Inside the Pillow Lab: Kayla Hamilton

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. Kayla Hamilton, a Black Disabled choreographer, will be using the Pillow Lab to engage in the beginning stages of a creative work and dialogue around Black Disabled artistry alongside several collaborators. Hamilton is an artist, producer, and educator originally from Texarkana, Tex., who now resides in Bronx, N.Y. She is a member of the 2017 Bessie Award-winning collective of skeleton architecture, or the future of our worlds, curated by Eva Yaa Asantewaa. In addition to Skeleton Architecture, Kayla has danced with Gesel Mason Performance Projects, Sydnie L. Mosley Dances, and Maria Bauman-Morales/MBDance. Kayla’s work has been presented at Gibney, Performance Space New York, and New Live Arts. When Kayla is not dancing, she’s a special education teacher at the Highbridge Green School who loves to watch Law and Order while sipping on green tea. In the Pillow Lab, Hamilton will have a rare opportunity to bring collaborators together who reside in different quadrants of the country, including collaborators on this project, and will give them time and space to be generative. Hamilton’s collaborators for this residency include: Nicole McClam, Joselia Hughes, Jerron Hermon, Christopher Unpezverde Núñez, and Brandon Kazen-Maddox. RESIDENCY DATES: January 24 – 30, 2022 APPEARING IN FILM: Kayla Hamilton, Choreographer Joselia Rebekah Hughes, Dancer and Writer Shawn Rene Graham, Dramaturg Nicole McClam, Dancer MUSIC: Fly up High by Flint The Wanderer by Yehezkel Raz Rising of the Sun by Borrtex FILMING: Erica Spizz Film produced by Nel Shelby Productions: Nel Shelby, Producer Caroline Haidet, Editor Benjamin Richards, Graphic Animation Audio Description by Sherwood Chen of Gravity Access Services supported by a generous grant from the Walter & Elise Haas Fund and the Kenneth Rainin Foundations LEAD SUPPORT FOR THE 2021-2022 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 SPECIAL THANKS TO BERKSHIRE PULSE Housatonic, MA © 2022 Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival, Inc.