jacob’s pillow

A Chance To Dance = A Chance To Win

September 6, 2012 by 4dancers

by Catherine L. Tully

You may have noticed by now that Nichelle from Dance Advantage and I are helping to promote Ovation TV’s show, A Chance To Dance. What you may not know is that we are also giving away free swag and holding a contest for dance bloggers. Interested? Here’s the rundown on how to get involved:

1. Trivia Swag Giveaway – win some swag by answering the weekly trivia question on Twitter (search #actdtrivia and check the date).

Look for our trivia question starting today by searching #actdtrivia on Twitter! We’ll be doing a different giveaway each week based on the upcoming episode, so this week it will be for Friday’s episode at 10 pm ET.

2. Dance Blogger Contest – Yes–we’ve extended this fun contest to give more people the chance to answer! Enter to win a $25 gift card. Watch the upcoming episode and write a blog post about it. (Details here.) We’ll choose a random winner from the entries and promote your answer on our social media accounts–think publicity!

If you haven’t yet seen the show, I’ve included a bit of video below for you, along with a blurb about the overall idea. In terms of tuning in for the next episode, there are 3 ways to watch:

1. Got Ovation? Watch it on TV.

Find Ovation In Your Area.

2) Also available On Demand as part of your paid TV subscription.

Here are the listings.

3) Watch on Facebook. Rent it Now!

About A Chance To Dance:

A Chance To Dance is an original Ovation TV series by the creators of SYTYCD. It follows Michael Nunn and Billy Trevitt, two of the UK’s most prominent contemporary dancers and choreographers, in their quest to create a new dance company for Nigel Lythgoe in just 28 days.

They have auditioned dancers from dance schools in Washington D.C.; Salt Lake City, Utah; and Austin, TX. The competition and the pressure have become intense as the final group heads to the dance mecca of Jacob’s Pillow, MA, where they must eliminate half the dancers and form a company for the grand finale: an original performance in New York. A Chance To Dance airs Fridays at 10PM ET/7PM PT on Ovation.

Here’s a quick peek at the last episode to catch you up, and a preview of the next:

Preview:

Even though I have a strong ballet background, Shepherd is my favorite character on this show. He was chosen because he had some stylin’ hip hop moves and because he showed commitment by getting time off from work to get to the audition. I just think he seems like a cool guy that is really passionate about dance. After all, in the last episode, he took a ballet class and simply struggled with it the entire time. I can’t imagine what that must have felt like–but it couldn’t have been good…he’s got guts!

This show is really one of the better ones out there in terms of dance–and I’m not just saying that because I’m helping to promote it. I really think it is well-crafted, and it raises some interesting points about having ballet as a foundation for dance in general. I’d like to toss that question out to readers…

Do you think it is necessary (or at least, preferable) to have a ballet background if you want to be a dancer?

I really do. But I’m also going to pull hard for Shepherd in this next episode! After all, everybody deserves a break in life…right?

A chance…to dance.

Disclosure-4dancers receives compensation from Ovation TV for promotion of A Chance to Dance.

Photographing The Joffrey Ballet

August 31, 2012 by 4dancers

by Christopher Duggan

20120822_JoffreyBallet_Christopher.Duggan_169 — Derrick Agnoletti of The Joffrey Ballet in Son of Chamber Symphony; photo Christopher Duggan, courtesy Jacob’s Pillow Dance.

Last week marked the end of Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival’s 80th Anniversary, and I found myself scrambling from one dress rehearsal to the other trying to squeeze in documentation of both main stage performances. I was so excited/nostalgic about the fact that this is the last week of the summer, and I wanted to capture it all.

20120822_JoffreyBallet_Christopher.Duggan_252 — Victoria Jaiani and Miguel Angel Blanco of The Joffrey Ballet in Son of Chamber Symphony; photo Christopher Duggan, courtesy Jacob’s Pillow Dance.”

I loved The Joffrey Ballet‘s program. They danced Bells by former Bolshoi Ballet dancer and San Francisco Ballet choreographer Yuri Possokhov, Age of Innocence by Edwaard Liang, and Son of Chamber Symphony, a world premiere by Stanton Welch. It’s always exciting to photograph a world premiere. My photos will be the first ones showcasing the new dance, and it makes me nervous and psyched.

20120822_JoffreyBallet_Christopher.Duggan_224 — Victoria Jaiani and Miguel Angel Blanco of The Joffrey Ballet in Son of Chamber Symphony; photo Christopher Duggan, courtesy Jacob’s Pillow Dance.

This idea is amplified at Jacob’s Pillow where world-renowned companies perform on a world stage. It’s a big deal to premiere work at the Pillow. All eyes are here. I knew the company wanted approval of the images before they were given to the press, so I wanted to be sure I delivered both quality and quantity. I made a larger number of photographs than I typically do at dress rehearsal, and prepared and edited the photos for use within hours. It’s a lot of pressure to photograph for press use, but it’s something I’ve grown used to in the fast-paced world of performance documentation.

I had a great time with The Joffrey. The dancers were so talented, and the tutus in Stanton Welch’s new work were exquisite and especially fun to photograph.

20120822_JoffreyBallet_Christopher.Duggan_159 — Yumelia Garcia and Matthew Adamczyk of The Joffrey Ballet in Son of Chamber Symphony; photo 2012 Christopher Duggan, courtesy Jacob’s Pillow Dance.

Please visit my blog if you’d like to see more from this year’s festival. I post photos from Jacob’s Pillow each Friday, and I’m doing a few special projects in the coming weeks that I’d love to share.

Contributor Christopher Duggan is the founder and principal photographer of Christopher Duggan Photography, a New York City-based wedding and dance photography studio. Duggan has been the Festival Photographer for Jacob’s Pillow Dance since 2006. In this capacity, and as a respected New York-based dance photographer, he has worked with renowned choreographers and performers of international acclaim as well as upstarts in the city’s diverse performance scene.

He has created studio shots of Gallim Dance, Skybetter + Associates and Zvidance, among others, and in 2011 alone, he has photographed WestFest at Cunningham Studios, Dance From the Heart for Dancers Responding to Aids, The Gotham Dance Festival at The Joyce Theater, and assisted Nel Shelby Productions in filming Vail International Dance Festival.

Duggan often teams up with his talented wife and Pillow videographer Nel Shelby (http://nelshelby.com). A New York City-based husband and wife dance documentation team, they are equipped to document performances, create and edit marketing videos and choreography reels, and much more.

Christopher Duggan Photography also covers Manhattan’s finest wedding venues, the Metropolitan and Tri-State areas, and frequently travels to destination weddings. The company’s mission is straightforward and heartfelt – create timeless, memorable images of brides, grooms, their families and friends, and capture special moments of shared love, laughter and joy.

His photographs appear in The New York Times, Destination I Do, Photo District News, Boston Globe, Financial Times, Dance Magazine, Munaluchi Bridal, and Bride & Bloom, among other esteemed publications and popular wedding blogs. One of his images of Bruce Springsteen was added to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s celebrated photography collection in 2010. His company has been selected for inclusion in “The Listings” in New York Weddings magazine.

Never Stand Still – A Jacob’s Pillow Documentary

August 14, 2012 by 4dancers

by Catherine L. Tully

Never Stand Still is a documentary about Jacob’s Pillow, home of the longest-running international dance festival in the United States. Affectionately dubbed “The Pillow,” this national historic landmark has a complex and fascinating history which is illuminated quite well by Director Ron Honsa through a combination of historical photographs, videos and narrative. Interviews with dance luminaries such as Merce Cunningham, Mark Morris, Judith Jamison and Paul Taylor punctuate the documentary with interesting anecdotes and observations from their own work, adding to the breadth and depth of the film.

Viewers are expertly guided through the history of the venue through rich narration provided by a well-known figure in the dance world–Bill T. Jones. Highlights include dancer Frederic Franklin remembering his early days on the property with Ted Shawn (modern dance pioneer and founder of Jacob’s Pillow) and Suzanne Farrell reminiscing about her time there.

The footage does a wonderful job of showcasing the natural surroundings at The Pillow–163 acres of green space in the Berkshires, dotted with rustic farmhouse buildings and an outdoor stage. The property really has a “vacation getaway” feel to it, and indeed it is known as an intimate venue that some in the dance world even refer to as a “sanctuary”.

The release of this film coincides with the 80th anniversary of the Festival, and it does much to convey the diverse heritage of the annual event. Inspiration and collaboration are highlighted through interviews with Tony Award-winner Bill Irwin and dancer Rasta Thomas, and a multitude of dance clips give viewers a sampling of the range of movement styles represented throughout the Festival each year.

Never Stand Still is a tribute to Jacob’s Pillow–a testament to our tradition and roots in movement. It succeeds in its attempt to convey the mood and emotion that can exist in a physical place where so much passion, talent and excitement have come together throughout the years. There is a reverence for this piece of land in the dance world; both for its history and for what it has become today–a place for dance that really has no equal.

Here’s an extended preview for those of you who are interested in getting a glimpse of what this film looks like:

Preview – A Chance To Dance

August 10, 2012 by 4dancers

by Catherine L. Tully

I have to say, I’m intrigued.

I have had the chance to watch some of the footage for the upcoming series, A Chance To Dance on Ovation, and I think it will be an interesting show. Putting a dance company together in just 28 days (7 episodes) seems a little over the top, but then again, it’s television.

That said, there are a few things that set this show up for a good run, and I can share them with you here without giving anything away…

The backing.

The idea for the series comes from Nigel and Simon Lythgoe, Producers of So You Think You Can Dance. Basically, these guys have an idea of what works–don’t you think?

The location.

Much of the footage here is shot in an absolutely gorgeous location which already has a rich dance history–Jacob’s Pillow in the Berkshires. The outdoor stage and natural surroundings provide a scenic backdrop, and the one-on-one interviews echo the behind the scenes drama that makes Survivor such a popular show. This helps add a visual appeal to what would otherwise be many hours of studio footage, which although realistic, is not exactly visually stimulating.

The personalities.

The two judges, Michael Nunn and Billy Trevitt, both danced with The Royal Ballet in London and have staged many popular productions over the past ten years. In addition to a strong dance background, they each contribute quite a bit of charisma as well.

Trevitt is very articulate when it comes to discussing his beliefs about dance and music and Nunn has a natural grace and humor about him that transforms what could be otherwise routine studio time into something special for the screen. They were both great picks for the show.

The premise.

Even if it is a familiar premise, it’s still a good one.

The judges travel to different places, auditioning dancers for the show. They are looking for dancers who are good–12 to be specific, to form a company that will perform at a New York Gala event, then continue on to be the opening act for the SYTYCD tour.

Who doesn’t want to see talented dancers who have been overlooked for one reason or another get their shot at the big time? The idea is so often used because it feels good.

I didn’t get to see much footage of the dancers actually dancing, but I’m looking forward to that part and hoping that they will do it well. There didn’t appear to be too much snark going on (at least not that I saw), which is actually a welcome relief. The show has promise without trying to manufacture any additional drama.

With the proliferation of dance shows on television as of late, it can be hard to know which ones are worth the time and which to skip.

I, for one, am going to give this show its “chance to dance”.

A Chance To Dance premieres August 17th at 10 PM ET/7 PM PT on Ovation.

Finis: Photographing Dance In The Natural Light Studio

July 31, 2012 by 4dancers

20120628_YinYue_Christopher.Duggan_035 — Yin Yue, by Christopher Duggan

by Christopher Duggan

Every summer, I dream of ways to make more art at Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival. I love photographing performances, and you know Inside/Out is my favorite space to shoot dance, but I was craving more. I’ve always been inspired by John Lindquist’s dance photos on the elevated platform behind The Ted Shawn Theatre. (Remember the photos I shared with you in January?) The landscape around the space has changed – there are more buildings, the Pillow Pub, the Doris Duke, and the vegetation has grown – but it’s still a perfect place to photograph dance in the natural light of the beautiful Berkshires sun.

I’ve also felt inspired by Richard Avedon’s simple, powerful portraits on white, but the set-up of my Natural Light Studio itself was inspired by my friend (and photography hero) Clay Enos. I wanted to do something similar to his Street Studio at Jacob’s Pillow, and he graciously told me how to construct the outdoor studio and encouraged me to enjoy the new creative space.

So for the last few weeks, I have been playing in my new studio with dancers from Morphoses, Inside/Out, The School at Jacob’s Pillow, Yin Yue Dance, Tero Saarinen and many more. [Read more…]

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