PillowVoices: Dance Through Time

The Dancing Body: Graham After Graham

25 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Multi-media essay 'Tracing a Legacy: Martha Graham's Centuryl Long Journey to Jacob's Pillow'  

Ann Hutchinson Guest's Dancing Life

28 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Ann Hutchinson Guest's Century Plus (2022)

Clouds Don’t Resist: Marjani Forté-Saunders

28 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Guest host Brinda Guha reflects on the ancient technologies embraced by Marjanie Forté-Saunders when developing her new work during a 2025 Pillow Lab...

Clouds Don't Resist: Marjani Forté-Saunders

28 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Guest host Brinda Guha reflects on the ancient technologies embraced by Marjani Forté-Saunders when developing her new work during a 2025 Pillow Lab ...

Virginia Johnson and Misty Copeland: Ballerina Brilliance

31 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Virginia Johnson of Dance Theatre of Harlem and Misty Copeland of American Ballet Theatre discuss their own training, the universality of performing c...

50 Seasons with Norton Owen

27 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Behind the scenes stories of how the exhibition 'Connecting Through Time: 50 Seasons with Norton Owen' came together. Scholar in Residence Maura Keefe...

Tap is the Root, with Robyn Watson

22 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Dance Interactive Video Excerpts of Tap Performances at Jacob’s PillowDance Interactive Multimedia Essays on Tap curated by Brian Seibert 

Frederic Franklin's Ballet Memories

25 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

See Frederic Franklin dancing with Alexandra Danilova in 1948 at Jacob's Pillow on DANCE INTERACTIVE'Frederic Franklin Returns' PillowTalk 2007 - vide...

Audio Descripton for Dance at Jacob’s Pillow

27 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Links to disability artistry projects mentioned in this podcast:POD Access by Thomas Reid and Cheryl GreenReid My Mind Radio hosted by Thomas ReidSoci...

Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui

23 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Dance scholar Nancy Wozny highlights the life and work of Moroccan and Belgian choreographer Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui. Cherkaoui was honored with the Jaco...

Bill T. Jones: Philosophies and Memories

26 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Norton Owen introduces highlights from past PillowTalks with choreographer Bill T. Jones, including reflections on his philosophy of partnering and it...

Dancing Mr. Talley Beatty's Blackness

21 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Dance Scholar Mora-Amina Parker illuminates the historical and cultural context of Mr. Talley Beatty's choreography as well as the significant impact ...

Resident Dance Photographers at Jacob's Pillow

31 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Guest host Benjamin Richards focuses the lens on four different resident dance photographers: John Lindquist, Stephan Driscoll, Mike van Sleen and Chr...

La Nijinska

26 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Highlights from a 2022 PillowTalk with Lynn Garafola, author of the biography La Nijinska: Choreographer of the Modern speaking with scholar-in-reside...

Celebrating Carmen de Lavallade

29 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Highlights from Carmen de Lavallade's Pillow debut as a dancer in Lester Horton's company in 1953, all the way through the premiere of her one woman s...

Documenting The Hustle

22 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Beyond the First 50 Years of Hip Hop with Michele Byrd-McPhee

25 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What could representation and opportunity for Hip Hop dance look like in the near future? Guest host Michele Byrd-McPhee revisits the 2023 conversatio...

Fluid Roots and Resistance in Contemporary Indian Dance

21 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Dance Scholar Dr. Arushi Singh dives into the historical and cultural context of three Contemporary Indian artists who are engaging with their own cul...

Comedy and Drag in Ballet: 50 Years of The Trocks

23 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo's Artistic Director, Tory Dobrin, speaks with Jacob's Pillow Scholar-in-Residence, Maura Keefe, in this 2024 Pil...

Rachel Maddow: The Place of Art in a Democracy

26 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Political analyst Rachel Maddow speaks with Pillow scholar Suzanne Carbonneau in a 2009 PillowTalk. Maddow humanizes the political context of the earl...

Shen Wei: Abstracting Dance, Music and Visual Arts

28 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this excerpt from a 2004 PillowTalk, choreographer Shen Wei speaks with dance scholar Suzanne Carbonneau about his love of abstraction when making ...

Moving Through Collective Grief Towards Self Actualization

31 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Christian Warner hosts this episode focused on the human body’s capacity to navigate collective grief, moving toward not only healing,  but self-ac...

A Conversation with Choreographer and Visual Artist, Yin Mei

27 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of PillowVoices, we bring you an interview with choreographer Yin Mei. PillowScholar Suzanne Carbonneau sat down with Yin Mei to discu...

Representation, Identity, Diaspora, Through the Lens of Mimulus Dance Company

29 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, professor and choreographer Silvana Cardell contextualizes the work of the Mimulus Dance Company through the lens of adjacent histori...

Jacques d’Amboise, Dancer; National Dance Institute Founder

18 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Jennifer Edwards hosts this episode honoring the life and legacy of former New York City Ballet dancer, Jacques d'Amboise, in his own words. Recorded ...

Dancing Puppets & Emerging Technology

27 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Lisa Niedermeyer hosts this episode exploring the connections between puppetry in contemporary dance and emerging technologies such as augmented reali...

Susan Marshall and Ralph Lemon: A Compelling Conversation

30 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Jacob's Pillow Associate Archivist Patsy Gay hosts this episode featuring excerpts of a 1998 PillowTalk. In this conversation between choreographers R...

Spoken Word in Dance

24 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Poet and dance writer Karen Hildebrand hosts this episode focusing on how text and spoken word are used in dance. Included are examples from works by ...

The Dance Between Choreography & Technology

27 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Christy Bolingbroke, Executive / Artistic Director of the National Center for Choreography - Akron, hosts this episode focused on the the relationship...

Remembering Gus Solomons jr

30 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Jennifer Edwards hosts this episode honoring Gus Solomons jr, the celebrated choreographer, writer, and teacher. As the first Black dancer in the Mer...

Trisha Brown: Choreographer and Visual Artist

25 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Jennifer Edwards hosts this episode focused on Trisha Brown, one of the most celebrated choreographers to emerge from Judson Dance Theater and the pos...

Creating with the Cosmos

28 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Many choreographers draw inspiration from their ancestors, nature, and the spiritual world, and Teena Marie Custer explores some examples with help fr...

Umfundalai Technique with Dr. Kemal Nance, Part 2

30 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this second part of a 2-episode series, Dr. C. Kemal Nance examines the movements, meaning, and structure of the contemporary African dance techniq...

Kariamu Welsh, Founder of Umfundalai, with Dr. Kemal Nance, Part1

26 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Dr. C. Kemal Nance hosts this episode honoring Dr. Kariamu Welsh and celebrating the dance technique that she developed called Umfundalai.https://www....

Remembering Bessie Schönberg

29 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Jennifer Edwards hosts this episode honoring the life and legacy of teacher and choreographic mentor, Bessie Schönberg. Included are excerpts of D.A....

On Site Dance with Stephan Koplowitz

24 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

With the help of his colleague Elise Bernhardt, Stephan Koplowitz traces his early years at Jacob's Pillow, where ideas were planted that led to a fru...

Dramaturgy at Jacob’s Pillow

20 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Poet and dance writer Karen Hildebrand hosts this two-part podcast, focusing on dramaturgy and dance. In this second part, Hildebrand explores how dra...

What is Dramaturgy in Dance?

29 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Poet and dance writer Karen Hildebrand hosts this two-part podcast focusing on dramaturgy and dance. In this first part, Hildebrand defines the rol...

Black Joy & Milton Myers with Dr. Iquail Shaheed

01 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Dr. Iquail Shaheed offers a personal reflection on the life, work, and profound impact of his teacher and mentor, Milton Myers. Shaheed frames this ex...

'Studio/Theater' at MoMA with Yve Laris Cohen

25 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Visual artist Yve Laris Cohen reflects on his exhibition at The Museum of Modern Art entitled 'Studio/Theater' with Jacob's Pillow Director of Preserv...

Dance and Belonging with Crystal U. Davis

28 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Crystal U. Davis, dancer, movement analyst, scholar, and author of Dance and Belonging: Implicit Bias and Inclusion in Dance Education, unpacks implic...

Yve Laris Cohen's 'Studio/Theater'

17 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The remains of the Pillow's Doris Duke Theatre were memorialized in an exhibition at The Museum of Modern Art by visual artist Yve Laris Cohen. In con...

Artistic Directorship: Lourdes Lopez with Theresa Ruth Howard

26 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, we join Pillow Scholar Theresa Ruth Howard in conversation with Lourdes Lopez on the occasion of her tenth anniversary as artistic di...

The ‘Secret’ Gay History of Jacob’s Pillow

29 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Hosted by Brian Schaefer, this episode is an exploration of how gay history is intertwined with the Pillow’s very beginnings, often hiding in plain ...

The Legacy of Katherine Dunham

24 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

A recording of a conversation that took place in 2002, moderated by Reginald Yates. We hear the voices of Donald McKayle, Cleo Parker Robinson, and Ju...

Disrupting Complacency with Jane Comfort

27 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Dance scholar Cynthia Williams guides a deep dive into two different political works made by choreographer Jane Comfort in the 1990s, revealing the st...

The Body as Radical Canvas: Liz Lerman

30 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Ellen Chenoweth hosts this exploration into the work of influential dance artist Liz Lerman, including the voices of Jawole Willa Jo Zollar, James Fra...

1941, When Ballet Came to Jacob's Pillow

25 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, hosted by dance and costume historian Caroline Hamilton, we learn about the summer of 1941 and the events that led to the incorporati...

Barton Mumaw: A Cornerstone of the Pillow

28 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

As a founding presence at Jacob's Pillow from 1931 to 2001, Barton Mumaw embodied much of the institution's history, brought into the light by episode...

An Homage to Martha Graham

30 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Pillow Scholar Jennifer Edwards considers the imprint left by Martha Graham at Jacob's Pillow, with reflections from those she impacted, the work of R...

Regional Ballet: Pacific Northwest Ballet, Boston Ballet, Houston Ballet

26 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Pillow Scholar Nancy Wozny explores the history of regional ballet in America through conversations and stories of three distinct ballet companies. F...

Lisa Niedermeyer Revisits Doug Elkins’ Fräulein Maria

26 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

As an artist, technologist, and former dancer with Doug Elkins and Friends, Lisa Niedermeyer reflects on her time with the company and her embodied me...

Dancerly Creativity and Technological Innovation

29 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Hosted by Jacob's Pillow Associate Archivist Patsy Gay, this episode explores the intersection of dance and technology, diving into both history and c...

Remembering Blondell Cummings, with Paloma McGregor

18 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Paloma McGregor remembers the life, work, and legacy of Blondell Cummings. McGregor frames this exploration through Cummings' dance work titled "Chick...

Dance On Screen

20 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

PillowVoices composer and audio engineer Ellis Rovin ruminates on some of the ways that dance has been seen on film, drawing upon a PillowTalk by Davi...

Focus the Lights: On Dance and the Field, with Adrian Madison Cario

30 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Adrian Madison Cario hosts this episode on the relationship between lighting design and dance, featuring some of the 20th century's most prominent des...

CONTRA-TIEMPO: A Talk with Ana Maria Alvarez and Maura Keefe

25 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We join Pillow Scholar Maura Keefe in conversation with award-winning  Ana Maria Alvarez, the founder of CONTRA-TIEMPO, a multilingual Los-Angeles-ba...

The History of Jazz Dance: Melanie George and LaTasha Barnes

28 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode we share a PillowTalk that took place at Jacob's Pillow on August 15, 2021. Pillow Scholar and Associate Curator Melanie George hosts ...

Remembering Anna Halprin

31 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode hosted by Jennifer Edwards, we celebrate the life, work, and impact of Anna Halprin (1920-2021). A visionary force in both dance and ...

Wendy Perron on Grand Union: Democracy or Anarchy?

26 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Dance writer Wendy Perron, a former associate director of Jacob's Pillow, explores Grand Union, a maverick 1970s improvisation group based in downtown...

The Complexities of Indian Dance at The Pillow

22 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Professor of dance at UCLA and Pillow Scholar, Lionel Popkin explores the complicated history and relationship between Indian dance, American modern d...

Choreographing the Social Consciousness: Part 3, Making Sense of the World

24 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Into Sunlight trailer: https://vimeo.com/131009698STILL: https://vimeo.com/476315913/3a7f9258bb 

Native Contemporary Dance: No Longer in Sepia Tones

27 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Explore Artists Mentioned in This Episode:Christopher K Morgan and ArtistsDaystar Rosalie JonesLemi PonifasioNeil IeremiaMoss PattersonSantee SmithRed...

Remembering Marge Champion

20 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

As mentioned in this episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NckTgsBsrKEAuthor Mindy Aloff shares stories from her  book Hippo in a Tutu: Dancing i...

Choreographing the Social Consciousness: Part 2, The Body Politic(al)

30 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In part 2 of this several-part series, we explore how dancers and choreographers have embodied and confronted social constraints and constructs. Highl...

Choreographing the Social Consciousness: Part 1, Governmental Affairs

19 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In part 1 of this several-part series, we explore how some artists and thought leaders position the role and influence of governmental programs and po...

Celebrating Jess Meeker: Pioneering Pillow Composer

21 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

PillowVoices composer and engineer Ellis Rovin takes inspiration from the Pillow's earliest composer-accompanist, Jess Meeker, with rare interviews sh...

Mic-check on Garth Fagan, Modern Dance, and Jacob's Pillow

31 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Dance writer Gregory King explores the work of Garth Fagan from his own perspective as a scholar and former cast member of Disney's Broadway hit, The ...

Joe Nash and the Power of Dance History

26 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Honoring one of his heroes, Director of Preservation Norton Owen focuses on pioneering Black dance historian Joe Nash, including the voices of Chuck D...

The Origins and Value of Contact Improvisation in the Words of Steve Paxton

22 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode hosted by Jennifer Edwards, the history, practice, and importance of Contact Improvisation is explored through a revelatory 1998 conve...

The Value of Residencies to Choreographers and Their Creative Processes

25 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Associate Archivist Patsy Gay hosts this exploration of Pillow residencies and their value to choreographers and their creative processes. Existing si...

Ruminations on Pillow History, Ted Shawn, and Adam Weinert

27 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Dance Scholar Sydney Skybetter hosts this conversation with Norton Owen, Jacob's Pillow's Director of Preservation. Together they explore the intersec...

Why We Dance, Why We Watch Dance

16 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

This episode is an exploration of why we dance, why we watch dance, and the relationships between dancers, choreographers and audience members. Jacob'...

A Study of José Limón: Artist and Immigrant

18 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Pillow Research Fellow and dance writer J. Soto hosts this study of José Limón and his Mexican roots. Soto examines the classic solo Chaconne, and i...

The Life and Work of La Meri

21 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The legacy of ethnic dancer, choreographer, teacher, and scholar La Meri is explored in her own words, and in a contribution from Pillow founder Ted S...

Jazz as Communal Practice

15 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Melanie George, jazz dance scholar, choreographer, and dramaturge, hosts this episode. Highlighting voices of students from the School at Jacob's Pill...

Ted Shawn, Jacob's Pillow Founder, In His Own Words

18 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Modern dance pioneer Ted Shawn tells the story of founding Jacob's Pillow in his own words, along with a fascinating first-hand account of the dance t...

The Costume Collection at Jacob's Pillow

14 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Dance costume historian Caroline Hamilton shares her experience of exploring and cataloging the costume collection at Jacob's Pillow. She frames this ...

Dance Theater of Harlem: An Homage to the Work of Arthur Mitchell

23 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Scholar-in-Residence Theresa Ruth Howard explores her own heritage in this personal look at Dance Theatre of Harlem, featuring the voices of founder A...

The Roots of Jazz Dance

26 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Melanie George, jazz dance scholar, choreographer and dramaturge, hosts this episode. She offers an insightful historical overview and then dives into...

Adam Weinert recreates Ted Shawn's 'Dance of the Ages'

27 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Choreographer Sydney Skybetter interviews fellow dancemaker Adam H. Weinert, focusing on the recent reconstruction of Ted Shawn's iconic Dance of the ...

Going Gaga with Ohad Naharin

05 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Related multimedia essay: The Israeli Delegation: Artists From The Holy Land

Merce Cunningham, Technology, and Archiving Dance - Part 2

14 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Part 2 of a 2-part series on Merce Cunningham's innovations in making and archiving dance, hosted by Patsy Gay, Associate Archivist at Jacob's Pillow....

Merce Cunningham, Technology, and Archiving Dance - Part 1

14 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Part 1 of a 2-part series on Merce Cunningham's innovations in making and archiving dance, hosted by Patsy Gay, Associate Archivist at Jacob's Pillow....

Paul Taylor, In His Own Words

06 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This episode, hosted by Jacob's Pillow's Director of Preservation, Norton Owen, celebrates the life and work of modern dance icon Paul Taylor, incorpo...