Renowned for its profound impact on the history and preservation of dance, Jacob’s Pillow offers scholars an unparalleled opportunity to engage with its archives, a treasure trove documenting decades of dance history, performance, and creation. Available exclusively to faculty members at Jacob’s Pillow College Partner institutions, the Faculty Research Fellowship invites scholars to spend two weeks in residency, exploring the rich resources that the Pillow Archives offer. The flexible format allows for research weeks to be split, providing time to reflect and deepen research questions between visits. In this blog, we feature the reflections of Careitha Davis, a recent fellow who has completed her first week of research, sharing early insights and illustrating the vital role this fellowship plays in advancing dance scholarship and enriching academic research.
Q: Can you provide some information about your university affiliation and what research you are currently working on?
I am affiliated with New York University Steinhardt – School of Education. I am currently working on research to enhance curriculum for the Afro-Caribbean course in the Dance Education Master’s Program.
Q: What originally inspired you to apply for this fellowship, and what specific goals did you have for your research?
I was inspired after visiting Jacob’s Pillow in Summer 2023. Seeing how the grounds dedicate a space to cultivate artists was eye-opening. I also met Thasia Giles, Director of Community Engagement, and she mentioned opportunities that were available to me as an adjunct.
Q: Can you share a memorable experience or discovery from your time working in the Jacob’s Pillow Archives?
A memorable experience I had was presenting at the College Partner Convening [about my fellowship experience]. It was validating and also helped me expand my community with Jacob’s Pillow. My greatest discovery so far was found in the readings pertaining to the technical skills in West African dance and choreographers that contributed to the Western mobilization of traditional rituals in African diasporic dances.
Q: How did the historic, retreat-like atmosphere of Jacob’s Pillow impact your process and thinking during your time on campus?
The Jacob’s Pillow grounds brought a lot of peace of mind and less distractions. I was not micromanaged by the staff, which brought less pressure and more ownership. I thought housing was generous in giving accommodation to not only me but also my guest. We both felt very comfortable and well-attended to.
Q: In what ways has the fellowship influenced your teaching, research, and/or creative process since completing your first week in the Archives? Are there ways you might approach your second week of research differently?
I am now more knowledgeable and aware of movement practices and movement vocabulary in Haitian and West African Dance. Viewing workshop classes taught by Katherine Dunham and Jean-Léon Destiné at the Pillow Archives was significant, because it showed the rituals and decolonized teaching approach to the technique. My second week would have a similar approach, but instead of focusing on a specific person, I would focus on specific styles and how it can be scaffolded in a curriculum.
Q: What insights or advice would you offer to other faculty members considering applying for this fellowship? What could they look forward to experiencing?
I would advise them to apply only if you are highly interested in dedicating time to research, because that is solely what you are there to do. The staff at the Pillow Archives, in particular Patsy [Gay], would connect you with as many happenings at the Pillow. But because it is during their ‘off-season,’ you would have that alone time to make stronger connections to your content and reflect on your teaching and creative process.
“The Jacob’s Pillow grounds brought a lot of peace of mind and less distractions.”
Careitha’s experiences serve as inspiration for future faculty fellows to explore the rich resources at Jacob’s Pillow and contribute to the continued growth of dance scholarship. To learn more about the Faculty Research Fellowship and how you can apply, click here.
Written by Angela Ciarochi. Published December 2024.