PILLOWNOTES JACOB’S PILLOW EXTENDS SPECIAL THANKS by Maura Keefe TO OUR VISIONARY LEADERS The PillowNotes series comprises essays commissioned from our Scholars-in-Residence to provide audiences with a broader VISIONARY LEADERS form an important foundation of support and context for viewing dance. demonstrate their passion for and commitment to Jacob’s Pillow through There’s just no accounting for happiness, annual gifts of $10,000 and above. or the way it turns up like a prodigal who comes back to the dust at your feet Their deep affiliation ensures the success and longevity of the having squandered a fortune far away. Pillow’s annual offerings, including educational initiatives, free public —Jane Kenyon programs, The School, the Archives, and more. For the first eighty or so years of modern dance history, if you wanted to be a choreographer, you founded a dance company in your own name, trained a group of dancers in your aesthetic, and began to make dances. There was little doubt $25,000+ of the relationship between the choreographer and the company. In the United States, choreographers such as Martha PRESENTS Carole* & Dan Burack Christopher Jones* & Deb McAlister Graham, Paul Taylor, and Mark Morris helped shape generations of both dancers and dance audiences. And then modern UMANOOVE/DIDY VELDMAN The Barrington Foundation Wendy McCain dance, or in Europe, contemporary dance, began to embrace the notion of guest choreographers, long established in ballet Frank & Monique Cordasco Fred Moses* Hon. Stephan P. Driscoll*, in honor and memory Jennie A. Kassanoff & Dan H. Schulman companies. This was the career path for Dutch-born choreographer Didy Veldman, a highly regarded figure in European Doris Duke Theatre of John Lindquist & Barton Mumaw Mark & Taryn Leavitt contemporary dance. Stephanie & Robert ‡ Gittleman Sylvia T. Pope* July 17-21, 2019 Carolyn Gray & George Peppard Robert & Eileen Rominger Veldman had the best possible training to become a choreographer: as a dancer, she worked with master artists such as Joan & Jim Hunter Jiří Kylián, Mats Ek, and Christopher Bruce. She explained in an interview with Dance Europe that she had established a company when she was 26, but she couldn’t juggle all of the responsibilities of directing, dancing, and choreographing. ARTISTIC DIRECTOR/ Opportunities to make work for other companies allowed her artistic development without management responsibilities. CHOREOGRAPHER Didy Veldman She has since created dances that are clever, ambitious, full-bodied, and darkly humorous, as exemplified in those $10,000+ performed at Jacob’s Pillow by Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montréal and Cedar Lake Contemporary Dance. COSTUME & SET DESIGN Kimie Nakano Dr. Norman Abramson Ann* & Peter Herbst Deborah & Charles Adelman Laura* & Nick Ingoglia While in residence creating a work for the School at Jacob’s Pillow in 2010, Veldman recorded an interview for the Pillow LIGHTING DESIGN Ben Ormerod Nancy K. Kalodner Aliad Fund Archives. She explained that no matter who the dancers are—whether professional dancers or students—Veldman works Rick & Nurit Amdur Amy & Richard Kohan to identify distinctions within the ensemble. She said, “I love individuality. I love personality. When I can find that in people TECHNICAL MANAGEMENT Candace* & Rick Beinecke Lizbeth & George Krupp & RE-LIGHTER Anthony Arblaster Linda & Bob Berzok Jack & Elizabeth Meyer, in honor of and they’re willing to share that with me, I get inspired and want to use that. The more differences, the better.” Sydelle & Lee Blatt Diane & Deval Patrick COMPANY MANAGEMENT Zara Rush David Carlisle & Morene Bodner Hans* & Kate Morris In 2016, in the midst of a successful career as a freelance choreographer, Veldman decided to launch Umanoove/Didy Chervenak-Nunnallé Foundation Gov. Deval L. & Diane Patrick Veldman. As she said in an interview with Dance Europe, she wanted to deepen relationships with dancers. “I’m at that TOUR MANAGEMENT Sarah Trist Neil* & Kathleen Chrisman Claudia Perles stage where I want to develop my own work in a different way; you don’t always get a lot of time in repertoire companies Ranny Cooper & David Smith Caren & Barry Roseman to create work and you don’t always get the opportunities you’d like,” Veldman said. “It’s difficult working with new MUSICIAN Alexander Balanescu Jeffrey Davis & Michael T. Miller Hunter K. Runnette* & Mark P. VandenBosch dancers all the time, very hard to be original and push boundaries with them because there’s almost no time for that.” Naomi Seligman & Ernie von Simson David DeFilippo & Lisa Shapiro, in memory of Umanoove—as Veldman defines it: “Human, move, you, maneuver”—makes its U.S. debut at Jacob’s Pillow with The DANCERS Eryck Brahmania Robert Gittleman Mark Sena & Linda Saul-Sena Happiness Project (2016). Hermine Drezner Natalie & Howard Shawn Estela Merlos Sheila Drill Lisbeth Tarlow & Stephen Kay Madeleine Jonsson Roger Tilles Veldman began her exploration in Umanoove’s first production with two probing questions: what kinds of dancers did she Nancy & Michael Feller Mathieu Geffré David & Nina Fialkow in honor of Stephen Weiner & Donald Cornuet want to work with? And what would a collaboration with composer and violinist Alexander Balanescu grow into? Romanian Deval & Diane Patrick and Mark A. Leavitt Ellen Weissman born Balanescu, who plays live during the performance, has a well-established list of collaborators that includes musicians Jeanne Donovan Fisher Mark & Liz Williams David Byrne and Gavin Bryars, and choreographers Meryl Tankard and Pina Bausch. Another kind of research question Joan* & Charlie Gross Elaine* & Irving Wolbrom emerged: Why do we all chase after happiness? Veldman, who brilliantly manages large casts of dancers for companies like Rambert Dance, wanted to work on a smaller scale, with just four dancers. With the intimate cast of dancers, Balanescu, and designer Kimie Nakano, Veldman dove into to the potentially overwhelmingly simple and incredibly complex quest for * Former Trustees, staff, faculty, interns, The School’s dancers, or arists-in-residence happiness. ‡ deceased An analysis of earlier works by Veldman reveals that she is intrigued by the porous borders between the emotional landscape of dance theater and the abstraction of highly physical, virtuosic, and abstract dancing. In Veldman’s hands, it INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT is possible to test the human-ness that contains the capacity for happiness or sadness. Veldman’s choreography is also As of May 23, 2019 major support for Jacob’s Pillow has been generously provided by the always fed by music. As she puts it herself, “I was always moving to music.” Stravinsky and Shostakovich inspire her, as do following institutions: The Arison Arts Foundation; Arnhold Foundation; The Barr Foundation; contemporary composers such as Elena Kats-Chernin, as well as other music ranging from Nina Simone to Offenbach. The Barrington Foundation; Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation; Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts; The Chervenak-Nunnallé Foundation; The Feigenbaum Foundation; Gladys In a 1996 New York Times review of Rambert Dance Company, dance critic Anna Kisselgoff remarked, “Didy Veldman is Krieble Delmas Foundation; The Ford Foundation; Howard Gilman Foundation; Harkness riveting as the woman who does not break, no matter how much she is yanked around in the acrobatic choreography.” Foundation for Dance; William Randolph Hearst Foundation; The John S. and James L. Knight Kisselgoff’s words are metaphoric and prescient—Veldman is riveting, and her career path from dancer, to choreographer, Foundation; Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency; MassDevelopment; The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation; Mertz Gilmore Foundation; New England Foundation for the Arts; to artistic director is an investigation of happiness indeed. National Endowment for the Arts; Onota Foundation; The Prospect Hill Foundation; The Shubert Foundation; The Robert and Tina Sohn Foundation; The Spingold Foundation; Talented Students © 2019 Maura Keefe and Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival in the Arts Initiative, a collaboration of the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and Surdna Dance writer Maura Keefe has led audience programs at various venues around the country and is the Associate Director of Foundation; The Thompson Family Foundation; The Velmans Foundation; Weissman Family Foundation; and Jacob’s Pillow Business Partners. Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies at the University of Maryland, College Park, where she was named the Dorothy G. Madden Professor of Dance in 2018. PROGRAM COMPANY MEMBERSHIP SUPPORTS Company’s DUST, iTMOi, Vertical in Winter (Galway International Arts and New York. He recently EVERYTHING YOU LOVE ABOUT The Happiness Project (2016) Road, Torobaka, Gnosis, Kaash, and Festival/Barbican); Mrs. Henderson launched his new artistic project/ JACOB’S PILLOW “I have been curious for many years why we chase after happiness like it is The Rashomon Effect, and art for Presents (West End/Toronto); The company, Rendez-Vous dance, some sort of object we can buy, hold onto, or even re-create.” Sylvie Guillem’s Life in Progress, Sidi Libertine, In the Next Room (Bath, based in the United Kingdom. –Didy Veldman Larbi Cherkaoui’s Fall, and The Royal UK/West End); Punishment without JOIN OUR THOUSANDS OF MEMBERS & SUPPORT THE Ballet of Flanders, English National Revenge, Don Gil of the Green MADELEINE JONSSON MISSION OF JACOB’S PILLOW. CHOREOGRAPHY Didy Veldman Ballet, Stadttheater Bremerhaven, Breeches, A Lady of Little Sense (UK (Performer) trained in ballet Yabin Wang, José Agudo, and Aditi Tour); and Peep (Edinburgh Fringe). and contemporary at a pre- You can help the Pillow present outstanding dance artists MUSIC COMPOSITION Mangaldas. She has designed sets Arblaster’s associate credits for opera professional program in from around the world, provide training and support to & PERFORMANCE Alexander Balanescu and costumes for opera, theater, include Der Fliegende Holländer, Tristan Gothenburg, Sweden before she and film; Tristan und Isolde for und Isolde, Ariadne auf Naxos, Der Ring started a Bachelors degree at the talented dancers of The School at Jacob’s Pillow, maintain COSTUME & Longborough Opera Festival, Theatre des Nibelungen (Longborough Festival, London Contemporary Dance our landmark site, and create free community programs SET DESIGN Kimie Nakano de Sartrouville, Beckett at Theatre UK); and A Midsummer’s Night’s Dream School, where she graduated in that engage people of all ages and backgrounds with dance. National Populaire, and the feature (Trinity Laban, London). 2016. Alongside her training, she LIGHTING DESIGN Ben Ormerod film Macbeth. has been working in collaboration ERYCK BRAHMANIA (Performer) was with international visual artists PERFORMERS Eryck Brahmania BEN ORMEROD (Lighting Designer) born in Essex, U.K., and trained at The and choreographers, touring Estela Merlos has previously worked with Veldman Royal Ballet School. His dance career works to Finland as well as to EVERY GIFT MATTERS. Madeleine Jonsson on Three Dancers (Rambert), see has seen him work for numerous several galleries across London, JOIN AND CHOOSE THE LEVEL RIGHT FOR YOU! Mathieu Geffré blue through, Tender Hooks (Ballet companies including Rambert Dance such as the V&A Museum, Gulbenkian), Les Noces (Geneva), and Company, Michael Clark Dance White Rainbow, and The Royal Explore the full list of benefits, join as a new Member, renew your Funding Credit Askungen (Gothenburg). Ormerod has Company, Umanoove, Protein Dance, Academy. Since graduating, current membership, or upgrade to a higher level umanoove-didy-veldman.org | @umanoove worked extensively with The Royal Company Chameleon, Alexander Jonsson has worked with Dane at jacobspillow.org/support/membership. Supported using public funding by Arts Council England, Linbury Trust, Quercus Trust, Shakespeare Company, The National Whitley Dance, New Movement Hurst, Lea Anderson, Juri Nishi, DanceEast, The Place, Rambert, The Royal Ballet School, Siobhan Davies Dance, and Theatre, The Abbey Theatre, English Collective, Musemotion, and Hong Heidi Vierthaler, and began her South East Dance. Touring Theatre, and Propeller. His Kong Ballet. He has performed works by collaboration with Didy Veldman You can also make a donation by phone at 413.243.9919 x122. With special thanks to: Brendan Keaney, Beth Krasna, and an anonymous donor. opera and dance credits include Christopher Bruce, Itzik Galili, Richard in 2017. productions for Scottish Opera, ENO, Alston, Merce Cunningham, Siobhan Sustaining members support the Pillow year-round through easy, Longborough, Buxton, Academia Davies, Garry Stewart, Mark Baldwin, ESTELA MERLOS (Performer) was automatic monthly or quarterly gifts. Santa Cecilia Rome, National Dance Andre Gingras, Darshan Singh Buller, born in Barcelona, and is now an Jacob’s Pillow is committed to providing an environment that cultivates the celebration of the art of dance Company of Wales, Candoco, and Karole Armitage, Paul Taylor, Doug independent dance artist based and its positive impact on community. Walker Dance Park Music. Recent Varone, and many others. Brahmania in London. She collaborates with work includes: The Libertine, Mrs. has also worked on movement a wide variety of international Depending on your level, membership gives you access to: While in our theaters, please refrain from behavior that could disturb other patrons and performers during the performance. We ask that you: silence your cell phone; do not photograph or video record performances; keep your ticket with you at all times; observe that food and beverages are not allowed, with the Henderson Presents (West End); development for numerous West artists, dance companies, and Early Ticketing exception of water; and please let a staff member know if you need help. Donegal (Abbey Theatre); and This End musicals including Charlie & the institutions as a performer, Thank you for observing these House Rules so that everyone can have an enjoyable experience. Fan level & above Restless House (Glasgow Citizens). Chocolate Factory, Women on the Verge choreographer, teacher, and We are so glad you are here. Enjoy the show! Ormerod is also lighting designer of a Nervous Breakdown, Groundhog rehearsal director. She trained Admission to Cast Parties for the Calico Museum of Textiles, Day, and Frozen. In addition to dancing, at Escola de Dansa Madó and Contributor level & above Ahmedabad, directed Athol Fugard’s Brahmania teaches yoga and Vedic Central School of Ballet. Before COMPANY Dimetos (Gate, London), and adapted thought, and trained under renowned joining Rambert (2008) she Pillow Lab showings where you can witness the creative process four films from Kieslowski’s Dekalog teacher Claire Missingham. He teaches danced for companies Cannes Supporter level & above DIDY VELDMAN (Artistic Lausanne, Rambert School, and Dunster (for Royal Shakespeare for E15. at numerous studios across London. Jeune Ballet (2004) and IT Dansa Director, Choreographer) is an Chichester University. Company) and Pippo Delbono. He (2006), performing works by Priority Parking Passes established choreographer with refuses to acknowledge divisions ANTHONY ARBLASTER (Technical MATTHIEU GEFFRÉ (Performer) acclaimed choreographers such Partners’ Circle level & above vast international experience. She ALEXANDER BALANESCU between different musical fields, Manager & Re-lighter) is a Lighting graduated from the Paris Conservatoire as Jiři Kylian, Christopher Bruce, working with such diverse artists as danced with Scapino Ballet, Ballet (Composer, Live Musician) was Designer, Tour Re-lighter, and Lighting in 2006. Geffré danced in France, Carolyn Carlson, Nacho Duato, Invitations to Member-Exclusive Events du Grand Théâtre de Genève, and born in Romania and is a prolific Michael Nyman, Gavin Bryars, David Programmer. He trained at the Holland, and the United Kingdom as and Itzik Galili. Since 2014 she has Byrne, Kraftwerk, Pet Shop Boys, Rambert Dance Company. Veldman composer as well as one of the postgraduate Lighting Design Program part of companies such as Dansgroep collaborated with Didy Veldman, Discounts in The Pillow Store left Rambert in 2000 to concentrate most exciting and visionary Goldfrapp, Depeche Mode, and at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Amsterdam, National Dance Company Shobana Jeyasingh, Marcos on her choreographic career, and violinists of our time. As leader Grace Jones. Art, London. He has lit theater, opera, Wales, and Noord Nederlandse Morau, Patricia Okenwa, New has created over 40 works for 25 of the Balanescu Quartet, he was and dance in Australia and the U.K. Dans. He has had the opportunity to Movement Collective, and Avatara international companies such as instrumental in rejuvenating the KIMIE NAKANO (Costume Designer) Recent Lighting Design credits include collaborate with numerous leading Ayuso. Her own choreographic Help make dance creation, presentation, education, and Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de new music scene in the U.K. by has designed sets and costume The Woods (Royal Court, London); choreographers including Itzik Galili, work has been presented in Spain preservation at Jacob’s Pillow possible. Montréal, Cedar Lake, Cullberg revolutionizing its repertoire and for Didy Veldman’s productions Unbecoming (Canberra Theatre Didy Veldman, Theo Clinkard, Stephen and the U.K., and was appointed Ballet, Rambert Dance Company, its relationship with the audience. for Rambert Dance Company, Centre, Australia); Shadows of Time Swindon Dance Associate Artist Shropshire, Alexander Ekman, and Thank you! and many others. In 2019, she will Throughout his career, Balanescu Les Grands Ballets Canadiens (Marysas Trio, London); and Town Angelin Preljocaj, among others. An in 2017. Merlos is currently collaborate with Gabriel Prokofiev has drawn inspiration from his de Montréal, The Lithuanian Hall Cherubs (Battersea Arts Centre, award-winning choreographer, he has studying to become a Feldenkrais on a work for Birmingham Royal collaborations with choreographers National Opera and Ballet Theatre, London). Associate Lighting Design presented his work in Wales, England, Practitioner at Instituto Ballet. She teaches at The Royal Pina Bausch and Meryl Tankard, and Luzerner Theatre. She has credits for theatre include: Woyzeck Ireland, Germany, Denmark, Spain, Feldenkrais Barcelona. Ballet School, the Prix de Lausanne, and with theatre directors Matthew designed costumes for Akram Khan More info at estelamerlos.com PROGRAM COMPANY MEMBERSHIP SUPPORTS Company’s DUST, iTMOi, Vertical in Winter (Galway International Arts and New York. He recently EVERYTHING YOU LOVE ABOUT The Happiness Project (2016) Road, Torobaka, Gnosis, Kaash, and Festival/Barbican); Mrs. Henderson launched his new artistic project/ JACOB’S PILLOW “I have been curious for many years why we chase after happiness like it is The Rashomon Effect, and art for Presents (West End/Toronto); The company, Rendez-Vous dance, some sort of object we can buy, hold onto, or even re-create.” Sylvie Guillem’s Life in Progress, Sidi Libertine, In the Next Room (Bath, based in the United Kingdom. –Didy Veldman Larbi Cherkaoui’s Fall, and The Royal UK/West End); Punishment without JOIN OUR THOUSANDS OF MEMBERS & SUPPORT THE Ballet of Flanders, English National Revenge, Don Gil of the Green MADELEINE JONSSON MISSION OF JACOB’S PILLOW. CHOREOGRAPHY Didy Veldman Ballet, Stadttheater Bremerhaven, Breeches, A Lady of Little Sense (UK (Performer) trained in ballet Yabin Wang, José Agudo, and Aditi Tour); and Peep (Edinburgh Fringe). and contemporary at a pre- You can help the Pillow present outstanding dance artists MUSIC COMPOSITION Mangaldas. She has designed sets Arblaster’s associate credits for opera professional program in from around the world, provide training and support to & PERFORMANCE Alexander Balanescu and costumes for opera, theater, include Der Fliegende Holländer, Tristan Gothenburg, Sweden before she and film; Tristan und Isolde for und Isolde, Ariadne auf Naxos, Der Ring started a Bachelors degree at the talented dancers of The School at Jacob’s Pillow, maintain COSTUME & Longborough Opera Festival, Theatre des Nibelungen (Longborough Festival, London Contemporary Dance our landmark site, and create free community programs SET DESIGN Kimie Nakano de Sartrouville, Beckett at Theatre UK); and A Midsummer’s Night’s Dream School, where she graduated in that engage people of all ages and backgrounds with dance. National Populaire, and the feature (Trinity Laban, London). 2016. Alongside her training, she LIGHTING DESIGN Ben Ormerod film Macbeth. has been working in collaboration ERYCK BRAHMANIA (Performer) was with international visual artists PERFORMERS Eryck Brahmania BEN ORMEROD (Lighting Designer) born in Essex, U.K., and trained at The and choreographers, touring Estela Merlos has previously worked with Veldman Royal Ballet School. His dance career works to Finland as well as to EVERY GIFT MATTERS. Madeleine Jonsson on Three Dancers (Rambert), see has seen him work for numerous several galleries across London, JOIN AND CHOOSE THE LEVEL RIGHT FOR YOU! Mathieu Geffré blue through, Tender Hooks (Ballet companies including Rambert Dance such as the V&A Museum, Gulbenkian), Les Noces (Geneva), and Company, Michael Clark Dance White Rainbow, and The Royal Explore the full list of benefits, join as a new Member, renew your Funding Credit Askungen (Gothenburg). Ormerod has Company, Umanoove, Protein Dance, Academy. Since graduating, current membership, or upgrade to a higher level umanoove-didy-veldman.org | @umanoove worked extensively with The Royal Company Chameleon, Alexander Jonsson has worked with Dane at jacobspillow.org/support/membership. Supported using public funding by Arts Council England, Linbury Trust, Quercus Trust, Shakespeare Company, The National Whitley Dance, New Movement Hurst, Lea Anderson, Juri Nishi, DanceEast, The Place, Rambert, The Royal Ballet School, Siobhan Davies Dance, and Theatre, The Abbey Theatre, English Collective, Musemotion, and Hong Heidi Vierthaler, and began her South East Dance. Touring Theatre, and Propeller. His Kong Ballet. He has performed works by collaboration with Didy Veldman You can also make a donation by phone at 413.243.9919 x122. With special thanks to: Brendan Keaney, Beth Krasna, and an anonymous donor. opera and dance credits include Christopher Bruce, Itzik Galili, Richard in 2017. productions for Scottish Opera, ENO, Alston, Merce Cunningham, Siobhan Sustaining members support the Pillow year-round through easy, Longborough, Buxton, Academia Davies, Garry Stewart, Mark Baldwin, ESTELA MERLOS (Performer) was automatic monthly or quarterly gifts. Santa Cecilia Rome, National Dance Andre Gingras, Darshan Singh Buller, born in Barcelona, and is now an Jacob’s Pillow is committed to providing an environment that cultivates the celebration of the art of dance Company of Wales, Candoco, and Karole Armitage, Paul Taylor, Doug independent dance artist based and its positive impact on community. Walker Dance Park Music. Recent Varone, and many others. Brahmania in London. She collaborates with work includes: The Libertine, Mrs. has also worked on movement a wide variety of international Depending on your level, membership gives you access to: While in our theaters, please refrain from behavior that could disturb other patrons and performers during the performance. We ask that you: silence your cell phone; do not photograph or video record performances; keep your ticket with you at all times; observe that food and beverages are not allowed, with the Henderson Presents (West End); development for numerous West artists, dance companies, and Early Ticketing exception of water; and please let a staff member know if you need help. Donegal (Abbey Theatre); and This End musicals including Charlie & the institutions as a performer, Thank you for observing these House Rules so that everyone can have an enjoyable experience. Fan level & above Restless House (Glasgow Citizens). Chocolate Factory, Women on the Verge choreographer, teacher, and We are so glad you are here. Enjoy the show! Ormerod is also lighting designer of a Nervous Breakdown, Groundhog rehearsal director. She trained Admission to Cast Parties for the Calico Museum of Textiles, Day, and Frozen. In addition to dancing, at Escola de Dansa Madó and Contributor level & above Ahmedabad, directed Athol Fugard’s Brahmania teaches yoga and Vedic Central School of Ballet. Before COMPANY Dimetos (Gate, London), and adapted thought, and trained under renowned joining Rambert (2008) she Pillow Lab showings where you can witness the creative process four films from Kieslowski’s Dekalog teacher Claire Missingham. He teaches danced for companies Cannes Supporter level & above DIDY VELDMAN (Artistic Lausanne, Rambert School, and Dunster (for Royal Shakespeare for E15. at numerous studios across London. Jeune Ballet (2004) and IT Dansa Director, Choreographer) is an Chichester University. Company) and Pippo Delbono. He (2006), performing works by Priority Parking Passes established choreographer with refuses to acknowledge divisions ANTHONY ARBLASTER (Technical MATTHIEU GEFFRÉ (Performer) acclaimed choreographers such Partners’ Circle level & above vast international experience. She ALEXANDER BALANESCU between different musical fields, Manager & Re-lighter) is a Lighting graduated from the Paris Conservatoire as Jiři Kylian, Christopher Bruce, working with such diverse artists as danced with Scapino Ballet, Ballet (Composer, Live Musician) was Designer, Tour Re-lighter, and Lighting in 2006. Geffré danced in France, Carolyn Carlson, Nacho Duato, Invitations to Member-Exclusive Events du Grand Théâtre de Genève, and born in Romania and is a prolific Michael Nyman, Gavin Bryars, David Programmer. He trained at the Holland, and the United Kingdom as and Itzik Galili. Since 2014 she has Byrne, Kraftwerk, Pet Shop Boys, Rambert Dance Company. Veldman composer as well as one of the postgraduate Lighting Design Program part of companies such as Dansgroep collaborated with Didy Veldman, Discounts in The Pillow Store left Rambert in 2000 to concentrate most exciting and visionary Goldfrapp, Depeche Mode, and at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Amsterdam, National Dance Company Shobana Jeyasingh, Marcos on her choreographic career, and violinists of our time. As leader Grace Jones. Art, London. He has lit theater, opera, Wales, and Noord Nederlandse Morau, Patricia Okenwa, New has created over 40 works for 25 of the Balanescu Quartet, he was and dance in Australia and the U.K. Dans. He has had the opportunity to Movement Collective, and Avatara international companies such as instrumental in rejuvenating the KIMIE NAKANO (Costume Designer) Recent Lighting Design credits include collaborate with numerous leading Ayuso. Her own choreographic Help make dance creation, presentation, education, and Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de new music scene in the U.K. by has designed sets and costume The Woods (Royal Court, London); choreographers including Itzik Galili, work has been presented in Spain preservation at Jacob’s Pillow possible. Montréal, Cedar Lake, Cullberg revolutionizing its repertoire and for Didy Veldman’s productions Unbecoming (Canberra Theatre Didy Veldman, Theo Clinkard, Stephen and the U.K., and was appointed Ballet, Rambert Dance Company, its relationship with the audience. for Rambert Dance Company, Centre, Australia); Shadows of Time Swindon Dance Associate Artist Shropshire, Alexander Ekman, and Thank you! and many others. In 2019, she will Throughout his career, Balanescu Les Grands Ballets Canadiens (Marysas Trio, London); and Town Angelin Preljocaj, among others. An in 2017. Merlos is currently collaborate with Gabriel Prokofiev has drawn inspiration from his de Montréal, The Lithuanian Hall Cherubs (Battersea Arts Centre, award-winning choreographer, he has studying to become a Feldenkrais on a work for Birmingham Royal collaborations with choreographers National Opera and Ballet Theatre, London). Associate Lighting Design presented his work in Wales, England, Practitioner at Instituto Ballet. She teaches at The Royal Pina Bausch and Meryl Tankard, and Luzerner Theatre. She has credits for theatre include: Woyzeck Ireland, Germany, Denmark, Spain, Feldenkrais Barcelona. Ballet School, the Prix de Lausanne, and with theatre directors Matthew designed costumes for Akram Khan More info at estelamerlos.com PILLOWNOTES JACOB’S PILLOW EXTENDS SPECIAL THANKS by Maura Keefe TO OUR VISIONARY LEADERS The PillowNotes series comprises essays commissioned from our Scholars-in-Residence to provide audiences with a broader VISIONARY LEADERS form an important foundation of support and context for viewing dance. demonstrate their passion for and commitment to Jacob’s Pillow through There’s just no accounting for happiness, annual gifts of $10,000 and above. or the way it turns up like a prodigal who comes back to the dust at your feet Their deep affiliation ensures the success and longevity of the having squandered a fortune far away. Pillow’s annual offerings, including educational initiatives, free public —Jane Kenyon programs, The School, the Archives, and more. For the first eighty or so years of modern dance history, if you wanted to be a choreographer, you founded a dance company in your own name, trained a group of dancers in your aesthetic, and began to make dances. There was little doubt $25,000+ of the relationship between the choreographer and the company. In the United States, choreographers such as Martha PRESENTS Carole* & Dan Burack Christopher Jones* & Deb McAlister Graham, Paul Taylor, and Mark Morris helped shape generations of both dancers and dance audiences. And then modern UMANOOVE/DIDY VELDMAN The Barrington Foundation Wendy McCain dance, or in Europe, contemporary dance, began to embrace the notion of guest choreographers, long established in ballet Frank & Monique Cordasco Fred Moses* Hon. Stephan P. Driscoll*, in honor and memory Jennie A. Kassanoff & Dan H. Schulman companies. This was the career path for Dutch-born choreographer Didy Veldman, a highly regarded figure in European Doris Duke Theatre of John Lindquist & Barton Mumaw Mark & Taryn Leavitt contemporary dance. Stephanie & Robert ‡ Gittleman Sylvia T. Pope* July 17-21, 2019 Carolyn Gray & George Peppard Robert & Eileen Rominger Veldman had the best possible training to become a choreographer: as a dancer, she worked with master artists such as Joan & Jim Hunter Jiří Kylián, Mats Ek, and Christopher Bruce. She explained in an interview with Dance Europe that she had established a company when she was 26, but she couldn’t juggle all of the responsibilities of directing, dancing, and choreographing. ARTISTIC DIRECTOR/ Opportunities to make work for other companies allowed her artistic development without management responsibilities. CHOREOGRAPHER Didy Veldman She has since created dances that are clever, ambitious, full-bodied, and darkly humorous, as exemplified in those $10,000+ performed at Jacob’s Pillow by Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montréal and Cedar Lake Contemporary Dance. COSTUME & SET DESIGN Kimie Nakano Dr. Norman Abramson Ann* & Peter Herbst Deborah & Charles Adelman Laura* & Nick Ingoglia While in residence creating a work for the School at Jacob’s Pillow in 2010, Veldman recorded an interview for the Pillow LIGHTING DESIGN Ben Ormerod Nancy K. Kalodner Aliad Fund Archives. She explained that no matter who the dancers are—whether professional dancers or students—Veldman works Rick & Nurit Amdur Amy & Richard Kohan to identify distinctions within the ensemble. She said, “I love individuality. I love personality. When I can find that in people TECHNICAL MANAGEMENT Candace* & Rick Beinecke Lizbeth & George Krupp & RE-LIGHTER Anthony Arblaster Linda & Bob Berzok Jack & Elizabeth Meyer, in honor of and they’re willing to share that with me, I get inspired and want to use that. The more differences, the better.” Sydelle & Lee Blatt Diane & Deval Patrick COMPANY MANAGEMENT Zara Rush David Carlisle & Morene Bodner Hans* & Kate Morris In 2016, in the midst of a successful career as a freelance choreographer, Veldman decided to launch Umanoove/Didy Chervenak-Nunnallé Foundation Gov. Deval L. & Diane Patrick Veldman. As she said in an interview with Dance Europe, she wanted to deepen relationships with dancers. “I’m at that TOUR MANAGEMENT Sarah Trist Neil* & Kathleen Chrisman Claudia Perles stage where I want to develop my own work in a different way; you don’t always get a lot of time in repertoire companies Ranny Cooper & David Smith Caren & Barry Roseman to create work and you don’t always get the opportunities you’d like,” Veldman said. “It’s difficult working with new MUSICIAN Alexander Balanescu Jeffrey Davis & Michael T. Miller Hunter K. Runnette* & Mark P. VandenBosch dancers all the time, very hard to be original and push boundaries with them because there’s almost no time for that.” Naomi Seligman & Ernie von Simson David DeFilippo & Lisa Shapiro, in memory of Umanoove—as Veldman defines it: “Human, move, you, maneuver”—makes its U.S. debut at Jacob’s Pillow with The DANCERS Eryck Brahmania Robert Gittleman Mark Sena & Linda Saul-Sena Happiness Project (2016). Hermine Drezner Natalie & Howard Shawn Estela Merlos Sheila Drill Lisbeth Tarlow & Stephen Kay Madeleine Jonsson Roger Tilles Veldman began her exploration in Umanoove’s first production with two probing questions: what kinds of dancers did she Nancy & Michael Feller Mathieu Geffré David & Nina Fialkow in honor of Stephen Weiner & Donald Cornuet want to work with? And what would a collaboration with composer and violinist Alexander Balanescu grow into? Romanian Deval & Diane Patrick and Mark A. Leavitt Ellen Weissman born Balanescu, who plays live during the performance, has a well-established list of collaborators that includes musicians Jeanne Donovan Fisher Mark & Liz Williams David Byrne and Gavin Bryars, and choreographers Meryl Tankard and Pina Bausch. Another kind of research question Joan* & Charlie Gross Elaine* & Irving Wolbrom emerged: Why do we all chase after happiness? Veldman, who brilliantly manages large casts of dancers for companies like Rambert Dance, wanted to work on a smaller scale, with just four dancers. With the intimate cast of dancers, Balanescu, and designer Kimie Nakano, Veldman dove into to the potentially overwhelmingly simple and incredibly complex quest for * Former Trustees, staff, faculty, interns, The School’s dancers, or arists-in-residence happiness. ‡ deceased An analysis of earlier works by Veldman reveals that she is intrigued by the porous borders between the emotional landscape of dance theater and the abstraction of highly physical, virtuosic, and abstract dancing. In Veldman’s hands, it INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT is possible to test the human-ness that contains the capacity for happiness or sadness. Veldman’s choreography is also As of May 23, 2019 major support for Jacob’s Pillow has been generously provided by the always fed by music. As she puts it herself, “I was always moving to music.” Stravinsky and Shostakovich inspire her, as do following institutions: The Arison Arts Foundation; Arnhold Foundation; The Barr Foundation; contemporary composers such as Elena Kats-Chernin, as well as other music ranging from Nina Simone to Offenbach. The Barrington Foundation; Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation; Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts; The Chervenak-Nunnallé Foundation; The Feigenbaum Foundation; Gladys In a 1996 New York Times review of Rambert Dance Company, dance critic Anna Kisselgoff remarked, “Didy Veldman is Krieble Delmas Foundation; The Ford Foundation; Howard Gilman Foundation; Harkness riveting as the woman who does not break, no matter how much she is yanked around in the acrobatic choreography.” Foundation for Dance; William Randolph Hearst Foundation; The John S. and James L. Knight Kisselgoff’s words are metaphoric and prescient—Veldman is riveting, and her career path from dancer, to choreographer, Foundation; Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency; MassDevelopment; The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation; Mertz Gilmore Foundation; New England Foundation for the Arts; to artistic director is an investigation of happiness indeed. National Endowment for the Arts; Onota Foundation; The Prospect Hill Foundation; The Shubert Foundation; The Robert and Tina Sohn Foundation; The Spingold Foundation; Talented Students © 2019 Maura Keefe and Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival in the Arts Initiative, a collaboration of the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and Surdna Dance writer Maura Keefe has led audience programs at various venues around the country and is the Associate Director of Foundation; The Thompson Family Foundation; The Velmans Foundation; Weissman Family Foundation; and Jacob’s Pillow Business Partners. Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies at the University of Maryland, College Park, where she was named the Dorothy G. Madden Professor of Dance in 2018. PROGRAM COMPANY MEMBERSHIP SUPPORTS Company’s DUST, iTMOi, Vertical in Winter (Galway International Arts and New York. He recently EVERYTHING YOU LOVE ABOUT The Happiness Project (2016) Road, Torobaka, Gnosis, Kaash, and Festival/Barbican); Mrs. Henderson launched his new artistic project/ JACOB’S PILLOW “I have been curious for many years why we chase after happiness like it is The Rashomon Effect, and art for Presents (West End/Toronto); The company, Rendez-Vous dance, some sort of object we can buy, hold onto, or even re-create.” Sylvie Guillem’s Life in Progress, Sidi Libertine, In the Next Room (Bath, based in the United Kingdom. –Didy Veldman Larbi Cherkaoui’s Fall, and The Royal UK/West End); Punishment without JOIN OUR THOUSANDS OF MEMBERS & SUPPORT THE Ballet of Flanders, English National Revenge, Don Gil of the Green MADELEINE JONSSON MISSION OF JACOB’S PILLOW. CHOREOGRAPHY Didy Veldman Ballet, Stadttheater Bremerhaven, Breeches, A Lady of Little Sense (UK (Performer) trained in ballet Yabin Wang, José Agudo, and Aditi Tour); and Peep (Edinburgh Fringe). and contemporary at a pre- You can help the Pillow present outstanding dance artists MUSIC COMPOSITION Mangaldas. She has designed sets Arblaster’s associate credits for opera professional program in from around the world, provide training and support to & PERFORMANCE Alexander Balanescu and costumes for opera, theater, include Der Fliegende Holländer, Tristan Gothenburg, Sweden before she and film; Tristan und Isolde for und Isolde, Ariadne auf Naxos, Der Ring started a Bachelors degree at the talented dancers of The School at Jacob’s Pillow, maintain COSTUME & Longborough Opera Festival, Theatre des Nibelungen (Longborough Festival, London Contemporary Dance our landmark site, and create free community programs SET DESIGN Kimie Nakano de Sartrouville, Beckett at Theatre UK); and A Midsummer’s Night’s Dream School, where she graduated in that engage people of all ages and backgrounds with dance. National Populaire, and the feature (Trinity Laban, London). 2016. Alongside her training, she LIGHTING DESIGN Ben Ormerod film Macbeth. has been working in collaboration ERYCK BRAHMANIA (Performer) was with international visual artists PERFORMERS Eryck Brahmania BEN ORMEROD (Lighting Designer) born in Essex, U.K., and trained at The and choreographers, touring Estela Merlos has previously worked with Veldman Royal Ballet School. His dance career works to Finland as well as to EVERY GIFT MATTERS. Madeleine Jonsson on Three Dancers (Rambert), see has seen him work for numerous several galleries across London, JOIN AND CHOOSE THE LEVEL RIGHT FOR YOU! Mathieu Geffré blue through, Tender Hooks (Ballet companies including Rambert Dance such as the V&A Museum, Gulbenkian), Les Noces (Geneva), and Company, Michael Clark Dance White Rainbow, and The Royal Explore the full list of benefits, join as a new Member, renew your Funding Credit Askungen (Gothenburg). Ormerod has Company, Umanoove, Protein Dance, Academy. Since graduating, current membership, or upgrade to a higher level umanoove-didy-veldman.org | @umanoove worked extensively with The Royal Company Chameleon, Alexander Jonsson has worked with Dane at jacobspillow.org/support/membership. Supported using public funding by Arts Council England, Linbury Trust, Quercus Trust, Shakespeare Company, The National Whitley Dance, New Movement Hurst, Lea Anderson, Juri Nishi, DanceEast, The Place, Rambert, The Royal Ballet School, Siobhan Davies Dance, and Theatre, The Abbey Theatre, English Collective, Musemotion, and Hong Heidi Vierthaler, and began her South East Dance. Touring Theatre, and Propeller. His Kong Ballet. He has performed works by collaboration with Didy Veldman You can also make a donation by phone at 413.243.9919 x122. With special thanks to: Brendan Keaney, Beth Krasna, and an anonymous donor. opera and dance credits include Christopher Bruce, Itzik Galili, Richard in 2017. productions for Scottish Opera, ENO, Alston, Merce Cunningham, Siobhan Sustaining members support the Pillow year-round through easy, Longborough, Buxton, Academia Davies, Garry Stewart, Mark Baldwin, ESTELA MERLOS (Performer) was automatic monthly or quarterly gifts. Santa Cecilia Rome, National Dance Andre Gingras, Darshan Singh Buller, born in Barcelona, and is now an Jacob’s Pillow is committed to providing an environment that cultivates the celebration of the art of dance Company of Wales, Candoco, and Karole Armitage, Paul Taylor, Doug independent dance artist based and its positive impact on community. Walker Dance Park Music. Recent Varone, and many others. Brahmania in London. She collaborates with work includes: The Libertine, Mrs. has also worked on movement a wide variety of international Depending on your level, membership gives you access to: While in our theaters, please refrain from behavior that could disturb other patrons and performers during the performance. We ask that you: silence your cell phone; do not photograph or video record performances; keep your ticket with you at all times; observe that food and beverages are not allowed, with the Henderson Presents (West End); development for numerous West artists, dance companies, and Early Ticketing exception of water; and please let a staff member know if you need help. Donegal (Abbey Theatre); and This End musicals including Charlie & the institutions as a performer, Thank you for observing these House Rules so that everyone can have an enjoyable experience. Fan level & above Restless House (Glasgow Citizens). Chocolate Factory, Women on the Verge choreographer, teacher, and We are so glad you are here. Enjoy the show! Ormerod is also lighting designer of a Nervous Breakdown, Groundhog rehearsal director. She trained Admission to Cast Parties for the Calico Museum of Textiles, Day, and Frozen. In addition to dancing, at Escola de Dansa Madó and Contributor level & above Ahmedabad, directed Athol Fugard’s Brahmania teaches yoga and Vedic Central School of Ballet. Before COMPANY Dimetos (Gate, London), and adapted thought, and trained under renowned joining Rambert (2008) she Pillow Lab showings where you can witness the creative process four films from Kieslowski’s Dekalog teacher Claire Missingham. He teaches danced for companies Cannes Supporter level & above DIDY VELDMAN (Artistic Lausanne, Rambert School, and Dunster (for Royal Shakespeare for E15. at numerous studios across London. Jeune Ballet (2004) and IT Dansa Director, Choreographer) is an Chichester University. Company) and Pippo Delbono. He (2006), performing works by Priority Parking Passes established choreographer with refuses to acknowledge divisions ANTHONY ARBLASTER (Technical MATTHIEU GEFFRÉ (Performer) acclaimed choreographers such Partners’ Circle level & above vast international experience. She ALEXANDER BALANESCU between different musical fields, Manager & Re-lighter) is a Lighting graduated from the Paris Conservatoire as Jiři Kylian, Christopher Bruce, working with such diverse artists as danced with Scapino Ballet, Ballet (Composer, Live Musician) was Designer, Tour Re-lighter, and Lighting in 2006. Geffré danced in France, Carolyn Carlson, Nacho Duato, Invitations to Member-Exclusive Events du Grand Théâtre de Genève, and born in Romania and is a prolific Michael Nyman, Gavin Bryars, David Programmer. He trained at the Holland, and the United Kingdom as and Itzik Galili. Since 2014 she has Byrne, Kraftwerk, Pet Shop Boys, Rambert Dance Company. Veldman composer as well as one of the postgraduate Lighting Design Program part of companies such as Dansgroep collaborated with Didy Veldman, Discounts in The Pillow Store left Rambert in 2000 to concentrate most exciting and visionary Goldfrapp, Depeche Mode, and at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Amsterdam, National Dance Company Shobana Jeyasingh, Marcos on her choreographic career, and violinists of our time. As leader Grace Jones. Art, London. He has lit theater, opera, Wales, and Noord Nederlandse Morau, Patricia Okenwa, New has created over 40 works for 25 of the Balanescu Quartet, he was and dance in Australia and the U.K. Dans. He has had the opportunity to Movement Collective, and Avatara international companies such as instrumental in rejuvenating the KIMIE NAKANO (Costume Designer) Recent Lighting Design credits include collaborate with numerous leading Ayuso. Her own choreographic Help make dance creation, presentation, education, and Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de new music scene in the U.K. by has designed sets and costume The Woods (Royal Court, London); choreographers including Itzik Galili, work has been presented in Spain preservation at Jacob’s Pillow possible. Montréal, Cedar Lake, Cullberg revolutionizing its repertoire and for Didy Veldman’s productions Unbecoming (Canberra Theatre Didy Veldman, Theo Clinkard, Stephen and the U.K., and was appointed Ballet, Rambert Dance Company, its relationship with the audience. for Rambert Dance Company, Centre, Australia); Shadows of Time Swindon Dance Associate Artist Shropshire, Alexander Ekman, and Thank you! and many others. In 2019, she will Throughout his career, Balanescu Les Grands Ballets Canadiens (Marysas Trio, London); and Town Angelin Preljocaj, among others. An in 2017. Merlos is currently collaborate with Gabriel Prokofiev has drawn inspiration from his de Montréal, The Lithuanian Hall Cherubs (Battersea Arts Centre, award-winning choreographer, he has studying to become a Feldenkrais on a work for Birmingham Royal collaborations with choreographers National Opera and Ballet Theatre, London). Associate Lighting Design presented his work in Wales, England, Practitioner at Instituto Ballet. She teaches at The Royal Pina Bausch and Meryl Tankard, and Luzerner Theatre. She has credits for theatre include: Woyzeck Ireland, Germany, Denmark, Spain, Feldenkrais Barcelona. Ballet School, the Prix de Lausanne, and with theatre directors Matthew designed costumes for Akram Khan More info at estelamerlos.com PILLOWNOTES JACOB’S PILLOW EXTENDS SPECIAL THANKS by Maura Keefe TO OUR VISIONARY LEADERS The PillowNotes series comprises essays commissioned from our Scholars-in-Residence to provide audiences with a broader VISIONARY LEADERS form an important foundation of support and context for viewing dance. demonstrate their passion for and commitment to Jacob’s Pillow through There’s just no accounting for happiness, annual gifts of $10,000 and above. or the way it turns up like a prodigal who comes back to the dust at your feet Their deep affiliation ensures the success and longevity of the having squandered a fortune far away. Pillow’s annual offerings, including educational initiatives, free public —Jane Kenyon programs, The School, the Archives, and more. For the first eighty or so years of modern dance history, if you wanted to be a choreographer, you founded a dance company in your own name, trained a group of dancers in your aesthetic, and began to make dances. There was little doubt $25,000+ of the relationship between the choreographer and the company. In the United States, choreographers such as Martha PRESENTS Carole* & Dan Burack Christopher Jones* & Deb McAlister Graham, Paul Taylor, and Mark Morris helped shape generations of both dancers and dance audiences. And then modern UMANOOVE/DIDY VELDMAN The Barrington Foundation Wendy McCain dance, or in Europe, contemporary dance, began to embrace the notion of guest choreographers, long established in ballet Frank & Monique Cordasco Fred Moses* Hon. Stephan P. Driscoll*, in honor and memory Jennie A. Kassanoff & Dan H. Schulman companies. This was the career path for Dutch-born choreographer Didy Veldman, a highly regarded figure in European Doris Duke Theatre of John Lindquist & Barton Mumaw Mark & Taryn Leavitt contemporary dance. Stephanie & Robert ‡ Gittleman Sylvia T. Pope* July 17-21, 2019 Carolyn Gray & George Peppard Robert & Eileen Rominger Veldman had the best possible training to become a choreographer: as a dancer, she worked with master artists such as Joan & Jim Hunter Jiří Kylián, Mats Ek, and Christopher Bruce. She explained in an interview with Dance Europe that she had established a company when she was 26, but she couldn’t juggle all of the responsibilities of directing, dancing, and choreographing. ARTISTIC DIRECTOR/ Opportunities to make work for other companies allowed her artistic development without management responsibilities. CHOREOGRAPHER Didy Veldman She has since created dances that are clever, ambitious, full-bodied, and darkly humorous, as exemplified in those $10,000+ performed at Jacob’s Pillow by Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montréal and Cedar Lake Contemporary Dance. COSTUME & SET DESIGN Kimie Nakano Dr. Norman Abramson Ann* & Peter Herbst Deborah & Charles Adelman Laura* & Nick Ingoglia While in residence creating a work for the School at Jacob’s Pillow in 2010, Veldman recorded an interview for the Pillow LIGHTING DESIGN Ben Ormerod Nancy K. Kalodner Aliad Fund Archives. She explained that no matter who the dancers are—whether professional dancers or students—Veldman works Rick & Nurit Amdur Amy & Richard Kohan to identify distinctions within the ensemble. She said, “I love individuality. I love personality. When I can find that in people TECHNICAL MANAGEMENT Candace* & Rick Beinecke Lizbeth & George Krupp & RE-LIGHTER Anthony Arblaster Linda & Bob Berzok Jack & Elizabeth Meyer, in honor of and they’re willing to share that with me, I get inspired and want to use that. The more differences, the better.” Sydelle & Lee Blatt Diane & Deval Patrick COMPANY MANAGEMENT Zara Rush David Carlisle & Morene Bodner Hans* & Kate Morris In 2016, in the midst of a successful career as a freelance choreographer, Veldman decided to launch Umanoove/Didy Chervenak-Nunnallé Foundation Gov. Deval L. & Diane Patrick Veldman. As she said in an interview with Dance Europe, she wanted to deepen relationships with dancers. “I’m at that TOUR MANAGEMENT Sarah Trist Neil* & Kathleen Chrisman Claudia Perles stage where I want to develop my own work in a different way; you don’t always get a lot of time in repertoire companies Ranny Cooper & David Smith Caren & Barry Roseman to create work and you don’t always get the opportunities you’d like,” Veldman said. “It’s difficult working with new MUSICIAN Alexander Balanescu Jeffrey Davis & Michael T. Miller Hunter K. Runnette* & Mark P. VandenBosch dancers all the time, very hard to be original and push boundaries with them because there’s almost no time for that.” Naomi Seligman & Ernie von Simson David DeFilippo & Lisa Shapiro, in memory of Umanoove—as Veldman defines it: “Human, move, you, maneuver”—makes its U.S. debut at Jacob’s Pillow with The DANCERS Eryck Brahmania Robert Gittleman Mark Sena & Linda Saul-Sena Happiness Project (2016). Hermine Drezner Natalie & Howard Shawn Estela Merlos Sheila Drill Lisbeth Tarlow & Stephen Kay Madeleine Jonsson Roger Tilles Veldman began her exploration in Umanoove’s first production with two probing questions: what kinds of dancers did she Nancy & Michael Feller Mathieu Geffré David & Nina Fialkow in honor of Stephen Weiner & Donald Cornuet want to work with? And what would a collaboration with composer and violinist Alexander Balanescu grow into? Romanian Deval & Diane Patrick and Mark A. Leavitt Ellen Weissman born Balanescu, who plays live during the performance, has a well-established list of collaborators that includes musicians Jeanne Donovan Fisher Mark & Liz Williams David Byrne and Gavin Bryars, and choreographers Meryl Tankard and Pina Bausch. Another kind of research question Joan* & Charlie Gross Elaine* & Irving Wolbrom emerged: Why do we all chase after happiness? Veldman, who brilliantly manages large casts of dancers for companies like Rambert Dance, wanted to work on a smaller scale, with just four dancers. With the intimate cast of dancers, Balanescu, and designer Kimie Nakano, Veldman dove into to the potentially overwhelmingly simple and incredibly complex quest for * Former Trustees, staff, faculty, interns, The School’s dancers, or arists-in-residence happiness. ‡ deceased An analysis of earlier works by Veldman reveals that she is intrigued by the porous borders between the emotional landscape of dance theater and the abstraction of highly physical, virtuosic, and abstract dancing. In Veldman’s hands, it INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT is possible to test the human-ness that contains the capacity for happiness or sadness. Veldman’s choreography is also As of May 23, 2019 major support for Jacob’s Pillow has been generously provided by the always fed by music. As she puts it herself, “I was always moving to music.” Stravinsky and Shostakovich inspire her, as do following institutions: The Arison Arts Foundation; Arnhold Foundation; The Barr Foundation; contemporary composers such as Elena Kats-Chernin, as well as other music ranging from Nina Simone to Offenbach. The Barrington Foundation; Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation; Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts; The Chervenak-Nunnallé Foundation; The Feigenbaum Foundation; Gladys In a 1996 New York Times review of Rambert Dance Company, dance critic Anna Kisselgoff remarked, “Didy Veldman is Krieble Delmas Foundation; The Ford Foundation; Howard Gilman Foundation; Harkness riveting as the woman who does not break, no matter how much she is yanked around in the acrobatic choreography.” Foundation for Dance; William Randolph Hearst Foundation; The John S. and James L. Knight Kisselgoff’s words are metaphoric and prescient—Veldman is riveting, and her career path from dancer, to choreographer, Foundation; Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency; MassDevelopment; The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation; Mertz Gilmore Foundation; New England Foundation for the Arts; to artistic director is an investigation of happiness indeed. National Endowment for the Arts; Onota Foundation; The Prospect Hill Foundation; The Shubert Foundation; The Robert and Tina Sohn Foundation; The Spingold Foundation; Talented Students © 2019 Maura Keefe and Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival in the Arts Initiative, a collaboration of the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and Surdna Dance writer Maura Keefe has led audience programs at various venues around the country and is the Associate Director of Foundation; The Thompson Family Foundation; The Velmans Foundation; Weissman Family Foundation; and Jacob’s Pillow Business Partners. Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies at the University of Maryland, College Park, where she was named the Dorothy G. Madden Professor of Dance in 2018.