Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival Welcomes Parsons Dance

01:09PM / Saturday, August 03, 2024Print Story | Email Story

BECKET, Mass. — Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival welcomes the internationally-touring modern dance company Parsons Dance back to the Ted Shawn Theatre, 25 years after their last engagement with the festival in 1999.

Parsons Dance will perform pieces choreographed by founder David Parsons, Robert Battle and Jamar Roberts from Wednesday, Aug. 7, through Sunday, Aug. 11. Tickets start at $65.

Also during this week — the seventh of Jacob's Pillow's nine-week festival this summer — contemporary dance company Gibney Company will perform on the outdoor Henry J. Leir Stage from Wednesday, Aug. 7, through Sunday, Aug. 11. Tickets start at $40. All performances are now on sale.

On Saturday, Aug. 10, a PillowTalk will be held in Blake's Barn featuring Diana Byer, founder of New York Theatre Ballet, unveiling a new initiative documenting the teachings of Margaret Craske, a famed ballet teacher and core faculty member at Jacob's Pillow for more than 20 years.

An additional PillowTalk in Blake's Barn will follow on Sunday, Aug. 11, which will highlight the current Pillow photographic exhibition "John Lindquist: As of Today." This Sunday talk will include Lindquist's protégé, Stephan Driscoll, and exhibition curator Norton Owen, in addition to an excerpt from a documentary film on John Lindquist.

Also on Sunday, Jacob's Pillow will offer a modern dance workshop with Parsons Dance Company, which welcomes participants ages 16 and up and with all levels of dance experience.

"The return of Parsons Dance to the Pillow is a gift to all of us," said Pamela Tatge, executive and artistic director at Jacob's Pillow. "They have put together a program of greatest hits along with the Pillow debut of choreographer Jamar Roberts, who has created a stunning work for the company set to music by jazz great Miles Davis. On the Leir Stage, we will host the return of a re-imagined Gibney Dance Company, presenting masterworks by Twyla Tharp and Swedish choreographer Johan Inger's Bliss with music from 'The Köln Concert' by Keith Jarrett. I can't wait to see this joy-filled piece presented against the iconic backdrop of the Berkshire hills."

This seventh week of the Festival also includes the final two events in this summer's free Jacob's Pillow On the Road series: a performance on Railroad Street in Great Barrington on Friday, Aug. 9, at 7 p.m. (as part of Berkshire Busk!), and a lecture/demonstration at the Becket Arts Center on Saturday, Aug. 10. Both events will feature the Boston-based salsa troupe Querencia Dance Company.

Jacob's Pillow On the Road was created in 2021 as a series of free pop-up performances across Berkshire County, featuring touring and Berkshire-region dance artists. Lead support for Jacob's Pillow On the Road is provided by Mill Town Foundation.

Tags: dance, jacobs pillow,

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Lt. Governor Driscoll Visits Great Barrington Businesses

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
05:50AM / Wednesday, December 24, 2025

Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll, Housing Secretary Ed Augustus and state Rep. Leigh Davis are ready to chop wood out back of Pleasant and Main.

GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll did some holiday shopping on Main Street last week after announcing millions of federal Community Development Block Grant funds.

She was glad to see an array of small-business owners thriving, and the eclectic items that Great Barrington has to offer.

"We know that the vibrancy of communities can often be defined by what's happening on Main Street," she said.

"It's great to be here in Great Barrington and see so many independent entrepreneurs who are running really, not only fun, but businesses that are doing well, and we want to try and find ways to uplift and support that work moving forward."

State Rep. Leigh Davis coordinated a business tour with Pleasant and Main Cafe and General Store, Robbie's Community Market, and Butternut Ski Mountain. While downtown, Driscoll also stopped at Robin's Candy and Rob's Records and Audio.

Earlier that day, the Healey-Driscoll administration announced $33.5 million in federal CDBG funds at the Housatonic Community Center. Great Barrington, in conjunction with Egremont and Stockbridge, has been allocated $ 1.25 million to rehabilitate approximately 14 housing units. A new Rural and Small Town Housing Choice Community designation for its Housing Choice Initiative was also launched.

Davis emphasized the significance of the state announcing these dollars in the small village of Housatonic.

Craig Bero, founder of Pleasant and Main, prepared desserts and hors d'oeuvres for the group at his cozy cafe across the street from the Housatonic Community Center. Bero opened more than a decade ago after migrating from New York City, and Pleasant and Main offers sustainable, organic meals for an affordable price while enjoying the museum of antiques that is the restaurant.

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