Schedule of Events:

7:30: Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company at Ted Shawn Theatre

First Appearance Since 2012:
Now in its 43rd year, Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company is one of the most innovative and powerful forces in the contemporary dance world. Emerging from years of collaboration between Bill T. Jones and Arnie Zane, their performances foreshadow issues of identity, form, and social commentary that would change the face of American dance.

A Tony Award-winning choreographer, dancer, and director, Bill T. Jones has received a MacArthur "Genius" Award, recognition at the 2010 Kennedy Center Honors, two Tony Awards for Best Choreography, and the 2010 Jacob's Pillow Dance Award. Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company has performed worldwide in over 200 cities, in 30 countries on six continents. The company has a storied history of performing at Jacob's Pillow, having appeared ten times previously, beginning in 1989 and most recently in 2012.

This summer, the company will present an electric program featuring two seminal works by its founders: Continuous Replay (1977/1991), an explosive work that traces its roots to Zane's interest in photography and film; and the exuberant Bessie Award-winning D-Man in the Waters (1989), a work set to music by Felix Mendelssohn that captures the resilience of a generation during the 1980s AIDS epidemic. In addition to these signature works, Jones will also present a pièce d'occasion: a site-based version of Story/Time (2012) with new stories and live music accompaniment by Ted Coffey.

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8:00pm: Shamel Pitts TRIBE at Doris Duke Theatre

Pillow Debut:
Dancer, artist, and choreographer Shamel Pitts creates provocative dance works that "push against the boundaries of identity" (Dance Magazine). His company TRIBE will perform Touch of RED, inspired by the rapid-fire footwork of boxing, the African American jazz dance style Lindy Hop, Gaga movement language, and nightlife culture. Set in a stylized ring, this dance duet examines the way Black men are perceived and perceive themselves in contemporary society.

This is a notable homecoming for Pitts and his company, whose Pillow Lab residency work on Touch of RED in November 2020 was disrupted when the original Doris Duke Theatre was lost to a fire. Since then, TRIBE premiered Touch of RED in a sold-out weekend in October 2022 at MASS MoCA, co-presented by Jacob's Pillow. This will be the first time this remarkable duet is performed at the Festival.

Pitts is a 2020 Guggenheim Fellow, a 2024 Doris Duke Artist, and recently received a 2024 MacArthur Fellowship. He is the recipient of a 2018 Princess Grace Award in Choreography, a 2019 NYSCA/NYFA Artist Fellowship Award in Choreography, and a 2024 Knight Choreography Prize. Pitts's "BLACK series" has toured extensively worldwide since 2016.

To complement his week-long performance run in the Doris Duke Theatre, Shamel Pitts has also been commissioned by Jacob's Pillow to create and release a digital-first work in summer 2025 and will create a series of cinematic 3D experiences, in collaboration with TRIBE's Transmedia Artist Lucca Del Carlo, that accompany his in-person performance of Touch of RED.

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5:30pm: Ice Theatre of New York at  Henry J. Leir Stage

Pillow Debut World Premiere:
Ice Theatre of New York is the first non-profit ice dance company in the nation, blending artistry and athleticism to elevate skating as a performing art. This one-night performance will allow Berkshire audiences a rare opportunity to enjoy ice skating in the summer, with dancers performing in skates atop a special flooring.

Founded in 1984 by Moira North, Ice Theatre of New York has presented over 125 original works from acclaimed skating, ballet, and modern dance choreographers. The company presents dozens of free public performances each season at iconic New York locations, including Rockefeller Center, Bryant Park, and Central Park's Wollman Rink. With a diverse ensemble of skaters and a commitment to innovation, Ice Theatre of New York is a unique gem of New York's cultural scene, creating mesmerizing performances that merge dance, ice, and storytelling.

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