Inside the Pillow Lab: Indigenous Enterprise

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. Indigenous Enterprise is a Native American dance troupe consisting of champion dancers from what is currently called Canada and the United States. Its mission is to share the culture of Indigenous people and increase the understanding of Native identity through film, fashion, and dance. Members have toured internationally and domestically since 2015. Champion Fancy Dancer Kenneth Shirley founded Indigenous Enterprise and regularly collaborates with Champion Chicken Dancer Ty Lodgepole, Champion Jingle Dress Dancer Acosia Redelk, and Champion Hoop Dancer Jorge Gonzales, among others. Indigenous Enterprise has produced five shows in Australia since 2017 for various organizations. It is also the first Indigenous company to perform capacity-sized shows at the Sydney Opera House in 2018 and 2019. In 2016, the company collaborated and performed with the Black Eyed Peas for a music video and live concert. That production went on to win an award at the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards for the song “Stand-N-Rock”. In 2018, the company won a film award for its documentary “Indigenous Enterprise” at the international Chandler Film Festival. The company was introduced to Pillow audiences in 2019 as part of “The Land on Which We Dance,” a week-long celebration of Indigenous dance. In 2020, Indigenous Enterprise made history by being selected as the first Indigenous people to perform on Season 4 of NBC’s “World of Dance” with Jennifer Lopez. The company was also called upon by filmmaker and choreographer Kenny Ortega to participate in and bring Indigenous representation to the 2021 “Virtual Parade” of the Presidential Inauguration of Joe Biden. This year, Indigenous Enterprise was also featured in The New York Times Weekend Pick. In the Pillow Lab, Indigenous Enterprise will be developing a new work titled “Indigenous Liberation” in partnership with the Joyce Theater in New York City. RESIDENCY DATES: October 6–16, 2021 ARTISTIC DIRECTOR/CHOREOGRAPHER: Kenneth Shirley PERFORMERS: Kenneth Shirley Adrian D Thomas Tyrenn Lodgepole Dominic Pablo Nathaniel Slik Nez OTHER RESIDENCY ARTISTS Jorge Gonzales-Zuniga Acosia Margarite Laryn Oake NEL SHELBY PRODUCTION: Produced by New Shelby Edited by Caroline Haidet Filmed by Victoria Sendra Graphic Design by Benjamin Richards Nina Gershonowitz, Project Manager 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.