Inside the Pillow Lab: Ananya Dance Theatre
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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. Ananya Dance Theatre is a company of cultural activists and BIPOC women, womxn, and femme artists who believe in the transformative power of dance. In dancing stories where the lives and dreams of typically marginalized communities occupy the center, they shift the landscape of mainstream culture, build understanding about arts and social justice, and empower artistic voices. Their artistic work unfolds through Yorchhā™, a unique movement aesthetic of contemporary dance that draws on traditional Odissi, the martial art Chhau, and Vinyāsa Yoga, and a social justice choreographic methodology, to celebrate a transnational feminist practice. Their work invites audiences to participate in their strategy of #occupydance, the movement of dancing as civic action. Ananya Chatterjea is Professor of Dance at the University of Minnesota. Her second book, Heat and Alterity in Contemporary Dance: South-South Choreographies, re-framing understandings of Contemporary Dance from the perspective of dance-makers from global south locations, was published in November 2020. Fresh off of a tour of their newest work "Dastak: I Wish You Me," Ananya Dance Theatre began the creative process for a new evening-length work during this Pillow Lab residency. Ananya developed "Nūn Gherāo (surrounded by salt)," an evening-length devised dance theatre piece, responding to the 1978-79 massacre of 10,000 refugees from Bangladesh on Marichjhnapi island in West Bengal, India, and adjacent stories of genocide and eco-displaced communities. RESIDENCY DATES: March 21-29, 2022 Ananya Chatterjea, Artistic Director Kealoha Ferreira, Artistic Associate APPEARING IN FILM: Ananya Chatterjea, Concert / Choreography Spirit McIntyre, Composer / Instrumentalist / Vocalist / Performer Mimi Mondol, Embedded writer Noelle Awadallah, Dancer Lizzette Chapa, Dancer Ananya Chatterjea, Dancer Alexis Araminta Reneé, Dancer Alexandra Eady, Dancer Kealoha Ferreira, Dancer Parisha Rajbjandari, Dancer MUSIC: Spirit McIntyre, Composition, Instrumentals and Vocals Mimi Mondol, Vocals FILMING: Erica Spizz Film produced by Nel Shelby Productions: Nel Shelby, Producer Caroline Haidet, Editor Benjamin Richards, Graphic Animation LEAD SUPPORT FOR THE 2021-2022 PILLOW LAB IS PROVIDED BY: The Mellon Foundation WITH ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FROM: Deborah & Charles Adelman Arison Arts Foundation The Barr Foundation Harkness Foundation for Dance Barbara and Amos Hostetter Christopher Jones & Deb McAlister Mertz Gilmore Foundation National Endowment for the Arts © 2022 Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival, Inc.
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In Inside the Pillow Lab
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Play video Inside the Pillow Lab: André Zachery
Inside the Pillow Lab: André Zachery
During his Pillow Lab residency, André Zachery develops "Respiration", an evening-length multimedia performance of dance, original sound and digital media inspired by the novel "The City We Became" by acclaimed Afrofuturist writer N.K. Jemisin.
6:31
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Play video Inside the Pillow Lab: Deborah Goffe/Scapegoat Garden
Inside the Pillow Lab: Deborah Goffe/Scapegoat Garden
Deborah Goffe came to the Pillow to develop "Liturgy|Order|Bridge," a work inspired by the communal embodiment in the Black church and the absurdity of Fellini's ecclesiastical fashion show.
5:44
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Play video Inside the Pillow Lab: Irene Rodríguez
Inside the Pillow Lab: Irene Rodríguez
Step inside Irene Rodríguez Pillow Lab residency leading up to the Jacob’s Pillow Gala, developing a new work that has been commissioned by Jacob’s Pillow and the Vivienne Jones Endowment Fund at Jacob’s Pillow.
7:01
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Play video Inside the Pillow Lab: Theresa Ruth Howard
Inside the Pillow Lab: Theresa Ruth Howard
For this Pillow Lab, MoBBallet (Memoirs of Blacks in Ballet) founder Theresa Ruth Howard tapped 2021 Guggenheim Choreographic Fellow Christopher Huggins to enter a process with eight international Black dancers.
6:57
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Play video Inside the Pillow Lab: Mythili Prakash
Inside the Pillow Lab: Mythili Prakash
"She’s Auspicious" examines notions of femininity and purity through the paradox of the Hindu Goddess Devi, who is worshiped as powerful and auspicious, in contrast to the woman who is objectified and marginalized in society.
6:31
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Play video Inside the Pillow Lab: Sonya Tayeh & Jenn Freeman
Inside the Pillow Lab: Sonya Tayeh & Jenn Freeman
"Is It Thursday Yet?" is a stimulating hybrid of theatricality and clinical analysis, a solo dance work with live musical accompaniment exploring autistic choreographer and dancer Jenn Freeman’s neurodivergent brain in motion.
8:06