Nation's oldest dance festival
Houston's Stanton Welch to premiere a brand-new ballet in the woods
- Stanton Welch in rehearsalPhoto by Rosalie O'Connor
- Jonah Bokaer in "Why Patterns"Photo by Robert Benschop
- Artists of Mark Morris Dance GroupPhoto by Sharen Bradford
- Big Dance Theater artistsPhoto by Julieta Cervantes
A little bit of Houston is heading to the Berkshires in the way of a brand new ballet by Houston Ballet chief Stanton Welch.
It will premiere at the Jacob's Pillow Gala, which will launch the 2011 season for this iconic dance festival. Welch will be working with the students from the prestigious Ballet Program at Jacob's Pillow.
Along with the Welch premiere, there will be a private opening of the new Annie Leibovitz dance photography exhibit, and an exclusive program of performances by Festival artists. The winner of the The prestigious 2011 Jacob’s Pillow Dance Award will be presented to a distinguished artist during the evening, which will feature dinner and dancing, along with silent and live auctions, all taking place on the Pillow's pastoral great lawn.
Founded by Ted Shawn in 1933 in Becket, Mass., Jacob's Pillow is the nation's oldest dance festival, known for presenting dance of all genres, including ballet, modern and world dance. The Festival lineup announced Wednesday includes Big Dance Theater Aspen Sante Fe Ballet, Mark Morris Dance Group and Jonah Bokaer, all of which have had recent shows in Houston. Other highlights include the United States debut of 3e Étage: Soloists and Dancers of the Paris Opera Ballet, a U.S. premiere by Cuba's DanzAbierta, and the Trisha Brown Dance Company.