Post-Show Talk: The Center Will Not Hold: A Dorrance Dance Production

This post-show talk features Michelle Dorrance, Ephrat Asherie, and Donovan Dorrance, moderated by Janet Schroeder. This talk too place on June 27, 2025 following a performance of The Center Will Not Hold: A Dorrance Dance Production at Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival in Becket, MA. 2025 Post-Show Talks in the Ted Shawn Theatre are held after each Friday performance, offering an opportunity for audiences to gain more insight directly from the artists themselves. Michelle Dorrance and Ephrat Asherie kicked off Festival 2025 with a lively celebration of street, club, and vernacular dances, born from their many years of creating together. Originally crafted in 2022 as a short duet, The Center Will Not Hold premiered as a 30-minute piece at New York City Center’s 2023 Fall For Dance Festival.​​ Now, in this reimagined evening-length work, Dorrance and Asherie offered an eclectic ensemble of 11 performers, each deeply rooted in regional music and movement—from tap dance and hip hop to breaking, house, Chicago footwork, Detroit jit, litefeet, Memphis jookin’, and body percussion. The Center Will Not Hold featured original music composed by Donovan Dorrance with live percussion by world-class drummer and percussionist John Angeles. Video by Nel Shelby Productions.