The Union Project Dance Company Set for Jacob's Pillow

The Union Project Dance Company has been invited to perform in one of the most prestigious dance festivals of the country, Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival Inside/Out Series. The festival happens every summer for 3 months in Becket, MA . The Union Project will be the 1st LA based company to perform in the Inside/Out stage since 2006.

Jacob's Pillow Dance is lauded worldwide as a "hub and mecca of dancing" (TIME Magazine), "one of America's most precious cultural assets" (Mikhail Baryshnikov), and "the dance center of the nation" (The New York Times). "The Pillow" is a treasured 220-acreNational Historic Landmark, a recipient of the prestigious National Medal of Arts, and home to America's longest-running international dance festival. Each year thousands of people from across the U.S. and around the globe visit the Berkshires of Western Massachusetts to experience the Festival with more than 50 dance companies and 200 free perform- ances, talks, and events.

The Union Project will presenting on July 9th, 3 of the company's latest works by Artistic Director Mariana Oliveira. Originally from Brazil, Oliveira will be the first Brazilian contemporary choreographer to present works on this stage.

The program includes Fearing the Unknown (2013), with original music by LA composer Michael O. Hurwitz. Fearing the Unknown explores the fear of death. According to LA Dance Review "...The choreographer utilized the strengths of the dancers to such a degree that they at times seemed super human...". W.S. (2014), created for the celebration of the 450th anniversary of William Shakespeare, was the number 1 pick of LA Weekly "5 Shows to See in LA". Finally, Mirror in a Mirror (2015), a 9 minute solo that investigates the story of a man at the end of his life; he thinks about his past memories, and re-experiences past joys and sorrows. According to LA Dance Review "...Mirror in a Mirror demonstrates Oliveira's skill in blending gesture, emotional drama and athleticism into a work that is compelling, visceral and personal ..."

Residing in Los Angeles for the past 2 years, The Union Project has been growing and gaining the attention of the pub- lic. Founded in 2009 in New York by Mariana Oliveira, the company performed in prestigious venues such as Lincoln Center and Tribeca Performing Arts. The company has developed works that feature the collaboration of original music performed by 13- piece live orchestra as well as intimate set ups of 3 musicians.