Dorrance Dance to Debut THE BLUES PROJECT at Jacob's Pillow, 7/24-28

Jacob's Pillow presents Dorrance Dance and the world premiere of The Blues Project, July 24-28 in the Doris Duke Theatre. Founded two years ago by 2013 Jacob's Pillow Dance Award recipient Michelle Dorrance, the company features some of today's best tap artists including co-choreographers of The Blues Project Derick K. Grant and Dormeshia Sumbry-Edwards. Award-winning musician, composer, and founder of the band BIGLovely Toshi Reagon created the music for The Blues Project, which will be performed live by Reagon and four other musicians on acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass, drums and percussion, and violin.

Praised as a "talented choreographer, the most promising one in tap right now" by Brian Seibert of The New York Times, Dorrance is among the most respected tap performers and choreographers of her generation. Earlier in the 2013 Festival, Dorrance accepted the seventh annual Jacob's Pillow Dance Award at the Pillow's season opening Gala. Jacob's Pillow Executive and Artistic Director Ella Baff comments: "With this year's Award, we recognize a hugely talented young artist who is experimenting with new ideas and moving the art of tap forward. We are also honoring the great American art form of tap, which has created some of the best dance and music-making ever."

Dorrance was joined in the creation of The Blues Project by Grant and Sumbry-Edwards, both driving forces in the tap world and well-known for their dance captain roles in the hit Broadway musical Bring In 'Da Noise, Bring In 'Da Funk. Unlike her process on past projects, Dorrance did not use music as her initial inspiration for developing the choreography; in fact, Reagon challenged Dorrance, Grant, and Sumbry-Edwards to create the movement before she composed the music. "I could do anything I wanted," Dorrance commented to Ken Ross of The Republican. "The world was at my fingertips."

The Blues Project is a creative collaboration that explores the relationship between music, sound, and movement. Dorrance noted that "on top of loving [Reagon's] music since I was 18 years old, I wanted to work with her because she wields music the way I want to wield tap dance-by manifesting the spirit of the great American traditions. I see Derick K. Grant and Dormeshia Sumbry-Edwards in a very similar light."

Tickets are $22 -$43, and available online at jacobspillow.org, via phone at 413.243.0745, or in person at the Jacob's Pillow Box Office. Under 35 Fridays Tickets and Youth Tickets are available by phone and in person only.

Photo by Michael Slobodian