ted Shawn Theatre, $55 SUNDAY, JUNE 27 Pre-Show Talk: Grupo Corpo 1:30pm, Sommerspace, FREE Grupo Corpo 2pm, Ted Shawn Theatre, $55 Dance Movies: Dancers American Ballet Theatre principal Julie Kent introduces the Herbert Ross film, Dancers. 5pm, Doris Duke Theatre, $7

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Lanesborough Fifth-Graders Win Snowplow Name Contest

02:13PM / Tuesday, December 23, 2025

LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — One of the snowplows for Highway District 1 has a new name: "The Blizzard Boss."

The name comes from teacher Gina Wagner's fifth-grade class at Lanesborough Elementary School.

The state Department of Transportation announced the winners of the fourth annual "Name A Snowplow" contest on Monday.

The department received entries from public elementary and middle school classrooms across the commonwealth to name the 12 MassDOT snowplows that will be in service during the 2025/2026 winter season.

The purpose of the contest is to celebrate the snow and ice season and to recognize the hard work and dedication shown by public works employees and contractors during winter operations.

"Thank you to all of the students who participated. Your creativity allows us to highlight to all, the importance of the work performed by our workforce," said interim MassDOT Secretary Phil Eng.

"Our workforce takes pride as they clear snow and ice, keeping our roads safe during adverse weather events for all that need to travel. ?To our contest winners and participants, know that you have added some fun to the serious take of operating plows. ?I'm proud of the skill and dedication from our crews and thank the public of the shared responsibility to slow down, give plows space and put safety first every time there is a winter weather event."

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