Jacob's Pillow

The best things in life are free. Sortah. On Saturday, February 13 from 11 AM to 8 PM there is no charge to hang out at Mass MoCA. There will be tours of the galleries as well as fun and games. With complimentary cake and ice cream. Whoopie. Afro Cuban Hip Hop drummer and band leader Pedrito Martinez, will keep the dance floor packed starting at 8 PM. It will cost you $15 in advance and $19 the day of the show. Not free but cheap to shake your bootie on a frosty night.

In a pre Holiday meeting Joe Thompson, director of Mass MoCA, greeted staff, volunteers and the media followed by curators presenting a preview of the coming season. Musician and performance artist, Laurie Anderson, will be in residence with a dialogue on January 16. After a dinner break there will be Alt Cafe that night. Time to mark your calendars.

Jones' latest dance a let down. He's a nice person, pleasant to interview, smart, sincere and sometimes the creator of some really amazing dances. But.

Monica Bill Barnes will be in residence October 18-25, Kyle Abraham arrives November 15-21, and Camille A. Brown in the spring of 2010, April 18-25. Each Creative Development Residency includes housing and unlimited studio use for the artists and their dancers, and concludes with an invitation-only, work-in-progress showing during which artists receive valuable creative feedback from audience members.

The Arts and Artists of Adams, Massachusetts have received little attention. There are two vital and evolving arts organizations, the Topia Art Center and Greylock Arts Gallery, as well as several cultural entities to visit and enjoy.

Tina Ramirez founded Ballet Hispanico in 1970. She recently stepped down and the new Artistic Director is Eduardo Vilaro. Starting in 1984 this is the fourth appearance of the New York based company at Jacob's Pillow. They will close the Pillow season on Sunday, August 30. This appearance includes the world premiere of "Locked Up Laura" and four other works.

Summer may seem to be drawing to a close, but you can't tell by the busy schedule in the next few weeks. In fact, more new shows are opening, fresh dance companies are unpacking and the jazz musicians are waiting in the wings for a festive climax to Summer in the Berkshires. To make sure you don't miss anything, here is another handy roundup of the best events for late summer through the big Labor Day weekend.

The Doug Varone company resided in New York at the 92nd Street Y Harkness Dance Center. Varone is noted for work in dance, theatre, opera, film, television and fashion. The company has thrilled the audience with a stunning program at Jacob's Pillow Dance in Becket.

In what has become an annual visit to Tanglewood the Mark Morris Dance Group presented two world premiers "Visitation" and "Empire Garden." They were accompanies by Yo Yo Ma, cello, and Emanuel Ax on "Visitation." The violinist Colin Jacobsen joined them to play Ives for "Empire Garden."

composers, cutting edge dance or perhaps an absorbing evening of great theatre? Take time to indulge your senses and treat yourself to some of the Berkshire's legendary performing arts attractions. They all have great deals for residents and visitors alike. Use our handy Picks and Previews guide to help decide.

Choreographer Marce Cunningham has been honored with the 2009 Jacob's Pillow Dance Awards. The company first performed at the Pillow in 1955 and several times since then. Because of plans recently announced by the 90 year old dancer this week of performances may well be his last for Jacob's Pillow. Cunningham died just after this review was filed.

The company Groupe Emile Dubois from Grenoble,France was founded by Jean-Claude Gallota and Mathilde Altaraz in 1979. They appeared at Jacob's Pillow with a new work "Des Gens qui dansent" during a rare American tour. It makes us rethink our notions of contemporary dance.

Summer's abundance is all around us, and so is the Berkshire's annual bounty of music, theatre and dance choices. Here's another of our detailed guides to help you choose.

Tina Packer, after 32 years as Founding Dirctor of the Lenox based, Shakespeare & Company has stepped down. It was planned that Tony Simotes, now in his first season as Artistic Director, would be handed the reins of debt free company with a $10 million new facility including a second stage, The Elayne P. Bernstein Theatre, and the start on an endowment. Then the economy fell off a cliff.

For Berkshire residents the Saratoga Performing Arts Center is not that far away, and offers a completely different menu of performances to choose from. Their season had just begun when we visited. The New York City Ballet is in residence through July 18.

July is a great time to be in the Berkshires with dozens of must-see events taking place as we approach the height of the season. Making the right choices is challenging. Winnow them down using our capsule descriptions and handy links. There's no easier way to compare, check and choose than this handy guide. Lots of pictures, too.

In recent years the Berkshires has emerged as a major theatre community. With four professional companies and eight stages it's becoming a force in American theatre. And behind the scenes there is another show going on as well. Read all about it.

When Mass MoCA opened a decade ago artists migrated to North Adams attracted by large, cheap loft spaces. For the second season that growing arts community is trying to revitalize the business district through a city wide project known as DownStreet. Artists hope that their commitment and sweat equity will start to pay off.

A capacity audience attended "Mujeres" with Belen Maya and Rocio Molina, which launched the 77th season of the summer long Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival. There is a great tradition of Flamenco at the pillow starting with the first season in 1942 which featured the legendary La Argentina.

Summer Begins with an amazing array of performing arts events to choose from. Both Tanglewood and Jacob's Pillow kick off their busy schedules while the main stages of the Berkshire's four resident professional theatre companies all kick into high gear. Our capsule descriptions and handy links will guide you through the dense array of superb cultural resources. In season world renowned artists perform in the Berkshires.

Imagine the tragic love story of Romeo and Juliet as a ballet set to music by Radiohead. From July 1 through 5 Ballet Maribor will bring this acclaimed production to Jacob's Pillow. The launch of the season will be marked by numerous free events.

It takes a community to make something like the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center succeed, and in Great Barrington this local theatre is a success in every sense of the word. Executive Director Beryl Jolly tells us why.

June is bustin' out all over, and our resident performing arts organizations are pulling out all the stops as the season approaches. Once again we provide our handy guide to upcoming Berkshire events.

When General Electric moved out in the late 1980s, with 10,000 lost jobs, Pittsfield fell on hard times. The recovery started in 2003 when the new Mayor, James M. Ruberto, mandated that arts and culture would be a focus for economic development. Megan Whilden disussed how she joined the team in 2005 and the remarkable progress since then that has reshaped the city as a cultural destination.

Here's your weekly guide to the top events happening in and around the Berkshires with more than a dozen exciting and fascinating offerings for you to choose from.