PillowVoices: Dance Through Time
Jacob's Pillow Archives
PillowVoices: Dance Through Time brings listeners closer to notable dance artists connected with Jacob's Pillow, from 1933 to today. Each piece exemplifies Jacob's Pillow's mission to 'support dance creation, presentation, education, and preservation; and to engage and deepen public appreciation and support for dance' by utilizing archival recordings brought to life in the personal stories and narration of current thought-leaders and scholars. Jacob's Pillow, lauded by The New York Times as "the dance center of the nation," is a National Historic Landmark, a recipient of the prestigious National Medal of Arts, and home to America’s longest-running international dance festival, located in the Berkshires of Western Massachusetts.
PillowVoices is directed by Jennifer Edwards and produced by Lisa Niedermeyer. Rahsaan Cruz provides audio design and engineering. Research and Transcription by Arushi Singh. Music for the opening is by J.S. Bach and the closing theme is by Jess Meeker, both performed by Meeker. Content curator is Norton Owen, and associate curator is Patsy Gay.
PillowVoices is directed by Jennifer Edwards and produced by Lisa Niedermeyer. Rahsaan Cruz provides audio design and engineering. Research and Transcription by Arushi Singh. Music for the opening is by J.S. Bach and the closing theme is by Jess Meeker, both performed by Meeker. Content curator is Norton Owen, and associate curator is Patsy Gay.
Episodes
Mentioned books
May 31, 2025 • 27min
Resident Dance Photographers at Jacob's Pillow
Guest host Benjamin Richards focuses the lens on four different resident dance photographers: John Lindquist, Stephan Driscoll, Mike van Sleen and Christopher Duggan.
Apr 26, 2025 • 47min
La Nijinska
Highlights from a 2022 PillowTalk with Lynn Garafola, author of the biography La Nijinska: Choreographer of the Modern speaking with scholar-in-residence Brian Schaefer. Garafola illuminates Bronislava Nijinska’s life as a Russian born dancer, sibling to Vaslav Nijinsky, and groundbreaking 20th century ballet choreographer. Garafola also shares some fascinating documentation of Nijinska's pivotal connections to Jacob's Pillow.
Mar 29, 2025 • 32min
Celebrating Carmen de Lavallade
Highlights from Carmen de Lavallade's Pillow debut as a dancer in Lester Horton's company in 1953, all the way through the premiere of her one woman show at the age of 83. Host Norton Owen guides us through the many spirited connections Ms. de Lavallade holds both in American dance history and with Jacob's Pillow.
Feb 22, 2025 • 43min
Documenting The Hustle
Maria Torres, a legendary Hustle dancer and program director at Jacob's Pillow, shares her inspiring journey through the vibrant world of dance. Cassie Mae, an archivist at the NY Public Library, highlights the critical importance of documenting and preserving dance history. They discuss the cultural significance of The Hustle, its evolution from family gatherings to competitive platforms, and the ongoing efforts to keep its spirit alive. The conversation also sheds light on the interconnectedness of New York City's dance scene and the urgent need to honor dance elders.
Jan 25, 2025 • 1h
Beyond the First 50 Years of Hip Hop with Michele Byrd-McPhee
What could representation and opportunity for Hip Hop dance look like in the near future? Guest host Michele Byrd-McPhee revisits the 2023 conversation during PillowTalk: Hip Hop at 50, to build upon and expand into what is possible for the next 50 years.Interstitial music for this episode is from the live performance Hip Hop Across the Pillow as well as the All Styles Dance Battle event in 2023. Music: Darrin Ross, d. Sabela grimes ("All Goodness In," performed and written by Usual Rucker).Additional film and video from Hip Hop Across the Pillow can be found at: https://watch.jacobspillow.org/category/videos/hip-hop-across-the-pillowhttps://www.ladiesofhiphop.com/
Dec 21, 2024 • 46min
Fluid Roots and Resistance in Contemporary Indian Dance
Dance Scholar Dr. Arushi Singh dives into the historical and cultural context of three Contemporary Indian artists who are engaging with their own cultural inheritances as a vital aspect of reclaiming identity on their own terms.Video links:Inside the Pillow Lab: Hari Krishnan/inDANCE (2024) https://youtu.be/rS1QWdC771E?si=RDdlOkle16g-EGQDInside the Pillow Lab: Aakash Odedra (2024) https://youtu.be/7rFjqCfVd78?si=ZdqRw1FqXUlyg12UInside the Pillow Lab: Ananya Dance Theatre (2022) https://youtu.be/KgH-aIm7Q5E?si=Blzt2goEa_pU7TOY
Nov 23, 2024 • 29min
Comedy and Drag in Ballet: 50 Years of The Trocks
Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo's Artistic Director, Tory Dobrin, speaks with Jacob's Pillow Scholar-in-Residence, Maura Keefe, in this 2024 PillowTalk. Dobrin shares his own firsthand stories and reflects on the impact of 50 years of blending serious ballet technique with comedy and drag in this all-male company.Full PillowTalk including commentary on video excerpts of the company's repertoire: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0VzzAG70B3o Video playlist 'Gotta Laugh' featuring excerpt of Paquita by Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo:https://danceinteractive.jacobspillow.org/playlists/gotta-laugh/ Video excerpt of Swan Lake by Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo: https://danceinteractive.jacobspillow.org/les-ballets-trockadero-de-monte-carlo/le-lac-des-cygnes-swan-lake-act-ii/
Oct 26, 2024 • 38min
Rachel Maddow: The Place of Art in a Democracy
Political analyst Rachel Maddow speaks with Pillow scholar Suzanne Carbonneau in a 2009 PillowTalk. Maddow humanizes the political context of the early years of Jacob's Pillow and then offers her personal perspective on the meaningful role that the arts play within an evolving democracy.
Sep 28, 2024 • 29min
Shen Wei: Abstracting Dance, Music and Visual Arts
In this excerpt from a 2004 PillowTalk, choreographer Shen Wei speaks with dance scholar Suzanne Carbonneau about his love of abstraction when making movement, stripping away narrative from musical scores, and integrating visual art into his stage works. Shen Wei also shares about his upbringing in the traditions of Chinese Opera and his early years after emigrating to New York City.
Aug 31, 2024 • 41min
Moving Through Collective Grief Towards Self Actualization
Christian Warner hosts this episode focused on the human body’s capacity to navigate collective grief, moving toward not only healing, but self-actualization. Warner is a Black interdisciplinary performer, choreographer, and director. He shares his own experiences as well as excerpts from conversations with dance artists Dormeshia, Camille A. Brown, Ronald K. Brown, and their collaborators.https://www.christianawarner.com/
