WHAT IS PILOBOLUS @ PLAY?

Pilobolus @ Play is a residency program bringing our innovative creative process to communities around the country. Designed to diversify and increase audiences for dance across the United States and bring the benefits of dance to all.

  • In “P@P”, Pilobolus partners with select presenters to go out into their respective communities: in schools, senior and community centers, libraries, and dance schools

  • We offer a week of workshops to various groups, with priorities on:

    • older adults

    • pre-professional performing arts students in low-income communities

    • open community groups or other special groups upon request

  • Over five days, Pilobolus Teaching Artists teach approximately 12 workshops and reach 200-300 community members

  • P@P workshop weeks can take place immediately prior to a Pilobolus performance. All workshop participants are invited to attend the show and meet with the cast afterward

  • In between years when a theater presents the full company, Pilobolus can visit the community to offer a week of workshops and present an hour-long duet show. Workshop Teaching Artists perform and workshop participants perform onstage, as well

  • Participants learn the improvisation and movement creation skills that have made Pilobolus famous.

  • Through partnering, collaborative choreography, and peer-to-peer feedback, the class stretches personal limits and cultivates creativity

  • Multi-year engagements go furthest to develop relationships between audience members, theaters, dance, and Pilobolus

Pilobolus believes we have an important role to play in building our own
future audiences - as well as those of modern dance at large.

WHAT OUR PRESENTERS SAY ABOUT P@P

“You were the best residency [this center] has ever had. I’ve never had a company call and say, we’d like to come to your community. It’s rare for a dance group to give these types of workshops. I wish other companies would do that—you’re an example.”
— Presenter, 2015
“It was a team­building experience unlike any other…The usual things that happen like people needing to be right and power struggles didn’t emerge.”
— Adult Workshop Participant, Boston, 2015​​​​​​​

I forgot what it felt like to move and how much I love it.

                                 —Participant, Senior Center, West Philadelphia, 2015

“Thank you so much from all of us … for bringing this rich new activity of happiness to so many.  Hoping many more get to know about Pilobolus.”
— Program Manager, Senior Community Center, West Philadelphia, 2015
“[Pilobolus’s] school matinee this morning was the perfect balance of dance, unpacking the creative process, and inspiring young people to be creative. It was one of the best school shows, if not the best, we have ever presented, and we do 60-65 kids shows a year.”
— Presenter, 2015

  • For a sample P@P schedule, click HERE

  • To see a video of Pilobolus dancers working with school kids after they’ve seen our show Rules @ Play, click HERE.

  • To book Pilobolus @ Play, contact Matthew Bledsoe at IMG Artists: 212-994-3565, or via email: mbledsoe@imgartists.com

  • For more information about program content, contact Pilobolus Education & Community Engagement Manager Emily Kent at: ekent@pilobolus.org