The School at Jacob’s Pillow celebrated the beginning of the 90th Anniversary Season by welcoming the Contemporary Ballet Performance Ensemble to campus from June 13 – 26. Dancers jumped into a week of rehearsals with Program Director Annabelle Lopez Ochoa in order to premiere a new work “Leaves of Hope” at the 90th Anniversary Gala on Saturday, June 18th.
Dancer Celeste Lopez-Keranen says the highlight of her Jacob’s Pillow experience was “the 90th Anniversary Gala bow. The joy that my fellow ensemble dancers and I had was unforgettable and I truly felt like I was a part of something bigger.” Performing at the gala also gave the dancers a chance to engage with other artists, which stuck with Celeste, who says “Another highlight was watching Irene Rodriguez that same night. For me, she showcased such a powerful representation of what it means to be a woman. The power, passion, the finesse and the freedom was something I have not seen before.”
Check out a sneak peek into the rehearsal process for the Gala on our Instagram here.
During the week, the dancers worked with Artist Faculty including Ashley Bouder, Devon Carney, Maurice Causey, and Sara Mearns.
Ben Zusi carries with him conversations with Annabelle Lopez Ochoa and Jennifer Archibald: “As they shared their wisdom with us, they really taught me what it means to dance! A specific moment for me was during rehearsal when Annabelle told us that we were all too timid, and that we were missing the point of dance. The point is not to show the audience perfect technique and perfection but it’s to show your love and how much you enjoy dancing and just present your joy of the art form to the audience!”
For Jack Grohmann “The highlight of my time with The School at Jacob’s Pillow was the connection I made with my fellow artists throughout the two weeks. It felt so refreshing and inspiring to train alongside other dancers my age with similar goals and perspectives. I felt as though I learned just as much from my peers as I did from the faculty.”
Of course, there are quintessential Pillow moments. Dancer Myles Mackesy mentions a favorite moment: “Being in rehearsal and all of the sudden seeing a bear outside (in the distance of course) and Annabelle running out to go see it.”
The second program week concluded with another classic Pillow experience, as the dancers appeared on the iconic outdoor Henry J. Leir stage before a live, and live-streamed, Pillow audience on Saturday, June 25th. They performed classical variations coached by Annabelle, Sara Mearns, Gilbert Bolden III, and legendary ballerina Nina Ananiashivili, an excerpt of a classic Flamenco work taught to them in an hour by Irene Rodriquez, and new works created on them by choreographers Annabelle Lopez Ochoa and Jennifer Archibald.
For dancer Rachel Nash, “Performing on the Henry J. Leir Stage was an experience I will carry with me forever. Dancing in the sun with the birds and the trees was truly magical and I could feel the history and the love as we moved through the breeze. I have never felt so connected to my art form or my community.”
Want to see a day in the life of a dancer at The School at Jacob’s Pillow? Check out Mia Steedle’s takeover of our Instagram!
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