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Jacob's Pillow to Launch Virtual Festival
11:33AM / Thursday, July 02, 2020
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While the Inside/Out Stage will not be seen in person this summer, virtual programming will go on at Jacob's Pillow.

BECKET, Mass. — Jacob's Pillow, home to the longest-running dance festival in the United States, is set to launch a virtual festival with eight weeks of free programming running from July 7 to Aug. 29. 

Jacob's Pillow announced the cancellation of its 10-week festival for the first time in the organization’s 88-year history in March, due to the novel coronavirus. 

Weekly highlights feature streams of popular performances from the past 10 years, a series of new PillowTalks with leaders in the dance field, an online version of the beloved intergenerational movement class Families Dance together, and a new Master Class Series from The School at Jacob’s Pillow. 

Attendees are encouraged to make a contribution in lieu of purchasing a ticket and 50 percent of donations for performances will be shared with the artists featured. Community engagement events will share proceeds with local community organizations.  

"After we canceled our on-site festival due to the global pandemic, we soon realized the need to fulfill our mission by engaging artists and audiences in a quintessential summer experience from Jacob's Pillow virtually," said Jacob's Pillow Executive & Artistic Director Pamela Tatge. "The civic organizing and protests confronting racism and inequality in our country greatly impacts our organization’s decision-making. The model we envision is one that is free for all, made more accessible by being entirely online, pays artists and scholars for their time, and provides artists with additional support during a time when many have lost their income. 

"I'm excited to think about all the people who will now have the chance to 'visit' our campus and experience the crossroads of dance that is Jacob's PIllow."

Fifty percent of donations received from performances are shared directly with the featured artists in support of their continued work. All donations for Families Dance Together will be contributed to the NAACP Berkshire County Branch. Fifty percent of proceeds raised from Dog Dance (Aug. 1) will be shared with the Berkshire Humane Society. And all donations for The Land on Which We Dance (Aug. 5) will be shared with the artists in support of their important work. 

Performances, PillowTalks and Master Classes will premiere weekly on YouTube. Families Dance Together and special events will take place on Zoom. Performances will be made available for 48 hours after the premiere. PillowTalks will be available through Aug. 31. Master Classes and Families Dance Together will not be accessible after the duration of the event. All events are free; an RSVP is required for all events to gain access to direct links to join. 

Visit the website to RSVP and for regular updates and more information.

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