PillowTalks
at Blake’s Barn

PillowTalks are a free curated series of entertaining and informative discussions with choreographers, writers, filmmakers, and cultural experts.

Moderated by Pillow Scholars, PillowTalks provide an excellent opportunity to gain behind-the-scenes insight. The hour-long PillowTalks are held onsite at Blake’s Barn (next to the Box Office). All PillowTalks are free and open to the public during the Festival.

2024 PillowTalks

Fifty Years of the Trocks
Sat., June 29, 4pm
Since its first performances in 1973, Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo has both amazed and delighted audiences with its all-male performances of classic ballets, explored here with director Tory Dobrin.

The Royal Ballet
Sat., July 6, 4pm
As director of one of the world’s most famous and celebrated companies, Kevin O’Hare talks about his desire to bring his dancers to Jacob’s Pillow for the first time, in conversation with Scholar-in-Residence Theresa Ruth Howard.

Lives Beyond Motion
Sat., July 13, 4pm
Former dancer Keith Glassman interviewed dozens of American men to address this topic, and his resulting film encompasses a wide range of Pillow artists. This screening will be followed by a brief discussion.

Breaking Form
Sun., July 14, 4pm
For more than 40 years, choreographer Jane Comfort has been grappling with hot-button issues including gender, AIDS, and social injustice, and this feature-length film addresses it all.

Envisioning Social Tango
Sat., July 20, 4pm
While directing Social Tango Project, Agustina Videla also creates films with Pablo Destito, and here they share some examples of their film work and talk about how these two pursuits intersect. 

You, The Choreographer
Sat., July 27, 4pm
A comprehensive new book by Vladimir Angelov considers all aspects of dance-making, while Moses Pendleton has been creating works for MOMIX and others for decades. Here they discuss it all.

Obsessed with Light
Sun., July 28, 4pm
This new 90-minute documentary about pioneering dancer Loïe Fuller includes a jaw-dropping assortment of imagery and surprising interviews with Bill T. Jones, William Kentridge, MOMIX’s Moses Pendleton, and more.

Snakehips in Our DNA
Sat., August 3, 4pm
Inspired by Harlem Renaissance-era dancer Earl ‘Snakehips’ Tucker, this work by director/dramaturg Talvin Wilks and new media artist LaJuné McMillian will be discussed while it’s on view in Sommers Studio.

Margaret Craske and Her Teachings
Sat., August 10, 4pm
The British ballet teacher Margaret Craske (1892-1990) was a core member of the Pillow’s faculty for more than 20 years, and disciple Diana Byer here unveils an exciting new initiative to document Craske’s teachings in partnership with Dancio.

John Lindquist: As Of Today
Sun., August 11, 4pm
Kicking off with documentary excerpts on photographer John Lindquist’s Pillow career, this event also features Lindquist protégé Stephan Driscoll with behind-the-scenes stories.

Searching for Goya
Sat., August 17, 4pm
Noche Flamenca’s Martín Santangelo consulted with prominent art curators in conceptualizing the company’s Searching for Goya, and this discussion focuses on the synergy between art and dance.   

Leading Dance Theatre of Harlem
Sat., August 24, 4pm
Following in the footsteps of Arthur Mitchell and Virginia Johnson, choreographer Robert Garland became the third director of Dance Theatre of Harlem in 2023, a trajectory he discusses here with Theresa Ruth Howard.