On Saturday, September 27, 2025, Pilobolus welcomed friends, neighbors, and families from across Litchfield County and beyond to Shepaug Valley High School in Washington, CT, for Pilobolus Day, an annual celebration of community, movement, and dance theatre.
The event began on the lawn with an array of activities and highlights: temporary tattoos, acrobatic stunts by the dancers, playtime with parachutes and assorted lawn games, corn husk doll making with the Institute for American Indian Studies (IAIS), sweet treats by Jesse's Ice Cream truck, popcorn from LesserEvil, and even an anonymous donation of a bushell of locally picked apples!
After playtime outdoors, the Pilobolus dancers treated the audience to a performance of Flight School. Based on Flight—a piece inspired by original Pilobolus dancer and pilot Lee Harris—the show took audiences on a journey of imagination, perseverance, and play. Audience members joined the dancers on stage, becoming part of the story as they explored what it means to soar beyond limitations. Highlights from classic Pilobolus works Walklyndon and Particle Zoo were woven into the performance. Making this performance especially memorable was the return of Matt Kent, former Pilobolus dancer and now Artistic Director, who stepped back on stage to perform.
After the show, participants chose from three interactive workshops led by Pilobolus Teaching Artists:
Connecting with Balance with Education Director Emily Kent and Dancer Jess Robling – Designed for older adults, this class focused on moving better, feeling steadier, and living more fully
Alphabet Workshop with Artistic Director Matt Kent and Dancer Ryan Hayes – For kids ages 6–12 and their parents/guardians to discover the magic of letters, shapes, and bodies in motion.
Pilobolus Dance Workshop with Artistic Associate Derion Loman, Dance Captain Hannah Klinkman and Dancers Darren Robinson and Isaac Huerta – An intergenerational experience where participants ages 13–113 came together to move, create, and connect.
Each workshop celebrated the Pilobolus belief that movement is for everyone and that creativity flourishes in community.
Every ticket purchased and every donation made during Pilobolus Day directly support Pilobolus's movement education programs in Connecticut schools, ensuring that students across the state can experience the transformative power of creativity, collaboration, and dance. We are deeply grateful for your support!
Pilobolus Day would not be possible without the generosity of our sponsors and partners. Heartfelt thanks to:
The James R. Dougherty, Jr. Foundation, Goldring Family Foundation, Klemm Real Estate, Community Table, LesserEvil, The Owl, SEP Orthopedics, Bantam Cinema, Fat City Screen Printing and Embroidery, The Po, and Washington Food Market.
We are also grateful to Shepaug Valley High School, Jesse’s Ice Cream, and the Institute for American Indian Studies (IAIS) for their support in bringing this event to life.