Pacific Northwest Ballet Travels to Jacob’s Pillow in 2009
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December 4, 2008
Pacific Northwest Ballet corps de ballet dancer Jordan Pacitti and soloist Lesley Rausch in Ulysses Dove’s Red Angels. Photo by Angela Sterling.
Jacob’s Pillow has made the first program announcement for the venerable festival’s 77th season. Pacific Northwest Ballet (PNB) will perform an exclusive program of work by Ulysses Dove August 19-23, 2009, at the renowned dance center in Becket, Mass. Dove died in 1996 at the age of 49 from an AIDS-related illness and was mourned by many as the loss of a major choreographic talent. “Having spent many hours in the studio with Ulysses Dove, I am especially proud to bring his work to the stage,” said Peter Boal, PNB’s Artistic Director. “Jacob’s Pillow was an important place for Ulysses and we are honored to return to the Pillow with a program of his work.” Boal performed with New York City Ballet for 22 years and was part of the original cast of Dove’s Red Angels.
The choreographer began his career with a degree in dance from Bennington College in 1970 and quickly became a standout principal dancer with Merce Cunningham Dance Company and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (AAADT). Ailey urged Dove to turn to choreography, however, and upon finishing a 1980 solo, Inside, for Judith Jamison, Dove left AAADT to pursue a freelance choreographic career that would allow him to work with a host of companies. He went on to work with American Ballet Theater, New York City Ballet, Cullberg Ballet and Dutch National Ballet, among others.
PNB will perform Vespers, Red Angels, and Dancing on the Front Porch of Heaven for their Pillow engagement.
The 2009 Jacob’s Pillow festival lineup will include more than 40 companies presented on three stages of the National Historic Landmark. In addition to ticketed performances, the festival features more than 200 free performances, talks and events that are open to the public.
The Pillow's 77th season will kick off with the a Season Opening Gala on Saturday, June 20, and run through August 30, 2009. Tickets go on sale to the public in early April. Subscribers can purchase tickets earlier.
