Listen Now: Pilobolus discusses Caliban on Podcast

Pilobolus’s award-winning, two-headed Caliban is the topic of conversation during Season 2, Episode 6, “Caliban,” of the Shakespeare's Shadows podcast.

From shakespearesshadows.com:

“A play that can be at turns heartwarming and troubling, The Tempest features two major characters who don’t look like the humans around them: Caliban and Ariel. Caliban, repeatedly described as “monstrous” by other characters, is enslaved by Prospero, the play’s protagonist. This episode delves into discussion about postcolonial interpretations of this play that was written in the early 17th century, about the significance of Caliban’s mother being a witch from Algiers, and about varying approaches to The Tempest’s theme of choosing forgiveness over revenge and the question of whether Caliban’s ending is one with reconciliation.”

Pilobolus's Executive Director and Co-Artistic Director Renée Jaworski and Artistic Director Matt Kent offer unique insights into the company's two-headed interpretation of Caliban, monster of Shakespeare's The Tempest, for which they won a Helen Hayes Award in choreography. To round out the discussion, actor Michael Blake and SUNY New Paltz theatre studies professor Dr. Matthieu Chapman provide diverse perspectives on the interpretation, presentation, and theory regarding Caliban and Ariel.

With discussions touching on sensitive topics such as slavery and racial violence, this episode promises to be both enlightening and thought-provoking but do listen with caution.

Listen now

Top image by Scott Suchman

MOVIN’ Ignites Student Confidence and Creativity

Third-grade students at Brass City Charter School in Waterbury, CT, kicked off the new year with Pilobolus’s MOVIN’ program taught by Education Director Emily Kent. 

MOVIN’ is one of Pilobolus’s longest running youth development programs, providing an opportunity for elementary, middle, and high school students to learn about communication, collaboration, and self-awareness through movement.

“When we first told the students that they were going to be taking a dance class they were all like, “Oh no!” I think especially some of the boys were feeling a little intimidated, maybe they thought they were going to do ballet…but once they realized that it was something that everybody can take part in and everybody can move, they were so excited,” shared, Miranda Malizia, a third-grade teacher at Brass City Charter School.

Artistic Director Matt Kent & Education Director Emily Kent outside of Brass City Charter School following the MOVIN’ recital.

During the seven-week program, Pilobolus fostered a space where students could unleash their potential, learn the value of teamwork, and celebrate their individuality and creativity. “I think a lot of students, in class especially, are told to sit and don’t move,” explained Malizia, “so [MOVIN’] gives them freedom and a place where they can creatively move. A lot of students that are sometimes even afraid to speak up…there’s no talking involved. They’re allowed to move freely and express themselves and once they see their friends joining in, they get excited and want to move, too.”

From laughter-filled group activities to a celebratory final showcase performance, MOVIN’’ empowers students to take ownership of their ideas and express themselves with confidence. Malizia observed that the impact extends beyond the classroom: “They have a lot of fun. They go home talking about it. They want to move and try those moves at recess time and so not only in the dance class itself but throughout the school day as well.”

Pilobolus’s time at Brass City Charter School culminated with an in-school performance on February 28. Students demonstrated to their peers how they can collaborate and problem solve with both improvisational and choreographed movement. 

“I think if [MOVIN’] is recommended for your school, I think you should definitely take part in it. I think it allowed our students to take risks and take chances not only in this setting but in their academic work as well,” said Malizia. “It really built their confidence these last couple of weeks and I highly recommend that all kids have a chance to create, to move their bodies, and have a chance to be creative in their own way.” 

If you’d like to bring MOVIN’ to your school or community, reach out to Emily Kent at ekent@pilobolus.org.

First Look: New Duet Debuts in Fayetteville, AR

Pilobolus’s Spring 2024 re:CREATION tour is underway throughout the United States and includes a tour stop at Walton Arts Theatre in Fayetteville, Arkansas on March 14, 2024. This stop is a special one, as it will be the first time the new women’s duet, currently titled simply “Duet,” will be performed for theatre-goers. Dancers Marlon Feliz and Hannah Klinkman gave viewers of KNWA’s Good Day NWA a sneak peek at this newly unveiled work, introduced by artistic director Matt Kent.

Marlon Feliz and Hannah Klinkman perform a part of Duet, a new work by Pilobolus, on KNWA’s Good Day NWA on March 13, 2024.

Watch now

Listen Now: New Works Chat

Discover the magic behind Pilobolus's new works as Kyle Kellams of KUAF’s Ozarks at Large engages in an insightful conversation with Pilobolus’s executive director and co-artistic director Renee Jaworski and artistic director Matt Kent.

Gain exclusive insights and behind-the-scenes details about the captivating world of Pilobolus in this exclusive interview ahead of our tour stop at Walton Arts Center in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Listen Now!

Dance and Research Collide

Pilobolus directors Renée Jaworski, Matt Kent, and Emily Kent were honored to undertake the esteemed role of judges for the 16th Annual Dance Your Ph.D. contest. Organized by the American Academy for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and Science.com, this unique competition provided Ph.D. candidates with a platform to articulate their research through the medium of dance.

The standout of the year was Weliton Menário Costa from the Australian National University, whose dance presentation, "Personality, Social Environment, and Maternal-Level Effects: Insights from a Wild Kangaroo Population," earned him the coveted titles of Overall and Social Sciences Category Winner of the 2024 Dance Your Ph.D. contest.

Pilobolus was grateful to once again be selected to assess the diverse range of dance interpretations of scientific research. This intersection of science and art showcased the depth and creativity within the scientific community. The contest not only celebrates scientific inquiry but also underscores the significance of innovative communication in the academic sphere. (Kind of on-brand for a dance company named after a fungus, don’t you think?)

See how intellectual depth and artistic expression can harmoniously coexist in scholarly endeavors–click here to read more about this year’s winners and view their performances.


Top image: WELITON MENÁRIO COSTA from Science.org

First Book About Pilobolus Published

The University Press of Florida has published the first book to capture the legacy of Pilobolus.

Pilobolus: A Story of Dance and Life tracks the company from its counterculture origins through its pop-culture triumphs and contemporary worldwide acclaim. Author Robert Pranzatelli details stories gleaned from deep research and intimate conversation with founders, dancers, and the current artistic directors of the company. Insights from unpublished archival materials and both classic and never-before-seen photos also grace the page.

Learn more about Pilobolus: A Story of Dance and Life.

Advance praise:
 
“Pranzatelli gives behind-the-scenes insight into both the art-making process and the often-grueling business of running a dance company. The book includes photographs, some never before published, that give readers a taste of Pilobolus’s hallmark bodily wizardry. . . . Pranzatelli’s vivid descriptions of the group’s canonical pieces will have readers running to find videos to see the magic for themselves.”—Library Journal
 
“Sometimes when you explain how a magic trick works, it kills the amazement. This book proves the opposite. When Pranzatelli takes you backstage, he leads you Dante-like through the Inferno/mystery of Pilobolus. And you will—as I do—love, love, love these people who fearlessly flex their hearts with their muscles, and fill their stage with beauty, humor, sex, and joy.”—Teller (of Penn & Teller)  
 
“What a joyful, absorbing chronicle of creativity. With skillful prose and miles of heart, Pranzatelli captures the wit, sensuality, and daring of Pilobolus, the group that blew up dance theatre and keeps making discoveries after more than 50 years.”—Sarah L. Kaufman, Pulitzer Prize–winning dance critic, author of The Art of Grace: On Moving Well Through Life  
 
“A highly readable, insightful journey into the history, creative process, and fascinating personalities of America’s most inventive dance/theatre company.”—Steven Banks, playwright, actor, and New York Times–bestselling writer  
 
“Pranzatelli lovingly captures the enchanted, ingenious world of Pilobolus: the open-hearted spirit of discovery; the fearless commitment to exploration; the irreverent, unquenchable creativity of the artists who have shaped and reshaped this remarkable project over the decades.”—Trish Sie, filmmaker, Sitting in Bars with Cake  
 
“A thorough, insightful, expressive, and very readable account of a singular dance troupe. While chronicling Pilobolus’s journey through the decades, and astutely spotlighting relevant people, dynamics, and context, this book gives a sense of the troupe’s vitality, in part through eloquent description and analysis of specific dance works and overall aesthetic.”—Celia Wren, theatre and dance writer  
 
“Pranzatelli has written the saga of a creative ‘chosen family,’ and it is both appealing and a real page-turner.”—Elizabeth Zimmer, coeditor of Envisioning Dance on Film and Video

Pilobolus Supports Inclusivity

Pilobolus Teaching Artists Derion Loman and Krystal Butler recently provided instruction to dancers at Chance 2 Dance, an inclusive dance organization centering arts opportunities and access for disabled children, youth, and adults in Maitland, Florida. Dancers showed off their moves in a dazzling group performance on February 9, 2024.

The inclusive dance event, hosted by Chance 2 Dance, brought together a diverse group of individuals, highlighting the power of dance to transcend ability and create a space for self-expression and connection.

A group of Chance 2 Dance dancers wear red shirts on stage and lift their arms above their heads.

Photo by Nicole Warren

Loman and Butler worked closely with the dancers, fostering an environment that celebrated individuality and showcased the beauty of movement in all its forms. The group performance not only showcased the participants’ dedication and hard work but also underscored the importance of inclusive arts programs in fostering a sense of belonging and empowerment.

A group of Chance 2 Dance students wearing red t-shirts post on stage during their Feb 9 performance.

Photo by Nicole Warren

As the dance community continues to explore avenues for inclusivity and diversity, collaborations like these serve as shining examples of the transformative power of the arts. Through the lens of dance, individuals of all abilities can find common ground, breaking barriers and creating a platform for shared experiences.

A group of Chance 2 Dance students pose with Pilobolus teaching artists Krystal Butler and Derion Loman. Eight people are standing and three are sitting on the ground in front of them posing with arms up and legs outstretched.

Photo by Nicole Warren

We extend our gratitude to Pilobolus, Chance 2 Dance, and all those involved for making this inspiring event possible!

Thanks to Chance 2 Dance Executive Director Nicole Warren for capturing the memorable moments!



Shadowland Wows German Audiences

“Astonishing, virtuosic, amazing!” – Dresdner Morgenpost

In December 2023, Pilobolus embarked on an ambitious Winter Tour to bring Shadowland to German audiences. The company traversed the country through January 2024, performing a total of 45 shows with stops in Munich, Bremen, Hamburg, Frankfurt, Baden Baden, Dresden, and Stuttgart to critical acclaim:

“Their magic has remained. Romantic dance scenes with many lifts in the foreground alternate with what makes the show so special. Behind two screens of different sizes, the flexible performers create black figures, animals and plants in sophisticated pantomime and harmonious interplay." – Frankfurter Neue Presse

“Modern dance theatre, graceful, powerful, perfect in form and with captivating choreography.“ – Kreiszeitung

“This is how the shadow theater in “Shadowland” works […] The unique mixture of athletic modern dance, ballet elegance, traditional shadow theater and sophisticated lighting technology thrilled the audience.” – Badische Neueste Nachrichten

“This piece [Shadowland] focuses on change, from illusion to reality, from girl to woman, from shadow play to dance. It is an ambitious performance with fascinating shadow acrobatics and modern dance elements, which the dancers master with aplomb." – Abendzeitung

“The countless visual surprises provide 75 minutes of suspense […] charming.“ - Weser-Kurier

“It's not too difficult to be carried away by this production. There is applause in between scenes and huge applause at the end [...] altogether incredibly fascinating.“ – Flensburger Tageblatt

“The best thing is simply to let yourself go and immerse yourself in the fairytale world [...] An evening that is as poetic as it is entertaining, with which the ensemble counters the omnipresent digital sensory overload with simply the best handmade theatre magic. With a finale that once again serves up a fast-paced best-of the show, after which there is really only one wish left unfulfilled: for an encore as soon as possible.” – Muenchner Merkur

“Playing with the imagination only works if the movements are precise - and the athletic actors of the Pilobolus Dance Theater have this down to a tee. In addition to the apparent weightlessness, there is a lightness that lends this interplay of shadowy forces a poetry that is characteristic of great art.” – Dresdner Neueste Nachrichten

“Fascinating shadow play!” – Dresdner Morgenpost

 “The silent concentration of the dancers, their precision, the transformation of their performance into shadow images is no less fascinating than the poetic dream in black and white; both become an homage to the imagination.” – Stuttgarter Nachrichten

“In artistic terms, this is no slick mainstream, but rather quite weird art that is aware of its proximity to sideshow and circus - and also exhibits this in an elaborate revue scene.“ - Hamburger Abendblatt

Dresdner Neueste Nachrichten Review

“Playing with the imagination only works if the movements are precise - and the athletic actors of the Pilobolus Dance Theater have this down to a tee. In addition to the apparent weightlessness, there is a lightness that lends this interplay of shadowy forces a poetry that is characteristic of great art.” – Dresdner Neueste Nachrichten

Read the full review our Dresden performance of Shadowland:

Muenchner Merkur Review

“The best thing is simply to let yourself go and immerse yourself in the fairytale world [...] An evening that is as poetic as it is entertaining, with which the ensemble counters the omnipresent digital sensory overload with simply the best handmade theatre magic. With a finale that once again serves up a fast-paced best-of the show, after which there is really only one wish left unfulfilled: for an encore as soon as possible.” – Muenchner Merkur

Read more about our Munich performance of Shadowland:

Click the image to read the full review.

Abendzeitung Review

“This piece [Shadowland]  focuses on change, from illusion to reality, from girl to woman, from shadow play to dance. It is an ambitious performance with fascinating shadow acrobatics and modern dance elements, which the dancers master with aplomb." – Abendzeitung

Click the image to read the full review of Shadowland in Munich.

Click the image to read the full review.