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Hubbard Street 2's MARIKO'S MAGICAL MIX Set for Jacob's Pillow This Month
By: BWW News Desk Jul. 01, 2016
Hubbard Street 2, the young Second Company of the world-renowned Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, will present Mariko's Magical Mix: A Dance Adventure for their Jacob's Pillow debut, in the Doris Duke Theatre, July 13-17.
In collaboration with design studio Manuel Cinema, Princess Grace Award recipient and recent member of Hubbard Street Dance Chicago Robyn Mineko Williams creates a whimsical and family-friendly performance. Intertwining shadow puppetry and contemporary dance with an imaginative narrative, the piece is recommended for ages five and up, as well as the young at heart.
"Manual Cinema's work captures the imagination in surprising and beautiful ways," says Jacob's Pillow Director Pamela Tatge. "Their partnership with the youthful artistry of Hubbard Street 2 promises us a magical evening."
Led by Artistic Director Terence Marling, Hubbard Street 2 is known for its highly-selective six-person ensemble of young, artistically and technically mature dancers. The mission of the company is to foster artistic growth and hone the technical skills of the talented 18-25 year old company members, many of whom have gone onto become members of Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, as well as other top dance companies worldwide. The Chicago Sun Times praises the consistent level of work produced by the company: "It's called the 'second' company, but there is nothing second-class about Hubbard Street 2."
Mariko's Magical Mix: A Dance Adventure tells the story of Mariko, a young girl whose day-to-day monotony is transformed into a joyful adventure when she finds a collection of her mother's vinyl records in their attic. The music takes Mariko on a surprising voyage where she discovers new friends, interesting machinery, and strange creatures. This journey ultimately allows her to discover a unique inner-strength and rhythm that she can use to guide her everyday experiences. In one 60 minute work, the six dancers of HS2 tell Mariko's colorful story through beautifully mesmerizing movement, small gestures, and emotive music cues that are seamlessly integrated with cinematic shadow puppetry. Mariko's Magical Mix: A Dance Adventure is praised for being a "gorgeous contemporary dance adventure [that] needs to be experienced by the whole family" (Kendall Mostafavi, DC Metro Theater Arts).
Choreographer Robyn Mineko Williams, named one of Dance Magazine's "25 to Watch" for 2014, explores the link between choreography and childhood imagination. Williams' performed as a company member for Hubbard Street Dance Chicago for 12 seasons until 2012, when she left to focus on her choreography independently. Since then, Williams has received commissions from Atlanta Ballet, Grand Rapids Ballet, Visceral Dance, The Nexus Project, and Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, in addition to receiving a Princess Grace Award in 2015, and being named one of NewCity's Players "50 People Who Really Perform for Chicago" in 2016. Dance Magazine claims, "There is sophistication about Robyn Mineko Williams's work that many choreographers never quite attain," emphasizing Williams's sense of "inventive movement phrases, compositional clarity, and heartfelt emotion."
Manuel Cinema, a Chicago-based performance collective design studio and film Production Company, brings magic to the stunning lines and silhouettes of the Hubbard Street 2 dancers through shadow puppetry and cinematic techniques, with manipulation of overhead projectors, multiple screens, puppets, dancers, and live-feed cameras. Managing Artistic Director, Kyle Vegter's unique music direction and sound design fuses jazz, rock, and pop, with new music composed for the production, and plays an integral role in this multi-sensory performance. The piece was co-commissioned by The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and Hubbard Street 2, and premiered October 2015 at The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.
Hubbard Street 2 was established in 1997 by Hubbard Street Dance Chicago's founder Lou Conte and former Associate Director of HSDC Julie Nakagawa, to prepare young dancers for careers in contemporary dance, creating a dynamic environment for technical and artistic growth. To date, 15 members of the early career ensemble have advanced to become members of Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, while countless others have joined leading dance companies worldwide. The company is dedicated to touring domestically and internationally, to help its dancers gain exposure and international scope. Since 2013, the company has been under the direction of former Hubbard Street Dance Chicago member, Terence Marling. Now in its 19th season, HS2 has become an important component of Hubbard Street Dance's community engagement programs, committed to innovative family programming and youth arts education. Mariko's Magical Mix: A Dance Adventure marks Hubbard Street 2's second children's programming endeavor, with critically acclaimed Harold and the Purple Crayon: A Dance Adventure, as its first. Through this, Hubbard Street Dance exposes children to contemporary dance at a young age by engaging a sense of perception, research, reflection, discussion, and interpretation, as well as encouraging development of analytical and abstract thinking skills.
In addition, the company provides residencies to three burgeoning choreographers annually under its International Commissioning Project (initiated in 1999 as the National Choreographic Competition, and renamed in 2014). Around 45 new works have been created for HS2 as part of this initiative. Other notable recipients of this grant to date include Alvin Ailey Artistic Director Robert Battle, Aszure Barton, Jessica Lang, and 2016 Jacob's Pillow Dance Award recipient Camille A. Brown.
While parent company Hubbard Street Dance Chicago has been presented by the Pillow over a dozen times since 1983, this is Hubbard Street 2's first performance at Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival. Artistic Director Terence Marling and choreographer Robyn Mineko Williams have both performed multiple times on Pillow stages. HS2 company member since 2013, Adrienne Lipson, is also alumna of The School at Jacob's Pillow. Hubbard Street Dance Chicago will be performing the same week in the Ted Shawn Theatre.
IF YOU GO:
Hubbard Street 2 in Mariko's Magical Mix: A Dance Adventure
Doris Duke Theatre
Wednesday, July 13, 4:15 pm
Thursday, July 14 & Friday, July 15: 2:15pm & 4:15pm
Saturday, July 16: 11:15am & 4:15pm
Sunday, July 17: 11:15am & 2:15pm
- Free Pre-Show Talks with Jacob's Pillow Scholar-in-Residence Maura Keefe are offered on the porch of the Doris Duke Theatre 30 minutes before each performance
- Free Post-Show Talk with artists of Mariko's Magical Mix: A Dance Adventure will take place immediately following the 4:15 performance on Thursday, July 14 at the Doris Duke Theatre.
- Tickets start at $25 for adults, $10 for youth. Now on sale online at jacobspillow.org, via phone at 413.243.0745, or in person at the Jacob's Pillow Box Office.
- Box Office hours: Wednesday- Saturday, 11am-8pm; Sun, noon-5pm; Tues, 11am-5pm
- Pillow Members receive exclusive benefits. To become a Member, call 413.243.9919x125.
Jacob's Pillow is located at 358 George Carter Road in Becket, MA, 01223 (10 minutes east on Route 20 from Mass Pike Exit 2). The Jacob's Pillow campus and theaters are handicapped accessible.
ALSO THIS WEEK:
Hubbard Street Dance Chicago
July 13-17, Wednesday-Saturday 8pm, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday 2pm
Ted Shawn Theatre
Chicago-based with a world-class reputation, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago always brings exquisite dancers, bold new work, and breathtaking contemporary performances. They perform Solo Echo, a gripping interpretation of two Johannes Brahms sonatas for cello and piano, created by Jacob's Pillow Dance Award-winner and Artistic Director of Kidd Pivot, Crystal Pite. The program also includes master choreographer William Forsythe's N.N.N.N., a dance filled with intricate gestures and delightfully complex rhythms, as well as an excerpt from Alejandro Cerrudo's Second to Last, Crystal Pite's A Picture of You Falling, and Robyn Mineko Williams' Waxing Moon. Tickets start at $45.
Free Inside/Out Performance: DanceTheYard
Wednesday, July 13, 6:15pm
Marcia & Seymour Simon Performance Space
Led by The Yard's Executive Director Alison Manning and Director of Island Programs & Education Jesse Keller, DanceTheYard (DTY) is the resident dance collective of The Yard at Martha's Vineyard. In an effort to support emerging choreographers, DTY's directors work with a collective of professional artists to create an emerging body of work for presentation locally and nationally. FREE
Free Inside/Out Performance: Kevin Jenkins
Thursday, July 14, 6:15pm
Marcia & Seymour Simon Performance Space
Prolific choreographer and faculty member of the Boston Ballet School, Kevin Jenkins has choreographed for Western Ballet, Convergence Ballet, Terpsicore Dance Company, Mirable Ballet, Bellingham Repertory Dance, and the School of Ballet Arizona among others. This presentation showcases Jenkin's work from the last two years, highlighting his signature musicality in works ranging from contemporary to jazz and neo-classical ballet.FREE
Free PillowTalk: Ann Hutchinson Guest's Dancing Life
Friday, July 15, 5pm
It has been 75 years since Ann Hutchinson Guest first studied at Jacob's Pillow, and she has been at the forefront of dance ever since, now recounting old and new adventures. FREE
Free Inside/Out Performance: SOLE Defined
Friday, July 15, 6:15 pm
Marcia & Seymour Simon Performance Space
Founded in 2011, SOLE Defined is a percussive Dance Company based in Washington, DC and led by Cirque du Soleil's Ryan K. Johnson and award winning choreographer Quynn Johnson. Tap dance meets body percussion in SOLE Defined's interactive and family-friendly performance of MOTAPs. A fusion of Motown's top hits and dynamic movement, the show features traditional sand dance, tap, stepping, and body percussion. FREE
Free PillowTalk: Curriculum in Motion
Saturday, July 16, 4pm
For more than 20 years, Jacob's Pillow has been bringing dance into Berkshire County schools in groundbreaking ways. Both the past successes and future plans are outlined in this presentation. FREE
Free Inside/Out Performance: The School at Jacob's Pillow
Saturday, July 16, 6:15 pm
Marcia & Seymour Simon Performance Space
Dancers from the Contemporary Program of The School at Jacob's Pillow present contemporary variations coached by program director Milton Myers and esteemed faculty member and Colombo-Belgian choreographer Annabelle Lopez Ochoa. FREE
Sunday Master Class with Festival Artist: Terence Marling
Sunday, July 17, 10am
Doris Duke Theater
Director Terence Marling of Hubbard Street 2 will teach a master class open to all intermediate and advanced dancers ages 16 and over. Pre-registration is required, call 413.243.9919 x5 the week of the class to register. Quiet observation is welcome; $15 per class of $80 for a 6-class card. Participants younger than 18 will require a parent's signature on a liability waiver.
FESTIVAL 2016 FREE EXHIBITS - ON VIEW JUNE 22-AUGUST 28
Lois Greenfield: Moving Still
Blake's Barn
Open daily, noon to 10pm Wednesdays-Saturdays, noon to 5pm Sundays-Tuesdays.
Building the Pillow
Ted Shawn Theatre Lobby
Open 60 minutes prior to every performance.
While seemingly unchanged and timeless in many ways, the beloved structures of this National Historic Landmark have been in constant transition for more than 200 years. In this exhibit, rare photographs of the site's development are shared, many for the first time. FREE
Hirschfeld on the Move
Doris Duke Theatre Lobby
Open 60 minutes prior to every performance.
The legendary Al Hirschfeld (1903-2003) loved dance and captured movement with uncanny economy of line. One of his last masterworks was a commissioned study of Ted Shawn at Jacob's Pillow (now available on new merchandise in The Pillow Store), and exhibited among nine decades of other dance images in an exclusive exhibition created with the Al Hirschfeld Foundation. FREE
Jacob's Pillow Archives/Norton Owen Reading Room
Blake's Barn
Open daily, noon to 10pm Wednesdays-Saturdays, noon to 5pm Sundays-Tuesdays.
This newly-expanded informal library and reading room allows impromptu visitors to view videos, browse through books, access the Pillow's computer catalog, or peruse Permanent Collections of Pillow programs and photographs from the Pillow's Archives. Also on display are recent donations from Ruth St. Denis's family and more treasures from the Stephan Driscoll Collection. Jacob's Pillow Dance Interactive, available on the popular touch-screen kiosk in the Reading Room, provides instant access to rare film clips ranging from the present day back to the 1930s. Visitors may also sample videos from other Dance Heritage Coalition archives and companies throughout the country. FREE
Jacob's Pillow, celebrating its 84th Festival in 2016, is a National Historic Landmark, recipient of the National Medal of Arts, and home to America's longest-running international dance festival. Each Festival includes more than 50 national and international dance companies and 350 free and ticketed performances, talks, tours, classes, exhibits, and events. The School at Jacob's Pillow, one of the most prestigious professional dance training centers in the U.S., encompasses the diverse disciplines of Ballet, Cultural Traditions, Contemporary, and Musical Theatre Dance, as well as an Intern Program in various disciplines of arts administration, design, video, and production. The Pillow's extensive Archives, open year-round to the public, chronicle more than a century of dance in photographs, programs, books, costumes, audiotapes, and videos. Year-round Community Programs enrich the lives of children and adults through public classes, residencies in area schools, and an extensive schedule of free public events. Through Jacob's Pillow Curriculum in Motion, a nationally recognized program, Artist Educators work with Berkshire County teachers and students grades K-12, transforming curricula such as biology, literature, and history into kinesthetic and creative learning experiences. Creative Development Residencies, in which dance companies are invited to live and work at the Pillow and enjoy unlimited studio time; choreography commissions; and the annual $25,000 Jacob's Pillow Dance Award all support visionary dance artists and choreographers. During Creative Development Residencies, artists are invited to spend one to three weeks at the Pillow creating or rehearsing new work, with free housing for the company, unlimited use of studio space, and access to the Pillow's rare and extensive Archives and other Pillow resources. In the beautiful, retreat-like atmosphere of the Pillow, the Creative Development Residencies are rare opportunities for artists to focus on the creative process without distraction. Notable artists who have created or premiered dances at the Pillow include choreographers Antony Tudor, Agnes De Mille, Alvin Ailey, Donald McKayle, Kevin McKenzie, Twyla Tharp, Ralph Lemon, Susan Marshall, Trisha Brown, Ronald K. Brown, Wally Cardona, Andrea Miller, and Trey McIntyre; performed by artists such as Mikhail Baryshnikov, Carmen De Lavallade, Mark Morris, Dame Margot Fonteyn, Edward Villella, Rasta Thomas, and hundreds of others. The Pillow's digital initiatives are aimed at expanding global audiences for dance and offers the opportunity to experience dance and Jacob's Pillow from anywhere in the world via online interactive exhibits, global video networks, and social media. An important part of the Pillow's digital presence, Jacob's Pillow Dance Interactive is a curated online video collection of dance highlights from 1933 to today. On March 2, 2011, President Obama honored Jacob's Pillow with a National Medal of Arts, the highest arts award given by the United States Government, making the Pillow the first dance presenting organization to receive this prestigious award. For more information, visit www.jacobspillow.org.
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