Pilobolus held its annual ball on Saturday, June 7, at a private residence in Washington, CT, raising $370,000 to support performing arts programming, including new work creation and educational initiatives.
Despite the looming possibility of inclement weather, the evening included a dynamic outdoor performance by Pilobolus dancers, set against a backdrop of the rolling hills of Litchfield County—a testament to the company’s innovative ability to adapt their ingenuity to any space. (Locals may recall the way the company pivoted during the pandemic, delighting revelers with Art Safari, their car safari born out of health safety constraints.) Works performed included Flight, Bloodlines, and Particle Zoo, all of which will feature prominently on Pilobolus’s new tour, Other Worlds Collection, debuting this summer at The Joyce Theater in New York, NY, from June 24 - July 13.
“The annual Pilobolus Ball is not just a fundraiser, it is a communing of our supporters, as well as an opportunity for them to see all that they are helping us to create and bring to the world,” stated Pilobolus Executive/Co-Artistic Director Renée Jaworski. “Pilobolus has so much to offer through our artistry and education, and it is all to make the world a better place. We could not do it without the support of the community that has grown to love and appreciate this work.”
Following the performance and dinner catered by Executive Cuisine, actress and paddle raise host Lily Cowles elevated the evening both literally and figuratively. Cowles delighted the audience from the stage as a “Tall Lady”—a character from the company's beloved work Untitled—with assistance from former Pilobolus dancer Zack Weiss, demonstrating how Pilobolus's inspiration truly extends to all. This powerful paddle raise, which brought in over $80,000 in just 10 minutes, was bolstered by a generous match of $100,000 by an anonymous donor, underscoring the deep commitment of Pilobolus’s supporters. The night culminated in a dance party on stage, where both dancers and local luminaries alike cut loose to music spun by DJ UGŪM (former Pilobolus dancer Kingsley Ibenche).
The ball was both a celebration and a call to action, affirming the value of Pilobolus’s deeply collaborative and accessible approach. With programs that span from Connecticut classrooms to international stages, Pilobolus’s work engages people of all ages and backgrounds in the transformative power of movement.
In addition to donors, the event was sponsored by All Season Party Rentals, Classic Turf, Everything Botanical, Greenhouse Wealth Management, Mejias Health and Wellness, New Preston Dermatology, Performance Plumbing and Heating, LLC, Studio Hill (gold level sponsors); Aspetuck Animal Hospital, Depot Dog, The Hickory Stick Bookshop, Peter Talbot AIA Architects (silver level sponsors); County Wine and Spirits, Five Janes, Oliphant (bronze level sponsors); and Athletic Brewing Company, Kent Falls Brewing Company, Lesser Evil, Litchfield Distillery, The Pantry, and The Po (in-kind sponsors). The event was generously hosted by Susan Haber.
Photography by Bryan Haeffele