Inside the Pillow Lab: Ronald K. Brown/EVIDENCE

Inside the Pillow Lab is an intimate new film series that captures works in process and behind-the-scenes moments of what it’s like for artists to live, work, and rehearse together again in COVID-compliant residencies on the Pillow’s retreat-like campus. 2020 Jacob’s Pillow Dance Award recipient and frequent Festival artist Ronald K. Brown returned to the Pillow with his ensemble to develop "The Equality of Night and Day," a new work examining balance, equity, and fairness in light of the conflicts and issues that young people, women, and people of color face amidst rising exploitation, gentrification, racism, and xenophobia. "The Equality of Night and Day," which draws its title from the two times a year when day and night are nearly equal in length, will portray ease and disruption, peace and rapture, awakening and effort, resolving in an honest reflection of reality. With an original score by Jason Moran, text by Angela Davis, and visuals curated by Deborah Willis, the project will result from a collaborative process that includes conversations via artistic expression about shared responsibility and safety, among other timely themes. Brown is celebrated for his pioneering work portraying the struggles, tragedies, and triumphs of the African-American community through dance for more than three decades. A highly sought-after choreographer, he has created over 100 works for his own company, in addition to companies like Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble, PHILADANCO, and Ballet Hispánico. The Pillow Lab, the Pillow’s year-round center for research and development, provides artists the crucial space and time in development, research, and technical stages of choreography-driven projects. Ronald K. Brown/EVIDENCE RESIDENCY DATES: March 30-April 9, 2021 ARTISTIC DIRECTOR & CHOREOGRAPHER Ronald K. Brown ASSOCIATE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR Arcell Cabuag DANCERS Demetrius Burns* Stephanie Chronopoulos Joyce Edwards Charles Grant Annique S. Roberts* Shaylin Watson GUEST ARTIST Daniel S. Harder Hannah Alissa Richardson APPRENTICES Austin Coats Breana Moore Christopher J. Salango *Indicates alumnus of The School at Jacob’s PIllow SET DESIGNER / LIGHTING DESIGNER / TECHNICAL DIRECTOR Tsubasa Kamei COMPANY MANAGER Meghan Rose Murphy BOOKING AGENT LOTUS ARTS MANAGEMENT Sophie Myrtil-McCourty SPECIAL THANKS PMG Arts Management Pamela M. Green (Booking Agent for engagement) GUESTS ON ZOOM Taína Lyons Dymon Samara Smith GUEST TEACHER ON ZOOM Elena Comendador MUSIC: Original Composition by Jason Moran & Ojojumo (To Dream) by Wunmi Olaiya FILMING: Christopher Duggan NEL SHELBY PRODUCTION CREDITS Produced by Nel Shelby Edited by Caroline Haidet Graphic Design by Benjamin Richards Nina Gershonowitz, Project Manager Special thanks to Dr. Wendy Ziecheck for supporting this residency. Lead support for the 2020-21 Pillow Lab is provided by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. With Additional Support from: Deborah & Charles Adelman Arison Arts Foundation The Barr Foundation Harkness Foundation for Dance Christopher Jones & Deb McAlister Mertz Gilmore Foundation National Endowment for the Arts © 2021 Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, Inc.