Jacob’s Pillow Announces Big Plans For Its 85th Season
Amy Krzanik reports from Becket. This summer, Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival celebrates its 85th season and its director, Pamela Tatge, celebrates her first as curator of the esteemed institution. Tatge, pictured at left with Judith Wilkinson, took over last year with a full season pre-planned by outgoing longtime director Ella Baff. At the Pillow’s opening night gala on Saturday, June 17, Tatge introduced the 2017 season, presented her vision for the festival’s future – a year-round, community-engaged plan set to be fully realized by 2022 – and awarded the Jacob’s Pillow Dance Award to choreographer Liz Lerman. The sold out gala crowd was treated to performances by Miami City Ballet, New York City Ballet principal dancer Sara Mearns with Company Wang Ramirez, and students from the School at Jacob’s Pillow in a visually stunning world premiere choreographed by Bruce Wells. A sit-down dinner followed and, as always, dancing concluded the evening’s festivities.
Pillow trustee and gala co-chair Hunter Runnette, Albert Pope and actor David Rasche; former Mass. Governor Deval Patrick with Jane Iredale.
Liz Richards and Alison Hart; event underwriter Suzanne Nash with Tom Patti, a glass artist who creates each year's Dance Award, and his wife Marilyn Patti.
Vicky Spelman, Vincent Thomas, Peter Prix and Anna Spelman.
Karen Cellini with Bruce Evenchick; JK Brown, Evette Sonia Brower and Eric Diefenbach.
Choreographer Liz Lerman with Pamela Tatge and Eleanor Oldham of Wang Ramirez; David Schecker, Vicki Bonnington and Carrie Wright.
Ogden Gigli and Kat Whitney with Jedediah Thompson of the brand-new Township Four in Pittsfield and Nathan Hanford of Soldier On.
Judith Monachina, Dennis Powell and Yvette Jamuna Sirker; Gary Levante and Shela Hidalgo.
Camila Notaro and Grace Bilodeau; Carolyn Valli, who recently auditioned for Wheel of Fortune (Good luck, Carolyn!), with Mass. State Senator Adam Hinds.
Deborah Spey, Seth Cohen, Rachel Cohen, Charles Rosen and Duke Dang.
Brian Cruey with David and Maria Carls; Harriet Ross and Irwin Ross.
Laurie Norton Moffatt, director and CEO of the Norman Rockwell Museum with Kit Dobelle; Ritch Holben, Ken De Loreto and Scott Edward Cole of the Monterey General Store.
Elissa Haskins–Vaughan, the Pillow's director of development, with Michael Flamini, who is on the Pillow's education committee; Methuselah owner Yuki Cohen and its friendly bartender, Johnny, serve up craft cocktails.
Lourdes Lopez, Board President Chris Jones, Katy Rule and Colter Rule.
Toronto's Throwdown Collective performed two works, outside on the lawn, during the cocktail hour.
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