I’m currently finishing a write up of the award-winning film Never Stand Still, a documentary about the acclaimed school and festival, Jacob’s Pillow Dance.
Created by Ted Shawn, the space was used to showcase and legitimize male dancers, and became a place where dancers of various styles could come together to workshop and perform their pieces. Each year, the school takes on students from all over the world and also features performances from international artists (of all mediums) and dance companies who come together to collaborate, educate, and present their work to the public.
As a non-dancing, lover of dance, I was enthralled by the history of The Pillow and the drive and passion of each of the artists involved. The dancers who come to The Pillow are there to learn and are open to new ideas and techniques, to growth. The heads of the school and organization itself have such an appreciation of the art form and of the human body as a tool for expression. While a longer, more in-depth review will be posted on my website, I should say now that I loved the film and I encourage everyone to check it out.
Never Stand Still opens in New York City at the Quad Cinema today. More information about the film’s run in other cities can be found here. You can also pre-order the documentary, narrated by the fabulous Bill T. Jones, here.
(For those of you able to attend the film’s premiere, tonight at 6:15 pm, Ella Baff, Executive and Artistic Director of the Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, Choreographer Bill T Jones, and Stage Designer/visual artist Bjorn Amelin, will be joining filmmakers Ron Honsa and Nan Penman to introduce and do a Q&A following the screening.)
