Berkshire Pulse to present annual performance
Great Barrington — Berkshire Pulse will present its 12th annual performance celebration and fundraiser on Saturday, May 27, and Sunday, May 28, at 3 p.m. at Bard College at Simon’s Rock’s Daniel Arts Center.
The performance will feature dancers and musicians in a wide variety of genres including modern, ballet, musical theatre, tap, Afro-Caribbean, flamenco and world music. With support from the José Limón Dance Foundation, Pulse students will perform a section of Limón’s 1964 work “A Choreographic Offering.” Said Pulse founder Bettina Montano, “We are so grateful to the José Limón Dance Foundation and to longtime company member Ryoko Kudo for offering our community this very special experience of the Limón tradition.” Kudo, a recent addition to the Pulse faculty and newly relocated to the Berkshires, has worked with the Limón company since 2001.
Tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for youth ages 14–18 and proceeds will benefit Pulse’s tuition assistance fund. For tickets and more information, see the Berkshire Edge calendar or contact the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center at (413) 528-0100.
–E.E.
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MASS MoCA to open Building 6
North Adams — On Sunday, May 28, MASS MoCA will open Building 6, the third phase of its campus development that encompasses 130,000 square feet of interior renovations to the museum’s 19th-century mill buildings. An array of longterm programming is the centerpiece of the building’s opening, including work from Robert Rauschenberg, Louise Bourgeois, James Turrell, Jenny Holzer, Laurie Anderson, and Gunnar Schonbeck. Additional artists to be shown in Building 6 include Spencer Finch, Dawn DeDeaux, Lonnie Holley, Mary Lum, Barbara Ernst Prey, Janice Kerbel, Joe Wardwell and Sarah Crowner. The renovation was designed by Bruner/Cott & Associates of Cambridge.
The opening celebration will begin at noon with welcoming remarks as galleries open and live DJ will play all day. A Soundsuit parade choreographed by Williams College professor Sandra Burton will take place at 3 p.m., followed by the Brooklyn United Marching Band at 6 p.m. Party rockers CAKE will take the outdoor stage at 8 p.m.
For more information, contact MASS MoCA at (413) 662-2111 or info@massmoca.org.
–E.E.
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Archaeological dig to excavate Shaker community
New Lebanon, N.Y. — Darrow School, which was founded on the historic Mount Lebanon site of the first Shaker community in America, has announced a partnership with the archaeological firm, DigVentures, to excavate several sites on the campus. The Digging Darrow excavation—scheduled to take place at Darrow Tuesday, May 3, to Sunday, June 11—intends to map out the entire Shaker settlement, locate long-lost workspaces and unearth evidence of Shaker life and culture at the site.
The Shakers established their self-sufficient community at Mount Lebanon in 1787 and existed there well into the 20th century, though their numbers had dwindled significantly.
“A majority of the buildings on Darrow’s 365-acre campus are original Shaker structures, some dating back to the early 19th century,” said Craig Westcott, Darrow’s assistant head of school for advancement and external relations, noting that Darrow students and faculty will participate in the excavation project and that findings will be shared collaboratively with scholars and organizations interested in Shaker history.
This will be the second time DigVentures’ professional archaeologists will excavate on the Darrow campus. A 2013 dig discovered dozens of artifacts ranging from large, hand-hewn stones used as structural supports for buildings to everyday objects such as tools, toys, clothing, artwork, bricks, horseshoes, bottles, pottery, door handles and more. The most important finding was evidence that confirmed the existence of the Center Family Wash House, which was lost to fire in the early 20th century. Artifacts from the 2013 excavation are currently on display in the school library. Financing for the 2017 dig is being provided in part from a crowdfunded effort.
–E.E.
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HospiceCare support for loss due to substance abuse
Pittsfield — HospiceCare in the Berkshires and Berkshire Medical Center’s pastoral care department will offer a monthly support group for those who have lost a loved one to substance abuse or addiction. The group will meet the second Monday of each month from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the BMC chapel beginning Monday, June 12. To register or for information, call BMC’s pastoral care department at (413) 447-2251 or HospiceCare in the Berkshires at (413) 443-2994.
–E.E.
