Created by Darlene Kascak, Renée Jaworski, and Matt Kent in collaboration with Eryn Barnes, Nathaniel Buchsbaum, Quincy Ellis, Marlon Feliz, Hannah Klinkman, Paul Liu, and Zack Weiss
Storytelling:Darlene Kascak of the Schaghticoke Tribal Nation
Soundscape:Ben Sollee, Costumes:Valerie St. Pierre Smith, Lighting: Brian Tovar, Props: Yannick Godts
The Ballad is commissioned by the American Dance Festival with support from the Doris Duke/SHS Foundations Award for New Works. Additional support provided by the Institute of American Indian Studies and The Ballet Foundation.
About The Ballad
The Ballad, created in collaboration with Darlene Kascak, a Traditional Storyteller and Member of the Schaghticoke Tribal Nation, intertwines traditional storytelling with modern expression. Inspired by Robin Wall Kimmerer's 'Braiding Sweetgrass,' this piece interweaves Darlene's own life story with a haunting and beautiful score, featuring a cinematic recording of her interview. The movement vocabulary, a true collaboration between Pilobolus choreographers, dancers, and Darlene, crafts a time-shifting narrative that resonates with authenticity and creative harmony.
Collaborator Information
Darlene Kascak, Traditional Storyteller
Member of the Schaghticoke Tribal Nation
The Ballad is a collaboration between Pilobolus and Darlene Kascak, a Traditional Storyteller and Member of the Schaghticoke Tribal Nation. Initially captivated by Darlene's insightful storytelling, Pilobolus envisioned how her stories could be physically manifested. Inspired by Robin Wall Kimmerer's Braiding Sweetgrass, they plunged into the creation of The Ballad. A deeply personal story, it unfolds Darlene’s childhood experiences. The result is a piece that does more than address cultural narratives; it celebrates the ineffable beauty of storytelling and survival as an homage to resilience and optimism, crafted through a true symbiosis of creative minds.
“The Ballad shows that co-artistic directors Jaworski and Kent are profoundly committed to making dances that create a conversation about social justice, reckon with our country’s history, and shine a light on the consequences of how we treat Mother Earth.”