AXIS Dance Company to Perform at Jacob’s Pillow
Becket— July 14th through July 16th, AXIS Dance Company will perform on the outdoor Henry J. Leir Stage at Jacob’s Pillow performing Desiderata by Asun Noales, Flutter by Robin Dekkers, and a third piece to be announced.
AXIS Dance Company is one of the nation’s most acclaimed ensembles of disabled, non-disabled, and neurodiverse performers. The company performs productions that widen perspectives and redefine dance and disability.
Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, the company has toured to over 100 cities in the U.S. over the past 35 years, as well as London, Dubai, Frankfurt, The Hague, Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and Novosibirsk, Siberia. In addition to their extensive touring and performances, AXIS provides integrated dance education and outreach programs, building paths to dance education for disabled and non-disabled people of all ages and experiences.
“San Francisco’s AXIS Dance Company is an ensemble of disabled, non-disabled, and neurodiverse dancers who have been making magic on stage for the past 35 years, and they are going to look glorious performing on the Leir Stage against the backdrop of the Berkshire hills!” -Pamela Tatge, Jacob’s Pillow Executive and Artistic Director.
Founded in 1987, AXIS Dance Company has created world-class performances that challenge perceptions and redefine conventions. Their three pillars of artistry, engagement, and advocacy define how the company strives to create a radically inclusive world and dance sector that is rid of any barriers to showcase the beauty of difference.
The performances are Friday, July 14th at 6 p.m., Saturday, July 15th at 6 p.m., and Sunday, July 16th at noon on the outdoor Henry J. Leir Stage at Jacob’s Pillow on George Carter Road in Becket. Tickets are $45. A discount is offered to seniors and members of the military. The performance is approximately 60 minutes. For tickets and more information, visit Jacob’s Pillow online.
ASL interpretation will be provided during the pre-show talk, the curtain speech, and the post-show Q&A—all of which will be held on the outdoor Henry J. Leir Stage before and after each performance. The pre-show talk is 15 minutes long and is scheduled 30 minutes before the show starts.
This outdoor performance space is wheelchair accessible and has been recently renovated to feature pathways that include MobiMats, stairs with handrails covering rough terrain, and paved pathways to ADA compliant seating. Accessible public restrooms are located on the Pillow grounds with ADA compliant fixtures. Golf cart transportation between the parking lots and the Henry J. Leir Stage is available before and after performances. To express accessibility needs in advance of your visit, or for any questions about accessibility at Jacob’s Pillow, please call 413-243-0745 or email boxoffice@jacobspillow.org.
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Summer Stage at Ski Butternut presents Badfish, the Sublime tribute band, with Roots Of Creation’s Grateful Dub
Great Barrington— On Saturday, July 22nd, Summer Stage at Ski Butternut presents Badfish, the Sublime tribute band with Roots Of Creation’s Grateful Dub.
The phenomenon known as Sublime, arguably the most energetic, original and uniquely eclectic band to emerge from any scene, anywhere, ended with the untimely death of lead singer, guitarist and songwriter Brad Nowell in May of 1996. Encompassing the sense of place and purpose long associated with Sublime’s music, Badfish, a tribute to Sublime, continues to channel the spirit of Sublime with a fury not felt for some time. What separates Badfish from other tribute bands is that they have replicated Sublime’s essence, developing a scene and dedicated following most commonly reserved for label-driven, mainstream acts. Badfish makes their mark on the audience by playing with the spirit of Sublime.
Grateful Dub captures the spirit and magic of the Grateful Dead, while laying it down reggae-dub style. Combining their longtime love for reggae-dub style music and the Grateful Dead, Roots Of Creation (RoC) reworked some of the world’s favorite Dead tunes into a new studio album, having the pleasure of working in the studio with the legendary 5-time Grammy winner Errol Brown who was Bob Marley’s engineer. Grateful Dub is being performed live in its entirety at festivals, theatres, and clubs around the country and features a rotation of special guests.
The family-friendly concert is on Saturday, July 22nd. Gates open at 4 p.m. Grateful Dub is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. and Badfish is schedule for 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $32 in advance and $36 on the day of the concert. Attendees are invited to bring their own chairs and blankets. No outside food or beverages are allowed. The concert will happen rain or shine. Tickets and more information can be found by visiting Ski Butternut online.
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1st Annual LuluFest Lenox Jazz Festival to spotlight women bandleaders
Lenox— On Friday, July 14th and Saturday, July 15th, Berkshires Jazz, Inc. and the Ritenuto Foundation present the 1st Annual LuluFest Lenox Jazz Festival, which will spotlight women bandleaders.
Adding to the cultural riches of summer, LuluFest Lenox brings something completely new to the Berkshires: a jazz festival celebrating female musicians and composers as bandleaders.
Under the leadership of Founder/Director Peggy Stern and Producer/Director Suzi Stern (no relation), LuluFest Lenox is the offspring of two long-running festivals, the Wall Street Jazz Festival in New York, and LuluFest in Texas. The festivals highlight the unique perspective of women in jazz, with a focus on improvisation.
Festival director Suzi Stern notes, “At LuluFest, the bands are led by women who are free to make their own choices of personnel and to present their own unique musical concepts.” Stern is quick to point out, however, that LuluFest Lenox, like its predecessors, is not a “women-only” music festival. “On the contrary, most of the bands performing at LuluFest Lenox are generously populated with men. The difference is that women are in the leadership roles.”
Kicking off LuluFest Lenox on Friday, July 14th from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., the Suzi Stern Quintet will perform at the Gateways Inn on Walker Street in Lenox. This is a free event. Reservations are strongly suggested and can be made by calling the Gateways Inn at 413-637-2532.
The July 15th performances will take place at the Elayne P. Bernstein Theater at Shakespeare & Company on Kemble Street in Lenox. The schedule includes the Mary Ann McSweeney Urban Fado Project at 7 p.m., the Peggy Stern Quartet at 8 p.m., and the Grammy® Nominated Sara Caswell Quartet. This performance marks Ms. Caswell’s 2023 CD release.
Tickets are $25.00 to $37.00 based on selection of seating. There is a discount offered to EBT Card holders. Tickets and more information can be found by visiting LuluFest Lenox online. Tickets will also be available at the door.
In addition to the performances, Lulufest Lenox will offer a free Master Class in improvisation to area middle and high school students of all experience levels. The class is on Friday, July 14th from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. at the Lenox Community Center on Walker Street in Lenox. Interested students should call Darlene McCauley at 413-637-4788.
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The Clark Art Institute offers free community tai chi on Mondays in July and August
Williamstown— The Clark Art Institute offers free community tai chi on Mondays in July and August.
Take a moment each week to reflect and refocus with tai chi near the Clark’s Reflecting Pool. This free weekly class, led by certified instructors from Berkshire Tai Chi, is well-suited for both experienced practitioners and newcomers. Explore strengthening poses and find a greater state of mindfulness while surrounded by the beauty of nature and modern architecture.
The free classes will be held on Mondays in July and August at 10 a.m. (July 10, 17, 24, and 31 and August 7, 14, 21, and 28) by the reflecting pool at the Clark on South Street in Williamstown. Comfortable clothing and footwear are encouraged. The classes are cancelled in the event of rain. For more information, visit the Clark online.
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Kids 4 Harmony to host summer concert Gala at Tanglewood
Pittsfield— On Tuesday, June 27th at 5:30 p.m., 18 Degrees will host their Kids 4 Harmony (K4H) Summer Gala Concert at Seiji Ozawa Hall at Tanglewood.
The evening will begin with a reception followed by performances from 36 K4H students, including a performance by eminent pianist Emanuel Ax with our Elayne P. Bernstein Ensemble. Ax is a celebrated Grammy-Award-winning pianist who has appeared with some of the world’s greatest orchestras and is a long-standing supporter of K4H.
Since 2012, Kids 4 Harmony has provided intensive music instruction, family support, and performance opportunities at no cost to participants. As a result, students have traveled and performed nationally and have received competitive merit-based scholarships towards their college tuitions.
The gala concert is on Tuesday, June 27th at Seiji Ozawa Hall at Tanglewood on West Street in Lenox. The reception is at 5:30 p.m. and the concert begins at 7 p.m. Tickets for the Gala, which include a catered reception at the Tanglewood Tent Club plus concert-only tickets can be found by visiting 18 Degrees online. For more information or to make a donation, please contact Sarah Frederick at 413-448-8281 ext. 233.
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Bidwell House Museum presents ‘Did George Washington Wear Lace?’
Monterey— On Saturday, July 15th from 11 a.m. to noon, the Bidwell House Museum presents “Did George Washington Wear Lace?”
The Bidwell House Museum invites the public to learn about lace in Colonial America. One of the themes for the Bidwell House Museum 2023 season is historic textiles and in that spirit, Bev Wolov will present her talk on the history of lace in early America.
Did George Washington wear lace? The question is simple. However, the answer is a complex tale of a nation inventing itself. Join Wolov, a lace historian, for a presentation rich with images and stories and discover how lace became imbedded in early American material culture.
Wolov has an M.A. in the History of Decorative Arts from the Smithsonian/Corcoran College of Art and Design. Her background is in fashion history specializing in lace and material culture. Wolov photographs and identifies lace for museums and has worked extensively with the Smithsonian National Museum of American History and Mount Vernon, among others.
The lecture will be held on Saturday, July 15th from 11 a.m. to noon at the Bidwell House Museum on Art School Road in Monterey. This will be an in-person lecture, with an optional Zoom livestream. In-person tickets are $25 and $15 for members. Zoom livestream tickets are $15 and free for members. In-person attendance will be limited to 20 people, pre-registration for all attendees is required. Registration and more information can be found by visiting the Bidwell House Museum online.
