91st season celebrates a wide range of international artists,

with music from Burt Bacharach to David Bowie, a hip hop festival,

indoor and outdoor performances, and family-friendly events 

Member Pre-Sale begins March 6; general on-sale begins April 17 

February 15, 2023 (BECKET, Mass.)—Following a milestone anniversary year, Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival will celebrate its 91st season this summer. This year’s eclectic program marks the return of international programming post-pandemic, celebrates artists for whom the Pillow has been an artistic home, and features many dance companies in their Pillow debuts.

Running June 28 through August 27, Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival 2023 will feature nine weeks of performances in the Ted Shawn Theatre and on the outdoor Henry J. Leir Stage, as well as special events, parties, and pop up performances in Berkshire County. This season will offer the largest breadth of international performers since 2019, as well as multiple performances with live music, and dance styles ranging from hip hop and street dance to ballet and contemporary, with family-friendly opportunities for every audience member to experience something fresh and exciting. 

The complete program for Festival 2023, including the schedule of performances on the outdoor Henry J. Leir Stage, workshops, classes, PillowTalks, and community events will be announced in April. Visit jacobspillow.org/festival for the most up-to-date programming.

“We invite you to journey to Western Massachusetts to experience dance in a setting that’s like nowhere else in the world, and to celebrate the astonishing ways a body can move, with an array of U.S. and international companies brought together to perform their best work at this hallowed ground for dance,” said Jacob’s Pillow Executive and Artistic Director, Pamela Tatge. “We also encourage you to visit us online through Jacob’s Pillow on Demand (watch.jacobspillow.org), where you can access the extraordinary artistry for which the Pillow is known from the comfort of your own home.”

The Festival is curated by Tatge and Associate Curators Melanie George and Ali Rosa-Salas. The Pillow’s International Advisor is Cathy Levy.

Companies performing in the Ted Shawn Theatre will include Mark Morris Dance Group, Dutch National Ballet, Gauthier Dance//Dance Company Theaterhaus Stuttgart, Dorrance Dance, Oona Doherty – OD Works, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, Martha Graham Dance Company, and Compagnie Käfig. Companies with multiple performances on the outdoor Henry J. Leir Stage will include AXIS Dance Company, Decidedly Jazz Danceworks, and Tulsa Ballet. The festival will also include “Hip Hop Across the Pillow,” a special festival within the festival that commemorates the 50th anniversary of hip hop, featuring numerous artists on both stages and throughout the Pillow campus.

Artists performing in shorter engagements on the Henry J. Leir Stage will include, Brinae Ali, Almanac Dance Circus Theatre, Ananya Dance Theatre, The Hood Lockers, Ice Dance International, KR3TS, Kyle Marshall, Mythili Prakash, The Masterz, Nefer Global Movement, Oyu Oro Afro Cuban Experimental Dance Ensemble, Querencia Dance Company, Séan Curran Company & Darrah Carr Dance, SOLE Defined, Taiwan’s Resident Island Dance Theater, Te Ao Mana, Versa-Style Dance Company, waheedworks, and performances by a regional gathering of Indigenous dance artists, with more artists on the Leir Stage to be announced. The outdoor stage will also feature performance ensembles from The School at Jacob’s Pillow summer programs in Contemporary Ballet, Contemporary, and Tap. Additionally, performances centered on the legacy of Katherine Dunham as well as a tribute to the late Chet Walker will feature The School’s alumni of performers and choreographers.

Jacob’s Pillow will hold its Season Opening Gala on Saturday, June 24, which will feature live performances and a presentation of the 2023 Jacob’s Pillow Dance Award to this year’s recipient, to be announced this spring. Community Day will also return this year, providing free, all-ages daytime performances by regional dance artists, as well as activities around the Pillow’s campus, on Friday, August 18.

Jacob’s Pillow continues to be a home for presentations of world-premiere works, and this year will feature several as-yet-untitled world premieres on both the Ted Shawn Theatre and Henry J. Leir stages. Artists and companies making their Jacob’s Pillow debuts this season include Dutch National Ballet, AXIS Dance Company, Oona Doherty, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, Decidedly Jazz Danceworks, Tulsa Ballet, and more.

As Jacob’s Pillow continues to strengthen its role in serving artists year-round, the Festival will also feature several works developed at the Pillow Lab, a residency program now in its sixth year. Those performances include Rokafella and Kwikstep’s commissioned work for Hip Hop Across the Pillow, and works by Ananya Dance Theatre and Mythili Prakash.

Parties at Jacob’s Pillow this summer will be anchored by three special gatherings: the return of Pillow Pride and the All Styles Dance Battle, as well as a themed dance party with the artists of Martha Graham Dance Company. Pillow Pride, a celebration of LGBTQIA+ individuals and communities featuring The Dragon Sisters, will be held on Saturday, July 8. The All Styles Dance Battle will be held on the evening of Friday, August 4, as part of this summer’s “Hip Hop Across the Pillow” week. The dance party with Martha Graham Dance Company will be held on the evening of Saturday, August 19. Tickets to parties will be available beginning March 6 as part of Member Pre-Sale.

Ticketed performances and parties will be enriched by talks, exhibitions, workshops, and the return of the free On the Road performance series to towns around Berkshire County, with details to be announced later this year. Digital offerings will include PillowTalk highlights and live streams of several performances.

The Pillow will also host Dancerly Intelligences, a takeover of its Sommers Studio for artists sharing their work at the intersection of dance and technology. Audiences will have the opportunity to view demonstrations and speak informally with artists about their work. Artists to be announced.

Member Pre-Sale begins Monday, March 6, with tiered access available to Jacob’s Pillow Members based on membership level. Tickets will go on sale to the general public on April 17. To learn more about the Membership program at Jacob’s Pillow, visit jacobspillow.org/membership.

Masking and vaccination are not currently required for visitors to Jacob’s Pillow’s summer festival but are strongly encouraged. Required masking or vaccination may be requested for specific events or areas with advance notice as appropriate. Health and safety policies are subject to change as the COVID-19 pandemic and government mandates evolve. For the most up-to-date info on our health and safety policies, please visit jacobspillow.org/health.

Founded by American modern dance pioneer Ted Shawn in 1933, Jacob’s Pillow is home to the longest-running dance festival in the United States. Jacob’s Pillow is a National Historic Landmark, a National Medal of Arts recipient, and a year-round center for dance research and development.

Festival 2023 Performance Schedule

Artist dates and descriptions follow; additional programming will be announced this spring. Programs and casts are subject to change without notice. Select Festival artist descriptions include links to supplemental video clips within Jacob’s Pillow Dance Interactive, featuring past Jacob’s Pillow performances. The Season Opening Gala kicks off the Festival on June 24, 2023.

Mark Morris Dance Group

June 28-July 2, Ted Shawn Theatre

A longtime Pillow favorite, Mark Morris Dance Group will open Festival 2023 with the evening-length work The Look of Love, an homage to the music of Burt Bacharach that had its world premiere in 2022 and which Fjord Review called “a breath of fresh, brilliant, joyous—and much needed—air.” A towering figure of popular music, Bacharach is known for his soaring melodies and unique orchestrations influenced by jazz, rock, and Brazilian music. The work features original choreography by Morris and new musical arrangements by Ethan Iverson, performed live by an ensemble of piano, trumpet, bass, and drums, with singer, actress, and Broadway star Marcy Harriell on lead vocals. 

Called “the Mozart of Modern Dance” for his musicality, devotion to music, and movement versatility, Mark Morris has distinguished himself as a prolific ballet, modern dance, and opera choreographer and director. He made his Pillow debut in 1982 while his company first appeared here in 1986 and has returned for more than twenty seasons since, amassing one of the most extensive Pillow performance records of any artist. 

Related content on Jacob’s Pillow Dance Interactive:

Mark Morris Dance Group in Sport, 2019:

https://danceinteractive.jacobspillow.org/mark-morris-dance-group/sport/

Mark Morris Dance Group in V, 2011:

https://danceinteractive.jacobspillow.org/mark-morris-dance-group/v/

Dutch National Ballet

July 5-9, Ted Shawn Theatre

In a historic debut, Dutch National Ballet—one of the world’s most critically acclaimed ballet companies—comes to Jacob’s Pillow for the first time. Works will include: Variations for Two Couples, choreographed by Hans Van Manen; Two & Only (Wubkje Kuindersma); The Vertiginous Thrill of Exactitude (William Forsythe); Grand Pas Classique (Victor Gsovsky); and Five Tangos (Hans van Manen, music by Astor Piazzolla). The performance will feature the company’s newest member, Bolshoi Ballet star Olga Smirnova, who joined Dutch National Ballet after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Over the past 60 years, Dutch National Ballet, the only ballet company in the Netherlands, has evolved into one of the world’s foremost ballet companies. With a unique and wide repertoire, a tradition of innovation, and around 80 dancers from all over the world, the company plays a leading role in Dutch cultural life and beyond.

Gauthier Dance//Dance Company Theaterhaus Stuttgart

July 12-16, Ted Shawn Theatre

Based in Germany, Gauthier Dance//Dance Company Theaterhaus Stuttgart is a young, dynamic company of versatile artists known for their thrilling performances of contemporary choreography from around the world. Founded by dancer, choreographer, and musician Eric Gauthier, who originally hails from Canada, the company is returning to the Pillow to celebrate its 15th Anniversary.

The program will include works by Gauthier, Sharon Eyal (co-founder, co-artistic director and choreographer of L-E-V Dance Company), and international choreographers Nacho Duato and Hofesh Shechter. The performance will culminate in Minus 16 by Ohad Naharin (former Artistic Director, now House Choreographer of Batsheva), a wildly popular work not seen at the Pillow for 20 years.

Related content on Jacob’s Pillow Dance Interactive:

Gauthier Dance//Dance Company Theaterhaus Stuttgart in Cantata, 2016:

https://danceinteractive.jacobspillow.org/gauthier-dancedance-company-theaterhaus-stuttgart/cantata-2/

Gauthier Dance//Dance Company Theaterhaus Stuttgart in Malasangre, 2015:

https://danceinteractive.jacobspillow.org/gauthier-dancedance-company-theaterhaus-stuttgart/malasangre/

Dorrance Dance

July 19-23, Ted Shawn Theatre

Based in New York City, crowd-pleasing Pillow favorite Dorrance Dance was founded in 2011 by Artistic Director Michelle Dorrance—recipient of the 2013 Jacob’s Pillow Dance Award—with the goal to engage with audiences on a musical and emotional level while sharing the complex history and powerful legacy of tap dance. This summer, the company will be performing SOUNDspace, one of the early works that brought Michelle Dorrance to prominence, on the occasion of its 10th anniversary, including never-before-seen elements created specifically for the Ted Shawn Theatre. The program will also feature 45th & 8th, a new work featuring the original compositions of “breathtaking vocalist” Aaron Marcellus (The New York Times).

With a long history of performances at the Pillow, Dorrance Dance’s work challenges the audience’s preconceptions of tap dance. Dorrance Dance received a Bessie Award in 2011 for the inaugural performances of Remembering Jimmy and Three to One and in 2015 for The Blues Project, a collaboration with co-creators Dormeshia, Michelle Dorrance, Derick K. Grant, and musician Toshi Reagon alongside her band BIGLovely, which premiered at the Pillow in 2013. The company has performed to critical acclaim in many venues across the U.S. including The Joyce Theater, The Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center Out of Doors, and Vail Dance Festival—and internationally in Canada, Spain, Germany, and Hong Kong. Michelle Dorrance breaks the mold of tap dance by experimenting with the emotional range of the form “while exposing its true nature: that it is music” (The New York Times).

Related content on Jacob’s Pillow Dance Interactive:

Dorrance Dance featuring Josette Wiggan in Ways to Now in 2021:

https://danceinteractive.jacobspillow.org/dorrance-dance/ways-to-now/

Dorrance Dance in All Good Things Come to an End in 2018:

https://danceinteractive.jacobspillow.org/dorrance-dance/good-things-come-end/

Dorrance Dance in ETM: Double Down in 2016:

https://danceinteractive.jacobspillow.org/dorrance-dance/etm-double/

AXIS Dance Company

July 14-16, Henry J. Leir Stage

Led by Artistic Director Nadia Adame and Managing Director Danae Rees, AXIS Dance Company is one of the nation’s most acclaimed ensembles of disabled and non-disabled performers. Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, the company has toured to over 100 cities in the U.S. over the last 35 years, as well as Israel-Palestine, the United Kingdom, Europe, United Arab Emirates, and Russia. They will make their Jacob’s Pillow debut this summer performing Desiderata by Asun Noales, Flutter by Robin Dekkers, and a third piece to be announced.

The New York Times wrote, “AXIS’s work instructs the viewer in how to appreciate it, and the lesson is delivered with cogent force.” In addition to their extensive touring and performances, AXIS provides integrated dance education and outreach programs, building paths to dance education for disabled and non-disabled people of all ages and experiences. 

Oona Doherty – OD Works 

July 26-30, Ted Shawn Theatre

A rapidly rising star in contemporary dance, Oona Doherty will be making her Jacob’s Pillow debut this summer as the first headlining artist from Northern Ireland to perform at the festival. Based in Belfast and now touring internationally, Doherty—a choreographer, dancer, collaborator, and visual artist—was the recipient of the Silver Lion Award at the Venice Biennale in 2021. Her work has been performed at Tate Britain, in a music video for indie artist Jamie xx, and in a piece co-choreographed for the Ballet de Marseille.

Doherty is not afraid to ask pointed questions of art and society. She is known for her “gritty realism, visceral movement style and fearless attitude to confronting controversial topics” (Frieze)—a combination that has left an indelible impression on audiences. This summer, Doherty will bring Pillow audiences the U.S. premiere of Navy Blue, her largest work yet, driven by a thrilling in-your-face mash-up of ensemble dance, spoken word poetry, political candor, and eclectic music. This work begins with a unison dance set to music by Sergei Rachmaninoff and deconstructs as the music shifts to the pulsing sounds of Jamie xx. Navy Blue premiered at Kampnagel in Hamburg, Germany last summer, and was also performed at Sadler’s Wells in London. The company will also perform Hope Hunt and the Ascension into Lazarus. 

Hip Hop Across the Pillow

August 2-6, Ted Shawn Theatre

This summer, Jacob’s Pillow celebrates the 50th anniversary of hip hop—the diverse culture and art movement catalyzed in the Bronx in August 1973—with a “festival within the Festival.” The one-of-a-kind program in the Ted Shawn Theatre will feature dance artists including Rennie Harris Puremovement American Street Dance Theater, which returns to the Pillow after 13 years. Noted for coining the terms “street dance theater” and “hip hop concert dance,” Harris has been celebrated as a pioneer of hip hop dance theater. The London Times called Harris “the Basquiat of the U.S. contemporary dance scene” who “has literally embodied the history of hip-hop dance.” The program will also feature the world premiere of two works commissioned by Jacob’s Pillow specifically for the Festival: a new duet by hip hop icons Rokafella and Kwikstep, and a work performed by the Ladies of Hip Hop created by Los Angeles-based multi-disciplinary artist d. Sabela Grimes, made possible by the Joan B. Hunter New Work Commission.

This week of campus-wide excitement will also feature performances on the outdoor Henry J. Leir Stage, an All Styles Dance Battle, and a PillowTalk celebrating the many culture-bearers of the form.

Complexions Contemporary Ballet

August 9-13, Ted Shawn Theatre

For nearly three decades, New York-based Complexions Contemporary Ballet has been thrilling audiences around the globe with its full-throttle, high-intensity performances on five continents and in over 20 countries, committed to its mission of “bringing unity to the world one dance at a time.” 

The diverse and inclusive company reinvents ballet with a mix of methods, styles, and cultures that engages and delights. Founded by Dwight Rhoden and Desmond Richardson, the company will make its Pillow debut this summer with a program that includes STAR DUST, a one-act tribute to the genre-bending innovation of rock star David Bowie that features many of Bowie’s iconic hit songs. The Los Angeles Times said the piece “highlights how well-matched Complexions is to the genre-hopping, categorization-defying Bowie.” Additional works to be announced.

Decidedly Jazz Danceworks

Aug. 9-13, Henry J. Leir Stage

Making their Jacob’s Pillow debut this summer, Decidedly Jazz Danceworks (DJD) is a 38-year-old jazz company from Calgary, Canada, dedicated to the rich traditions and boundless future of jazz dance. DJD is a crowd-pleasing favorite with a style that has been described as ‘music for the eyes.’ They are known for exceptional musicality and a rhythmic, percussive aesthetic, often performing with live music.

DJD dances in the spirit of jazz, recognizing themselves as guests in a form born out of Black American culture and the African American experience. Championing jazz in a time when not many dance companies are, the company was also featured in the documentary Uprooted: The Journey of Jazz Dance.

Martha Graham Dance Company

Aug. 16-20, Ted Shawn Theatre

The Martha Graham Dance Company is a world leader in the ever-evolving art form of modern dance. Today, the company is embracing a fresh vision that showcases Graham masterworks alongside newly commissioned works by contemporary artists. During its almost 100 years of history, the company has received acclaim from audiences and critics in over 50 countries. “These men and women easily embody the choreographer’s sense of dancers as angelic athletes,” said Robert Greskovic of The Wall Street Journal, while Marina Kennedy of Broadway World noted, “this is contemporary dance at its very best.”

At Jacob’s Pillow, the company will perform Cave of the Heart, a one-act ballet choreographed by Martha Graham in 1946 to music by Samuel Barber, featuring sets by Isamu Noguchi. Cave of the Heart retells the ancient Greek myth of Medea, a woman consumed by love and jealousy, and has remained a central piece in the company’s repertory. Additionally, the company will perform London-based choreographer Hofesh Shechter’s CAVE, the hit of its 2022 New York season, inspired by communal nightlife dancing and the Rave scene. Additional works to be announced.

Related content on Jacob’s Pillow Dance Interactive:

Martha Graham Dance Company in “Prelude to Action” from Chronicle in 2019:

https://danceinteractive.jacobspillow.org/martha-graham-dance-company/chronicle/

Martha Graham Dance Company in AXE in 2015:

https://danceinteractive.jacobspillow.org/martha-graham-dance-company/axe/

Martha Graham Dance Company in Rust in 2013:

https://danceinteractive.jacobspillow.org/martha-graham-dance-company/rust/

Compagnie Käfig

August 23-27, Ted Shawn Theatre

Acclaimed French hip hop artist Mourad Merzouki founded the Lyon-based Compagnie Käfig at the startling crossroads of modern and contemporary dance, circus, martial arts, video, live music, and hip hop. Named for the Arabic and German term for “cage,” this high-flying company is anything but tied down, pushing the boundaries of hip hop while never losing sight of its roots.

At Jacob’s Pillow, the company will perform their signature work Pixel, a wondrous merging of virtuosic dance and technology created by Merzouki in collaboration with Adrien Mondot and Claire Bardainne. Seen by audiences in more than 30 countries around the world, the show explodes into a 3D world of captivating digital light and video projections, which accompany dancers’ movements. The piece aims to strike a subtle balance between the real and the virtual world, and between energy and poetry, resulting in a performance infused with a multitude of art forms.

Related content on Jacob’s Pillow Dance Interactive:

Compagnie Käfig in Correria in 2012:

https://danceinteractive.jacobspillow.org/compagnie-kafig/correria/

Compagnie Käfig in AGWA in 2013:

https://danceinteractive.jacobspillow.org/compagnie-kafig/agwa/

Tulsa Ballet

August 23-27, Henry J. Leir Stage

Tulsa Ballet will make its Jacob’s Pillow debut this summer as the first company from Oklahoma to perform at the festival. Tulsa Ballet was founded by Moscelyne Larkin, one of five Native American ballet dancers termed the American Indian ballerinas of Oklahoma (all of whom boasted Pillow connections), who performed in and helped organize the Oklahoma Indian Ballerina Festival in 1957 and 1967. At Jacob’s Pillow this summer, Tulsa Ballet, under the direction of Marcello Angelini for the past 28 years, will perform Nicolo Fonte’s Divenire, Andrew McNicol’s Celestial Bodies, and the pas de deux from Katarzyna Kozielska’s Ode.

Tulsa Ballet was born out of a student troupe formed in 1956, one that that later expanded to be a national and international force, being named in 2007 The Official Cultural Ambassador for the state of Oklahoma. In June 2010, the established company made its debut at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., which received accolades in The Washington Post and Dance Magazine. Tulsa Ballet has also performed all over Europe and Asia, earning rave reviews from the international press wherever it performed. The company’s repertory includes 19th-century classical ballet pieces, as well as the most celebrated works of the 20th century. Tulsa Ballet is keen on creating new works, and is committed to creating at least three new dances each season.

ABOUT JACOB’S PILLOW:

Jacob’s Pillow is a National Historic Landmark, recipient of the National Medal of Arts, and home to America’s longest-running international dance festival. It is with gratitude and humility that Jacob’s Pillow acknowledges that it rests on the ancestral homelands of the Muh-he-con-ne-ok or Mohican people, who are the Indigenous peoples of this land. Despite tremendous hardship in being forced from here, today, their community resides in Wisconsin and is known as the Stockbridge-Munsee Community. We pay honor and respect to their ancestors past and present as we commit to building a more inclusive and equitable space for all. Each Festival includes national and international dance companies and free and ticketed performances, talks, tours, classes, exhibits, events, and community programs. The School at Jacob’s Pillow, one of the field’s most prestigious professional dance training centers, encompasses the diverse disciplines of Contemporary Ballet, Contemporary, Tap, Photography, Choreography, and an annual rotating program. The Pillow also provides professional advancement opportunities across disciplines of arts administration, design, video, and production through seasonal internships and a year-round Administrative Fellows program. With growing community engagement programs, the Pillow serves as a partner and active citizen in its local community. The Pillow’s extensive Archives, open year-round to the public and online at danceinteractive.jacobspillow.org, chronicle more than a century of dance in photographs, programs, books, costumes, audiotapes, and videos. Notable artists who have created or premiered dances at the Pillow include choreographers Antony Tudor, Agnes de Mille, Alvin Ailey, Donald McKayle, Kevin McKenzie, Twyla Tharp, Ralph Lemon, Susan Marshall, Trisha Brown, Ronald K. Brown, Wally Cardona, Andrea Miller, and Trey McIntyre; performed by artists such as Mikhail Baryshnikov, Carmen de Lavallade, Mark Morris, Dame Margot Fonteyn, Edward Villella, Rasta Thomas, and hundreds of others. On March 2, 2011, President Barack Obama honored Jacob’s Pillow with a National Medal of Arts, the highest arts award given by the United States Government, making the Pillow the first dance presenting organization to receive this award. The Pillow’s Executive and Artistic Director since 2016 is Pamela Tatge. www.jacobspillow.org.

MAJOR INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT FOR JACOB’S PILLOW IS GENEROUSLY PROVIDED BY: Alphadyne Foundation, Arbella Insurance Foundation, Arison Arts Foundation, Arnhold Foundation, Barr Foundation, Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, Ford Foundation, William Randolph Hearst Foundation, John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency, Mellon Foundation, Mertz Gilmore Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts, National Endowment for the Humanities, Craig H. Neilsen Foundation, and The Shubert Foundation. As of February 1, 2023.          

The Pittsfield Cooperative Bank announced that Harry (Chip) Moore has been promoted to Executive Vice President/Chief Financial Officer, effective May 17.  In this role, Mr. Moore will lead the Bank’s finance organization and financial activities including accounting and controllership, financial planning and treasury.   

Mr. Moore joined the Pittsfield Cooperative Bank as Vice President /Controller in 2012.  In this time, he has been instrumental in driving strategic and structural change amidst significant market disruption, including executing a substantial restructure plan and reshaping the Bank’s portfolio to deliver more profitable growth. Prior to joining The Co-op, Mr. Moore has served in various senior capacities with several financial institutions including Greylock Federal and Adams Community Bank. 

“Chip is a high-impact executive who brings a compelling blend of strategic and capital allocation discipline, well-honed operating skills, and transformational leadership abilities.”  Stated J. Jay Anderson, President and CEO of the Pittsfield Cooperative Bank.  “He will play a significant role in the execution of our growth strategies, helping us to build upon strong established relationships. While also opening doors to new opportunities.” Concluded Anderson.   

A resident of Pittsfield, Mr. Moore serves on the Board of Trustees at Berkshire Community College and enjoys golfing, fishing and kayaking with his family.  He will be located at the Bank’s 70 South St. Pittsfield location.    

About the Pittsfield Co-op:

The Pittsfield Cooperative Bank was established in 1889 and currently has four branches in the Berkshires. Those locations are: 70 South St. and 110 Dalton Ave., both in Pittsfield, 431 Main St. in Dalton and 325 Main St. in Great Barrington. As well as an online branch at pittsfieldcoop.com

 Member FDIC. Member DIF. Equal Opportunity Lender.

Egremont, Mass. – July 7, 2022 -Cellist Yo-Yo Ma and pianist Emanuel Ax are returning to April Hill Conservation and Education Center to present a benefit concert for Greenagers, on July 24th at 6 p.m.

The event again takes place outdoors under a tent in front of the beautiful vistas surrounding April Hill. Top-tier ticket holders are invited to attend a pre-concert reception. Tickets can be purchased at greenagers.org/tickets.

This is the second year that these two renowned musicians have offered a concert to support Greenagers’ outdoor employment and education programs for teens and young adults in the Berkshires. The evening will include a continuation of a conversation with the musicians and Greenagers Executive Director, Will Conklin.

“Yo Yo and Manny are exemplars of grace, community service, humor, and mastery,” said Conklin.  We are so honored to have them back to showcase their talents and the good works of Greenagers.  To host purveyors of such beauty and sincerity reminds our constituents, supporters, and community of the fundamentals that drive us forward in our mission to support our region’s youth through connection to our magnificent landscape and foodshed.”

“What an honor that we are again the beneficiaries of such great generosity by Yo-Yo Ma and Emanuel Ax,” said Greenagers President and Board Chair David Sheehan. “Experiencing their music last year in such an intimate setting was a real privilege and to have this opportunity again is humbling.”

Greenagers, based at the April Hill conservation property at 62 N. Undermountain Road in Egremont,  provides jobs, apprenticeships and education programs for teens and young adults interested in environmental conservation, food security, trails management,and  community service. Information: greenagers.org.

Ashley Falls, Mass. – Staged Ryte, the largest home-staging company in the Berkshires, has launched a massive 5,000 square foot home-staging facility at 21 Business Park Road, Ashley Falls, in the southern Berkshires, with space for over 10,000 pieces of unique furniture and accessories.

Staged Ryte is a woman-owned company serving the Berkshires, Western Massachusetts, Connecticut, Eastern New York State, New York City, and New Jersey. The facility is a warehouse, showroom space, and office space where Staged Ryte meets with realtors, developers, and other professionals to plan home staging and design projects.

“We have enough furniture and accessories to stage up to 15 homes at a time. With more pieces coming in almost every day, we need room to grow,” said owner Dawn Trachtenberg at the grand opening on October 15, 2021. “I can’t tell you how many times we’ve had to remove eight sofas or multiple tables and chairs to access the one particular piece we needed. Now we can see everything at a glance. It’s a game changer for us.” The facility houses:

• Over 10,000 pieces of furniture and accessories
• Over 1,000 books
• Over 500 pillows
• Over 30 sofas
• 450 pieces of wall art including 200 original works (with 150 pieces by contemporary artist Kari Kroll).

Unlike some home-staging companies, Staged Ryte owns all their stock: no additional furniture rental costs are passed on to clients. The staging company doesn’t believe in “cookie cutter” staging. Trachtenberg said, “We believe that every home tells a story – and you need to tell that story to the right buyer. Our attention to detail and ability to understand what buyers want is unmatched.”

About Staged Ryte

Staged Ryte serves the Berkshires, Western Massachusetts, Connecticut, Eastern New York State, New York City and New Jersey. Services include: vacant home staging, occupied home staging, estate home staging, photo shoot staging, office design, interior design consultation, vacation/short-term rental enhancement, and home editing. Contact Dawn Trachtenberg at 917.543.4590 or visit www.stagedryte.com to learn more.

Lakeville, CT – October 27 – As part of the ongoing commitment to help local food pantries feed those in need, Salisbury Bank has announced its 14^th annual Fill-the-Basket food drive.

Starting November 1, 2021 all fourteen branches of the Bank, located in Berkshire, Litchfield, Dutchess, Orange, and Ulster counties, will be collecting donations of non-perishable food items and household supplies. Cash donations will also be accepted. All donated items as well as the monetary contributions collected will be donated directly to local food pantries serving each area.

Local pantries are in need of a variety of donations including, but not limited to: canned goods, cereals, macaroni and cheese, cake mix, peanut butter, mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, and tomato sauce. Household necessities such as paper towels, diapers, shampoo, and soap are also appreciated.

Please join Salisbury Bank’s effort to support our neighbors in need, and accept our sincere thanks for helping enrich the lives of others throughout our communities.

Fill-the-Basket food drive will run from November 1^st through December 17^th.

About Salisbury Bank

Salisbury Bank is a full-service community bank headquartered in Lakeville, Connecticut and presently operates full service branches in Canaan, Lakeville, Salisbury, and Sharon, Connecticut; Great Barrington, Sheffield, and South Egremont, Massachusetts; as well as Dover Plains, Fishkill, Millerton, New Paltz, Newburgh, Poughkeepsie, and Red Oaks Mill, New York. The Bank has been serving families and businesses for over 170 years and offers a full range of consumer and business banking products and services as well as trust and investment services.

Pittsfield, Mass. – Berkshire United Way and Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires are teaming up to offer a virtual volunteer fair on November 12, from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. via Zoom.

Up to 50 Berkshire nonprofits will be represented in virtual “booths” that attendees can meet with to learn more about volunteer opportunities. Booth space is available to nonprofits through October 15 on a first-come, first-served basis. The fee is $25 for NPC members and $35 for non-members.

Nonprofits and individuals can register online at npcberkshires.org.

Nationally, volunteerism is down during COVID. “Locally, food pantries are struggling to find enough volunteers to keep up with increased demand,” says Brenda Petell, Director of Volunteer Engagement at Berkshire United Way.

For more information about volunteering, visit Berkshire United Way’s Volunteer Center online at www.volunteerberkshireuw.org or NPC’s web site GiveBackBerkshires.org.

Williamstown, Mass. —Enjoy some Halloween fun at the Clark Art Institute on Sunday, October 31.

From 11 am to 2 pm, visitors are invited to decorate and display pumpkins and ink themselves with temporary tattoos inspired by the permanent collection on the Fernandez Terrace, enjoy “spooky” lunch specials at Café 7, and pose with cut-outs in the Museum Pavilion.

Indoors, take advantage of the last opportunity to see the exhibition Claude & François-Xavier Lalanne: Nature Transformed on its closing day. The first North American museum in forty years showcases the Lalannes’ madly inventive and irresistible world of objects. In addition, visitors can explore the year-long installation Erin Shirreff: Remainders, on view in the Clark’s Manton Research Center and in the lower level of the Clark Center.

And, for those in the mood, the Clark is offering free admission to visitors who come dressed as an artwork from its collection or one of its special exhibitions. Beyond costume considerations, all visitors are required to wear a face covering at all times as part of the Institute’s effort to protect the health and safety of its visitors, staff, and community.

ABOUT THE CLARK
The Clark Art Institute, located in the Berkshires of western Massachusetts, is one of a small number of institutions globally that is both an art museum and a center for research, critical discussion, and higher education in the visual arts. Opened in 1955, the Clark houses exceptional European and American paintings and sculpture, extensive collections of master prints and drawings, English silver, and early photography. Acting as convener through its Research and Academic Program, the Clark gathers an international community of scholars to participate in a lively program of conferences, colloquia, and workshops on topics of vital importance to the visual arts. The Clark library, consisting of more than 275,000 volumes, is one of the nation’s premier art history libraries. The Clark also houses and co-sponsors the Williams College Graduate Program in the History of Art.

Pittsfield, Mass. — Berkshire Community College (BCC) is pleased to announce it has received an allocation of $869,377 from the state legislature as part of a $16 million fund distributed to all 15 community colleges in the Commonwealth. The allocation is earmarked for the Supporting Urgent Community College Equity through Student Services (SUCCESS) Fund, which focuses on vulnerable populations. The funding, which was requested through the Massachusetts Association of Community Colleges (MACC), covers the period through June 30, 2022, but will likely be renewed if the program proves successful.

The majority of BCC’s SUCCESS funding will be spent on staffing, including hiring Assistant Dean of Student Affairs/Director of SUCCESS George Ambriz as well as four SUCCESS coaches and administrative support. Remaining funds will be spent on student engagement initiatives and related expenses. 

According to MACC, the goals of the SUCCESS Fund project are: 
 

• Expand/scale up existingstudent support services that are proveneffective 

• Serve a specific cohortof students  

• Show significant, demonstrable student success outcome improvement (e.g., retention, graduation and transfer) in the targeted cohort population 

SUCCESS is designed to maximize collaboration among the Commonwealth’s community colleges, identifying best practices and bringing those practices to scale rather than creating new initiatives, explained Adam Klepetar, Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management. “We’re really good at working with marginalized populations, but now we have an amazing opportunity to figure out exactly what works, what doesn’t, and how to serve our students better. We can share everything from project plans to budgets with our community college colleagues across the Commonwealth.”  

Areas of improvement identified 

BCC has identified three major areas in which to improve: completion of a college-level math course within the first year, particularly by students of color; reducing the instances of students who earn zero credits in the first semester; and increasing the likelihood of students returning to school after completion of the first semester.  

While the SUCCESS program is beneficial for all, it is primarily designed to serve vulnerable student populations, including first-generation, low-income, minority, disabled and LGBTQ+ students. At BCC, approximately 500 students will participate in the program. Each student will be assigned a coach, who will focus on academic skills, socio-economic support, and housing and food insecurities. Each coach will manage a caseload and track interactions with their students. Field trips to four-year colleges and financial literacy workshops will be among the student engagement initiatives offered. 

Klepetar serves on the SUCCESS Leadership Team, a collaboration among MACC, the Commonwealth’s Department of Higher Education, and the 15 colleges participating in the program. “We want to connect students with the resources they need to keep them on track so that they can meet or exceed their goals,” he said. “It’s our responsibility to create safe places and pathways for all students, but particularly those underserved in higher education. SUCCESS focuses on reducing equity gaps and racial justice.” 

A Paradigm Shift 

The problem of inequity in higher education has persisted for decades, if not hundreds of years, Klepetar said, but he sees a “big shift” in the way colleges think about serving students. “We are becoming proactive instead of reactive. We are cognizant of the fact that it’s our job to design our programs in a way that allows us to reach out to students before problems happen. That way, they can take those big first steps, those risks, that open the door to success in college and in their careers.” 

Part of that shift, Klepetar asserts, is creating an environment of trust – not just for students, but for those responsible for funding. “The legislature has put a lot of resources into the hands of community colleges across the Commonwealth. They trusted us enough to invest in us,” he said. “It’s a smart investment, and I have a great sense of confidence that we can do this,” he added. 

That trust is intensified by the collective sense of urgency to right the wrongs of major disparities in access to higher education, said Klepetar, noting that communities of color are significantly less likely to attain associate degrees, bachelor’s degrees and beyond. “If we don’t figure out these issues of inequity, we’re creating even bigger problems down the road,” he said. “We’re looking at students holistically and identifying what prevents success, particularly accessibility. When you offer true access, you open a door to a world that people would otherwise not have access to.” 

About Berkshire Community College  

Berkshire Community College (BCC), situated on 180 park-like acres, is located four miles from the center of Pittsfield in the heart of the beautiful Berkshires of Western Massachusetts. Founded in 1960, BCC was the first community college established in the Commonwealth. As a public, fully accredited community college, BCC strives to place higher education within reach of all residents of Berkshire County and beyond, offering associate degree and certificate programs to approximately 2,000 enrolled students per year. The mission of BCC encompasses five core values: integrity and engagement; innovation; diversity and inclusion; service; and sustainability. Visit BCC online at www.berkshirecc.edu.

Great Barrington, Mass. – Sept. 7 – The use of Railroad Street for outdoor dining has now ceased, but downtown eateries can continue outdoor service on designated sidewalks, alleys, and other off-street areas.

“As the high summer weeks come to a close, the staffing for set up and removal of Railroad Street planters, barriers and signage has thinned out,” said Town Manager Mark Pruhenski. “Off-street and sidewalk dining will continue as long as weather permits.”

The town’s outdoor dining accommodations were funded through a shared streets grant for municipalities to assist with COVID-19 recovery efforts. Railroad Street was partially closed on Fridays and Saturdays to allow for more outdoor seating and service for restaurants.

The town also wishes to thank the organizers and many performers in this summer’s Berkshire Busk and Town Hall Gazebo Concert series, who kept the downtown lively and entertaining throughout the summer.

Both the Berkshire Busk program, led by Eugene Carr, and Town Hall Concert Concert series, organized by Lee Rogers, wrapped up this past Labor Day weekend. Both will return in the summer 2022.

Williamstown, Mass. —On Saturday, September 4, at 4 pm, the renowned Knights Orchestra returns to the Clark as part of its programming to highlight Norwegian culture in celebration of its Nikolai Astrup: Visions of Norway exhibition. A joyous celebration of nature and Norway, this free outdoor concert on the Clark’s Fernández Terrace features a new arrange­ment by Colin Jacobsen of traditional Norwegian folk music as well as Edvard Grieg’s “Holberg Suite, Op. 4,” Anna Clyne’s “Within Her Arms,” and Ralph Vaughan Williams’ “Lark Ascending.”

Based in New York City, The Knights are a collective of musicians dedicated to transforming the orchestral experience. The collective was founded and is directed by violinist Colin Jacobsen and conductor and cellist Eric Jacobsen, who, together, also founded the Brooklyn Rider string quartet. The Knights’ roster boasts musicians of remarkably diverse talents, including composers, arrangers, singer-songwriters, and improvisers, who bring a range of cultural influences to the group, from jazz and klezmer to pop and indie rock music. Since their founding in 2007, they have toured and recorded with prominent soloists including Yo-Yo Ma, Dawn Upshaw, Béla Fleck, Itzhak Perlman, and Gil Shaham, and have performed at Carnegie Hall, Tanglewood, and the Vienna Musikverein.

Nikolai Astrup (1880–1928) is one of Norway’s most important artists, with a style notable for its intense, colorful palette and the magical realism of its landscapes. In Visions of Norway, on view in the Clark Center through September 19, the Clark presents more than eighty-five works by this brilliant painter, printmaker, and horticulturist. Astrup focused his work on the relatively isolated region of his childhood home and, there, explored a personal form of Modernism and celebrated Norwegian national identity—something he shared with fellow Norwegians, composer Edvard Grieg and playwright Henrik Ibsen.

This performance is presented through the generous support of Mela and Paul Haklisch, the Asbjorn Lunde Foundation, and the Norwegian Consulate, New York. This event is free. Bring a lawn chair or blanket for outdoor seating. Inclement weather postpones this event until Sunday, September 5 at 4 pm. Visit clarkart.edu/events for more information.

Nikolai Astrup: Visions of Norway is organized by the Clark Art Institute, Williamstown, Massachusetts, in cooperation with KODE Art Museums and Composer Homes, Bergen, the Savings Bank Foundation DNB, and Prince Eugen’s Waldemarsudde. It is guest curated by independent scholar MaryAnne Stevens.

The exhibition is generously supported by the Savings Bank Foundation DNB. Significant funding is provided by the Asbjorn Lunde Foundation, Inc. with additional support from Richard and Carol Seltzer, Diane and Andreas Halvorsen, and the Norwegian Consulate General, New York. The exhibition catalogue has been published with generous support from the Savings Bank Foundation DNB and additional support from the Asbjorn Lunde Foundation, Inc.

ABOUT THE CLARK

The Clark Art Institute, located in the Berkshires of western Massachusetts, is one of a small number of institutions globally that is both an art museum and a center for research, critical discussion, and higher education in the visual arts. Opened in 1955, the Clark houses exceptional European and American paintings and sculpture, extensive collections of master prints and drawings, English silver, and early photography. Acting as convener through its Research and Academic Program, the Clark gathers an international community of scholars to participate in a lively program of conferences, colloquia, and workshops on topics of vital importance to the visual arts. The Clark library, consisting of more than 275,000 volumes, is one of the nation’s premier art history libraries. The Clark also houses and co-sponsors the Williams College Graduate Program in the History of Art.