JACOB’S PILLOW INVITES TEENS, ADULTS, AND FAMILIES TO
ANNUAL COMMUNITY DANCE DAY
SUNDAY, JULY 10 9:30AM-12:30PM
From our News Desk: The Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival presents a community-wide celebration on July 10 — full of free events, free dance workshops, and other activities. Visitors of all ages are invited to free performances by the New England Tap Ensemble and Alpha Omega Theatrical Dance Company on the newly reconstructed outdoor stage.
“We are always finding new ways to engage our community. We are dedicated to expanding access to the art of dance, particularly among young adults. Teens and adults often have trouble finding beginner classes they feel comfortable taking. We hope many people will attend this event and experience something new.” Ella Baff, Jacob’s Pillow Executive and Artistic Director.
Everyone is a dancer on Community Day at Jacob's Pillow.
Community Dance Day will feature free workshops for teens and adults of all experience levels including Tai Chi with instructors Kathy and David Crowe, Tango with Megan Reisel, Yoga with Leslie Nelson, an African workshop with Marilyn Sylla, Arab American Fusion with Cyndal Ellis, and Hoopla, the popular activity inspired by the craft and creativity of the Hula Hoop, led by Pillow School Alumna Stefani Weber. Jeff Bliss of the Wolf Trap Institute for Early Learning Through the Arts will lead an intergenerational movement workshop aimed at younger visitors and families. Interactive dance games and other activities will also be offered for children and families.
No experience or special footwear necessary. All classes and workshops can be experienced in bare feet or sneakers, simply wear comfortable clothes to move in.
A free Master Class will be taught by company members of Kidd Pivot Frankfurt RM, for intermediate to advanced dancers. Pre-registration is required for participation in this Master Class; observation is open to the public. To pre-register, contact Jacob’s Pillow at 413.243.9919 x5.
Community Day at Jacob's Pillow is equally popular with young and old.
Activities also include a raffle; free tours of the historic grounds; and picnicking and mingling on the Great Lawn. The Pillow’s historic Archives will be open to the public throughout the day, along with Annie Leibovitz: DANCE, a Pillow exclusive photography exhibit featuring photos of widely known dancers and celebrities by famed portrait photographer Annie Leibovitz.
The afternoon also features two ticketed performances: Tangueros del Sur in the Ted Shawn Theatre ($10 Youth Tickets; sponsored by ALEX®; must be accompanied by an adult), and Kidd Pivot Frankfurt RM in the Doris Duke Theatre.
For more information on classes and activities, visit jacobspillow.org/festival/2011/07/community-dance-day/ or call 413.243.9919.
Workshop Schedule:
Tai Chi: 9:30am-10:05am
Yoga: 9:45am-10:20am
Master Class: 10:00am-11:30am
African: 10:15am-10:50am
Arab-American Fusion: 10:30am-11:05am
Tango: 11:00am-11:45am
Intergenerational: 11:15am-11:55am
Hoopla: 12:15pm-12:30pm
Cost: All activities and classes are free. Food and drink will be available for purchase.
Location: Jacob’s Pillow, 358 George Carter Road, Becket MA. Parking is free.
Jacob’s Pillow, celebrating its 79th anniversary in 2011, is a National Historic Landmark and home to America’s longest running international dance festival. The Festival includes more than 50 national and international dance companies and 300 free and ticketed performances, talks, tours, exhibits, and events. The School at Jacob’s Pillow, one of the most prestigious professional dance training centers in the U.S., encompasses the diverse disciplines of Ballet, Cultural Traditions, Contemporary, and Jazz/Musical Theatre Dance, as well as an Intern Program in various departments of arts administration and production. On March 2, 2011, President Obama honored Jacob’s Pillow with a National Medal of Arts, the highest arts award given by the United States Government. Jacob’s Pillow is the first dance presenting organization to receive this prestigious award.
