History | Company Bio | Black Lives Matter | Land Acknowledgment

HISTORY

Pilobolus began at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire, circa 1971, as an outsider dance company and quickly became renowned the world over for its imaginative and athletic exploration of creative collaboration. It has evolved into a pioneering American cultural institution of the 21st century for over fifty years. 

The spark ignited in a dance composition class led by Alison Becker Chase. Three students—Moses Pendleton, an English literature enthusiast and cross-country skier; Jonathan Wolken, a philosophy science scholar and fencer; and Steve Johnson, a pre-med student and pole vaulter— created their first dance, which they titled “Pilobolus” —and a legacy of movement and magic was born.

Pilobolus crystallinus is a phototropic fungus. Translated from Greek, Pilobolus means “Hat Thrower,” referring to its spores that accelerate 0–45 mph in the first millimeter of their flight and adhere to wherever they land. When that very first piece was made, Mr. Wolken’s father was studying Pilobolus, the fungus, in his biology lab. The name was apt, and it stuck.

While Johnson chose a different path after this initial creation, Pendleton and Wolken teamed up with Lee Harris and Robby Barnett to forge the first version of the Pilobolus dance company. The ensemble underwent another evolution when Lee Harris exited. But the stage had been set for Michael Tracy, Martha Clarke, and Alison Becker Chase to step in, crafting the iconic six-member Pilobolus ensemble. This collective, featuring Tracy, Clarke, Chase, Barnett, Pendleton, and Wolken, is hailed as the founders of Pilobolus. Their dynamic synergy ushered Pilobolus into prominent platforms, from Broadway to Sesame Street, forging an indelible legacy in dance for the past 52 years.

Pilobolus is now under the Artistic Direction of Renée Jaworski and Matt Kent, who continue to both carry on the tradition of creating new and exciting work and preserve and present its vintage choreography.

COMPANY BIO

Pilobolus is a rebellious dance company. Since 1971, Pilobolus has tested the limits of human physicality to explore the beauty and the power of connected bodies. We continue to bring this tradition to global audiences through our post-disciplinary collaborations with some of the greatest influencers, thinkers, and creators in the world. Now, in our digitally driven and increasingly mediated landscape, we also reach beyond performance to teach people how to connect through designed live experiences. We bring our decades of expertise telling stories with the human form to show diverse communities, brands, and organizations how to maximize group creativity, solve problems, create surprise, and generate joy through the power of nonverbal communication. 

Pilobolus has created and toured over 120 pieces of repertory to more than 65 countries. Over the years we have performed our work for millions of people across the U.S. and around the world. Pilobolus has been featured on CBS This Morning, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, NBC’s TODAY Show, MTV’s Video Music Awards, The Harry Connick Show, ABC’s The Chew, and the CW Network’s Penn & Teller: Fool Us. Pilobolus has been recognized with many prestigious honors, including a TED Fellowship, a 2012 Grammy® Award Nomination, a Primetime Emmy® Award for Outstanding Achievement in Cultural Programming, and several Cannes Lion Awards at the International Festival of Creativity. In 2015, Pilobolus was named one of Dance Heritage Coalition’s “Irreplaceable Dance Treasures”.  Pilobolus has collaborated with more than 75 brands and organizations in finance, retail, media, fashion, sports, and more to create bespoke performances for television, film, and live events.

In 2024, the first book capturing the legacy of Pilobolus was written by author Robert Pranzatelli and published by the University Press of Florida. Pilobolus: A Story of Dance and Life tracks the company from its counterculture origins through its pop-culture triumphs and contemporary global acclaim. 

Learn more about our dancers and leadership on our People page.

BLACK LIVES MATTER

The Pilobolus family stands with the many others working to end the systemic racism that plagues our country. Pilobolus has been too silent on this issue, but we can be silent no more. Social bias, inequality, and oppression have no place in our world. We are dedicated to doing the work that is necessary to bring about change. We are committed to reflecting inward at our own organization and looking for ways we can fight the roots of injustice from the inside out. We are also dedicated to providing resources of change to our audiences. As a proud member of the arts community, we have a responsibility to use our platform and our voice. Black Lives Matter.

Land Acknowledgement

Pilobolus gratefully acknowledges Darlene Kascak, Education Coordinator & Native American Traditional Storyteller, member of the Schaghticoke Tribal Nation; and everyone at the Institute of American Indian Studies where she works, for furthering our education surrounding the importance and history of the ancestral homeland of the Weantinock and Pootatuck people and their descendants who are now the Schaghticoke. Since time immemorial they have been living and working the land from which Pilobolus draws inspiration. We acknowledge the long history that has brought all of the people, plants and creatures to share this corner of the world and we seek understanding and our place in that history. We believe it is crucial to build mutual respect regardless of differences and heritage so that we can all take care of each other, heal and connect to each other once again.