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THE SCHOOL AT JACOB'S PILLOW ANNOUNCES 2004 PROGRAMS ANNA-MARIE HOLMES, JEAN-LÉON DESTINÉ, MILTON MEYERS, CHET WALKER, AND CELESTE MILLER TO DIRECT PROGRAMS IN BALLET, CULTURAL TRADITIONS, MODERN, JAZZ, AND CHOREOGRAPHY
In 2004, The School at Jacob's Pillow assembles a constellation of master artists and dancers to direct its professional Programs in Ballet, Cultural Traditions, Contemporary, Jazz, and Choreography. The School's Program Directors are highly respected and popular international artists who make time in their busy schedules to work closely and mentor young professional dancers at the Pillow. This year's Program Directors include Broadway veteran Chet Walker; renowned Russian ballet expert Anna-Marie Holmes; Milton Myers, who has led School Programs for 18 years; Haitian choreographer and folklorist Jean-Léon Destiné; and Community-dance leader Celeste Miller. During the Programs, Directors hone the artistic development, technique, and performance skills of the students, preparing them for professional careers in the dance field.
Esteemed faculty members join Program Directors to teach key repertory works performed by major international dance companies. Noted faculty for the Summer 2004 programs include, American Ballet Theatre veteran Leslie Browne; Richard Gonzalez of the OCHUMARE Dance Ensemble; Christopher House, Artistic Director of Toronto Dance Theatre; and Peggy Baker, veteran of The National Ballet of Canada.
Every year, over a hundred dancers on their way to professional dance careers attend The School at Jacob's Pillow. They spend long, rewarding hours six days a week in dance classes, rehearsing and performing repertory, interacting with living legends of the dance world, attending performances of major and cutting-edge international dance companies, and learning about dance history in the Pillow's extensive Archives. This immersion in dance has proven to be a winning recipe for producing tomorrow's stage artists.
The Ballet Program takes place June 14-27 with Program Director Anna-Marie Holmes, who performed at Jacob's Pillow in the 1960's and whose restaging of Raymonda will be premiered by American Ballet Theatre in spring 2004. Faculty for the Program includes veteran American Ballet Theatre Principal Leslie Browne and former Kirov dancer and teacher Tatiana Legat. Ms. Browne will choreograph a new work for the Ballet dancers to perform at Jacob's Pillow's Season Opening Gala on June 19 in the Ted Shawn Theatre.
With Program Director Jean-Léon Destiné, the Cultural Traditions Program, June 28 - July 11, focuses on the dances of Africa, Cuba, and Haiti. Haitian-born Mr. Destiné is a distinguished dancer, choreographer, and scholar who is an expert on Vodoun dances of Haiti. His staging of Troubled Island for New York City Opera was widely acclaimed, as was Destiné and Company's starring role in the New York production African Carnivale. Mr. Destiné and his company were frequently seen in the Ted Shawn Theatre between 1949 and 1970. For the Cultural Traditions program, the distinguished faculty includes Richard Gonzalez, Lamine Thiam, Dr. Yvonne Daniel, and Dr. Henry Frank. The core of the program features daily African, Cuban, and Haitian dance classes, and includes instruction in songs, chants, drum rhythms, anthropology, and Caribbean studies.
Because today's dancers must be versatile in many different choreographic styles, students of the Contemporary Traditions Program, July 12 - August 1, gain the experience of working in a repertory company by learning and performing works by leading international choreographers. Milton Myers, a highly regarded teacher from Juilliard and The Ailey School, directs the Contemporary Program and teaches a daily class in Horton technique. This year's repertory classes focus on the works of innovative Canadian choreographers, including Christopher House and James Kudelka. Artistic Director of Toronto Dance Theatre, Mr. House shares his own work, while renowned soloist and instructor Peggy Baker teaches the work of Mr. Kudelka. A noted dancer, Ms. Baker performed at the Pillow's 2003 Festival in Doug Varone's Short Fictions.
Chet Walker, a Broadway veteran since age sixteen and co-creator of the Broadway show Fosse, directs the Jazz Program, August 2-22. Students learn what it is like to be a part of a Broadway repertory company as they learn material from Mr. Walker's latest production, Jazz on Jazz, which will premiere at the Pillow in August. Program participants learn the integral relationship between jazz music and jazz dancing by working with composers and musicians.
Choreographers' Lab: Community Dance Projects, August 23-30 is a program for experienced choreographers to develop techniques for working in community settings such as schools, social service agencies, senior centers, and independent community groups and to bring choreographic rigor to these projects. Program Director Celeste Miller has much experience working in this arena, from her leadership of Jacob's Pillow Curriculum in Motion® to her work with the Liz Lerman Dance Exchange. Program activities include Movement Labs with peers and invited members of the Berkshire community, journal writing, and discussion sessions to help participants prepare future projects with community groups.
Dancers interested in applying for The School at Jacob's Pillow should visit the website,
www.jacobspillow.org or call (413) 637-1322, for more details. Auditions will be held in 10 cities across the U.S. Milton Myers and Chet Walker conduct auditions for The School internationally.
Tuition includes campus housing, meals, and participation in all Festival events, including performances by Festival companies in-residence. Scholarships and academic credit are available.
ABOUT OUR FUNDERS: Major support for The School at Jacob's Pillow is from the Talented Students in the Arts Initiative, a collaboration of the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and the Surdna Foundation, Inc. Of the $1,000,000 grant, $760,000 must be matched dollar for dollar in new endowment money that must be raised by Jacob's Pillow. Endowment funds for our professional School support much-needed scholarships, faculty salaries, and ensure that the faculty and students attend festival performances.
Special thanks to the following individuals and institutions, who have contributed matching gifts in support of the Talented Students in the Arts Initiative: Anonymous, Sydelle and Lee Blatt, Daniel and Shirlee Freed, and The William Randolph Hearst Foundation.
Additional institutional support for Scholarships comes from the Evelyn Stefansson Nef Foundation; Paul Newman Charitable Giving; Arch W. Shaw Foundation; Onota Foundation; The Barrington Foundation, Inc.; B.D. Trading; Purple Mountain Foundation; and American Dance Guild.
We would like to thank the following individuals for establishing Named Scholarship Endowment Funds: Daniel and Shirlee Freed; Paul and Rochelle Gendler; Charles and Joan Gross.
Special thanks to Board member Marcia Simon Kaplan, whose generous ten-year challenge grant to her endowment fund has helped sustain our Scholarship Endowment Fund. Gifts made to this fund will be matched dollar for dollar by Marcia Simon Kaplan.
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 that draws a world-class international roster of students and faculty; the Archives, which are open to public access; commissions and world premieres; an Intern Program, which trains arts administrators and theatre technicians for professional careers; support for artist development of new work with Creative Development Residencies; 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.
WHERE TO AUDITION:
$10 audition class fee, cash only, at all sites; excluding HHSPVA students, NWSA students, and conference attendees.
Auditions: United States
January 11, Sunday, MIAMI, FL
New World School of the Arts
25 NE 2nd Street, 8th Floor
305.237.3341 for directions
Contemporary, Cultural, Jazz
Registration 10:30-11:30 a
Audition Class 11:30-1:30 p
February 1, Sunday, SAN FRANCISCO, CA
San Francisco Dance Center
26 7th Street, 5th Floor
415.626.1762 for directions
Contemporary, Cultural, Jazz
Registration 1:00-2:00 p
Audition Class 2:00- 4:00 p
February 25, Wednesday, HOUSTON, TX
Houston High School for Performing and Visual Arts
4001 Stanford
713.942.1965 for directions
Contemporary, Cultural, Jazz
Registration 7:00-8:00 p
Audition Class 8:00-10:00 p
March 6, Saturday, NEW YORK, NY
City Center
130 West 56th Street
www.citycenter.org/about/info for directions
Ballet
Registration 8:30-9:30 a
Audition Class 9:30-11:30 a
Cultural Traditions
Registration 6:00-7:00 p
Audition Class 7:00-9:00 p
March 7, Sunday, NEW YORK, NY
The Juilliard School
60 Lincoln Center Plaza
www.juilliard.edu/about/directions.html for directions
Contemporary
Registration 9:00-10:00 a
Audition Class 10:00-12:00 p
Jazz
Registration 1:00-2:00 p
Audition Class 2:00-4:00 p
March 27, Saturday, NEW YORK, NY
City Center
130 West 56th Street
www.citycenter.org/about/info for directions
Contemporary
Registration 8:30-9:30 a
Audition Class 9:30-11:30 a
Jazz
Registration 2:00-3:00 p
Audition Class 3:00-5:00 p
Auditions: Dance Conferences
If attending and interested in Jacob's Pillow, leave your name, phone, school, and dance teacher's name at 413.637.1322 x17.
National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts
January 7-10, ARTS Week, Miami, FL
National Dance Association
January 16-19,Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts Dallas, TX
ACDFA South-Central
February 25-28, Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, TX
ACDFA New England
February 25-29, Smith College Northampton, MA
National High School Dance Festival March 11-14, University of the Arts Philadelphia, PA
ACDFA Northwest
March 17-20, University of Utah
Salt Lake City, UT
Auditions: International
Auditions will be held in several countries, including South America and Europe. For information, email
info@jacobspillow.org <small>[ 03 February 2005, 01:08 AM: Message edited by: Stuart Sweeney ]</small>
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