White Bird Presents: Pilobolus

CONNECTICUT

TESTING THE LIMITS OF HUMAN PHYSICALITY

Executive and Co-Artistic Director: Renée Jaworski and Artistic Director: Matt Kent

OCT 4

Wednesday | 7:30pm | Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall

SPONSORED BY KEN & ANN EDWARDS

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Photography by Brian Simcoe

2023/24 SEASON obt.org

WELCOME TO SEASON 26 All of us at White Bird are thrilled to welcome you to our 2023-24 season, our 26th season, for another year of world-class contemporary dance. Hot on the heels of our landmark 25th Anniversary Season last year, this season we are proud to return with perennial favorites while also introducing many new artists to Portland. In Season 26 we are once again presenting renowned dance companies from overseas. In March we return to the Keller Auditorium for the first time in a decade. Four companies, nearly half the season lineup, make their White Bird premieres this season. It is an exciting time.

Photo by Jingzi Zhao

And what better company to channel this excitement than Pilobolus? The company, also freshly off the surge of a major anniversary (their 50th) has proven that age can dull neither their collaborative spirit nor their sense of humor. Tonight we will be treated to an evening of mixed repertory that spans the company’s five decades of history, including classic works Sweet Purgatory and Walklyndon, as well as newer collaborative creations Behind The Shadows and The Ballad. Collectively, these dances demonstrate Pilobolus’ unique ability to mix the playful with the daring.

Tonight we also wish to thank Co-Founders Walter Jaffe and Paul King for 25 years of exemplary leadership, and celebrate their many accomplishments. Most recently, the two have been awarded the Tim Wilson Distinguished Service Award by the Western Arts Alliance, the largest association of performing arts professionals in the western U.S., in recognition of their laudable record as dance presenters. The Distinguished Service Award is WAA’s most selective prize. Please join us in congratulating Walter and Paul on this tremendous accomplishment!

We hope you will join us next week at the Newmark Theatre, as we present ink by Camille A. Brown & Dancers. ink completes Brown’s trilogy on race, culture, and identity, with an exceptional cast of eight dancers backed by four musicians versed in Blues, Hip-Hop, Jazz, and Swing. Tickets are on sale now at www.whitebird.org Graham Cole, Executive Director

Board of Directors

Walter Jaffe & Paul King, Co-Presidents Ken Edwards, Vice-President Kim Allchurch Flick, Treasurer Sandra Holmes, Secretary Leroy E. Bynum, Jr. Graham Cole Lisa Mangum Shawn K. Mangum Nancy & George Thorn, Founding Board Members Emereti

White Bird Team

Graham Cole, Executive Director Christopher Carvalho, Director of Patron Services and Communication Noelle Simone, IDEA Director Jeff Forbes, Technical Director Deanna Reeves, Communication Manager Gretchen Westlight, Operations Manager/Executive Assistant Mia Chavez Lysaght, Administrative Assistant Natalie Anthony, Graphic Designer Alexandra Kuhle, Graphic Designer

EXECUTIVE/CO-ARTISTIC DIRECTOR RENÉE JAWORSKI ARTISTIC DIRECTOR MATT KENT

NATHANIEL BUCHSBAUM MARLON FELIZ

DANCERS CONNOR CHAPARRO HANNAH KLINKMAN

QUINCY ELLIS ZACK WEISS

DANCE CAPTAINS NATHANIEL BUCHSBAUM QUINCY ELLIS GENERAL MANAGERS ANNA BATE KIRSTEN LEON DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR LIZ DURKIN

EDUCATION DIRECTOR EMILY KENT

LIGHTING SUPERVISOR YANNICK GODTS

STAGE MANAGER DANIELLE DE VITO

DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATE RYA GREENE

DECK MANAGER MAX JABARA

Major support for Pilobolus Artistic Programming provided by:

TONIGHT’S PROGRAM ON THE NATURE OF THINGS

Created by Robby Barnett, Renée Jaworski, Matt Kent, and Itamar Kubovy in collaboration with Shawn Fitzgerald Ahern, Benjamin Coalter, Matt Del Rosario, Eriko Jimbo, Jordan Kriston, Jun Kuribayashi, Derion Loman, Nile Russell, & Mike Tyus.

Performed by Nathaniel Buchsbaum, Quincy Ellis, & Marlon Feliz OR Quincy Ellis, Hannah Klinkman, & Zack Weiss Music: Vivaldi; Michelle DiBucci & Edward Bilous; Mezzo Soprano, Clare McNamara; Violin Solo, Krystof Witek Lighting and Set Design: Neil Peter Jampolis On The Nature Of Things was commissioned by The Dau Family Foundation in honor of Elizabeth Hoffman and David Mechlin; Treacy and Darcy Beyer; The American Dance Festival with support from the SHS Foundation and the Charles L. and Stephanie Reinhart Fund; and the National Endowment for the Arts.

AWAKEN HEART Created by Gaspard Louis, Renée Jaworski & Matt Kent in collaboration with Nathaniel Buchsbaum, Marlon Feliz, Hannah Klinkman, & Zack Weiss Performed by Nathaniel Buchsbaum, Marlon Feliz, Hannah Klinkman, & Zack Weiss Music: Michael Wall Costumes: Valerie St Pierre Smith Lighting: Diane Ferry Williams Awaken Heart was supported by Stephanie Fenwick and The Ballet Foundation.

WALKLYNDON Choreographed by Robby Barnett, Lee Harris, Moses Pendleton, & Jonathan Wolken Performed by Nathaniel Buchsbaum, Quincy Ellis, Marlon Feliz, & Paul Liu Costumes: Kitty Daly Lighting: Neil Peter Jampolis

THE BALLAD Created by Darlene Kascak, Renée Jaworski, & Matt Kent in collaboration with Eryn Barnes, Nathaniel Buchsbaum, Quincy Ellis, Marlon Feliz, Hannah Klinkman, & Zack Weiss Performed by Nathaniel Buchsbaum, Marlon Feliz, Hannah Klinkman, Paul Liu, & Zack Weiss Storytelling: Darlene Kascak of the Schaghticoke Tribal Nation Soundscape: Ben Sollee Costumes: Valerie St. Pierre Smith Lighting: Brian Tovar Props: Yannick Godts The Ballad is commissioned by the American Dance Festival with support from the Doris Duke/ SHS Foundations Award for New Works. Additional support provided by the Institute of American Indian Studies and The Ballet Foundation.

TONIGHT’S PROGRAM INTERMISSION BEHIND THE SHADOWS

Created by Renée Jaworski, Matt Kent in collaboration with Nathaniel Buchsbaum, Quincy Ellis, Marlon Feliz, Hannah Klinkman, Paul Liu, & Zack Weiss Performed by Nathaniel Buchsbaum, Connor Chaparro, Quincy Ellis, Marlon Feliz, Hannah Klinkman, & Zack Weiss Music: David Poe Lighting: Yannick Godts Behind the Shadows is inspired by work from Shadowland (2009), and the contributions of Steve Banks, David Poe, Robby Barnett, Renée Jaworski, Matt Kent, Michael Tracy, Neil Peter Jampolis, Neil Patel, Liz Prince and the original cast of Shadowland.

SWEET PURGATORY

Choreographed by Robby Barnett, Alison Chase, Jonathan Wolken, and Michael Tracy in collaboration with Adam Battelstein, Rebecca Jung, Kent Lindemer, Vernon Scott, John-Mario Sevilla, and Jude Woodcock Performed by Nathaniel Buchsbaum, Connor Chaparro, Quincy Ellis, Marlon Feliz, Hannah Klinkman, & Zack Weiss Music: Chamber Symphony, Opus 110a, by Dimitri Shostakovich. Orchestral arrangement by Rudolf Barshai Costume Design: Lawrence Casey Costume Painting Executed by Martin Izquierdo Studios Costume Construction: Kitty Daly Lighting: Stephen Strawbridge

ABOUT PILOBOLUS Pilobolus is a rebellious dance company. Since 1971, it has tested the limits of human physicality to explore the beauty and the power of connected bodies creating awe-inspiring and accessible performances. In the five decades since, Pilobolus has continued to propel the seeds of expression through their collaborations with some of the greatest influencers, thinkers, and creators in the world and its unique educational programming. The company offers classes serving all ages and movement abilities. Pilobolus classes use movement to teach dancers and nondancers alike to harness the creative potential of groups. Bespoke leadership workshops for corporate executives, employees, and business schools teach teams how to maximize creativity, solve problems, create surprise, and generate joy through the power of nonverbal communication. Pilobolus continues to bring the beauty of movement to the world, growing and changing each year while reaching new audiences and exploring new visual and physical planes.

Learn more at pilobolus.org.

RENÉE JAWORSKI (EXECUTIVE/CO-ARTISTIC DIRECTOR) has been an indelible force in Pilobolus’s artistic landscape since joining in 2000. A performer who captivated audiences worldwide, her magnetic stage presence laid the foundation for an expansive creative career. In 2011, she was chosen to lead Pilobolus’s post-succession evolution, becoming Artistic Director, and in 2022 became the first Executive Director with an intimate dance background. Her choreographic experience has been extensive and pioneering, crafting pieces reflecting her innovative dance and theater approach. Her exceptional work spans various platforms, from the 79th Annual Academy Awards to the Grammy®-nominated video for OK Go’s “All is Not Lost,” as well as overseeing prestigious projects like Radiolab Live: In the Dark and the World Science Festival, Time and the Creative Cosmos. The University of the Arts honored her with the Silver Star Alumni Award, and her collaborative work on Round House Theater’s production of The Tempest, directed by Aaron Posner and Teller, earned Pilobolus the Helen Hayes Award for Best Choreography in a Play in 2023. Guiding Pilobolus with vision and creativity, she ensures it remains a vibrant, celebrated arts organization.

MATT KENT (ARTISTIC DIRECTOR) joined Pilobolus in 1996 without any formal dance training. His unconventional entrance into dance and theater parallels the Founders’. In Pilobolus, he found an outlet for his artistic and creative vision and began a diverse and prolific career. He has performed on prestigious stages around the world and created choreography for colleges, professional dance companies, as well as grand productions involving shadow, horses, acrobats, large scale Michael Curry puppets, actors, stunt men, hip hop dancers, athletes, zombies, and more. His work on Shakespeare’s The Tempest co-directed by Aaron Posner and Teller won the Helen Hayes Award for best choreography.

He developed the movement vocabulary for The Walking Dead. His work has appeared on the Academy Awards, Conan O’Brien, Penn & Teller’s Fool Us, Wetten Dass, and multiple television commercials. As Artistic Director of Pilobolus, he brings an unconventional approach to innovative theatrical experiences. A powerhouse of creativity, he leads the 50 plus year old Company, keeping the vintage historic works authentic and relative, while breaking new ground to create transformative experiences to engage, inspire, and leave audiences in awe.

COMPANY BIOS NATHANIEL BUCHSBAUM (DANCE CAPTAIN) Manipulator of Light and Shadow, Harnesser of Momentum, Shepherd of Saccharomyces, Student of the Ephemeral, Walker of the Prime Material plane. He is known amongst the Planeswalkers as Tragic the Blathering and is rumored to be known in the Northeast as simply… “Nate.” When he isn’t wandering the realms, delighting both young and old with his nimble, scantily-clad acts of physical storytelling, he dwells in Connecticut, brewing beer in his garage under the watchful eyes of his feline familiars. Nate was absorbed into Pilobolus in 2012.

CONNOR CHAPARRO (DANCER) was born in Lakeland, Florida. He eventually found himself at the University of Memphis where he graduated with a double concentration in Dance and Dance Science. You can find him cooking his mother’s secret salsa recipe and sharing it with people in his spare time. He loves to explore nature, see people’s smiles, and learn about the crazy world we live in. This is Connor’s first season with Pilobolus and he is SO excited to be performing for you, the audience! He sends you “Mush” love.

QUINCY ELLIS (DANCE CAPTAIN) began training as a gymnast and figure skater in his home state of Maine before earning his B.F.A. Acting degree from Emerson College. He has performed and taught for Theatre Raleigh, The MoveShop, DeFunes Dance, and The Neighborhood Playhouse…among others. Quincy has also danced for a variety of NYC Drag Artists, including Juicy Liu and Miz Cracker. Outside of theater, he’s an avid traveler, evolution enthusiast, and nature lover. Quincy joined Pilobolus in 2017. He does not dye his hair gray…it grows that way. www.quincy-ellis.com quincy.m.ellis MARLON FELIZ (DANCER) has danced with Pilobolus since 2014, touring Shadowland productions around the world, and now presenting repertory and artistic programing wherever possible. Additional credits include a Broadway debut in the new West Side Story, and other musicals, cruise ships, and NYC-based companies. She received her foundational training in ballet and modern dance at New World School of the Arts, and completed her B.F.A in Dance at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. She is originally from Miami, FL.

HANNAH KLINKMAN (DANCER) was born and raised in Dexter, Michigan where she was classically trained at Ballet Chelsea. She studied at Grand Valley State University and completed her training with BalletMet Columbus in 2016. She has since danced and created with Festival Ballet Providence, Dance The Yard, co-founded the Rhode Island Women’s Choreography Project, and toured and created new work with MOMIX. She creates costumes and her own choreography when not on the road. Hannah is a Mindfulness Meditation teacher, Pilates instructor, dance teacher, and houseplant enthusiast. Hannah joined Pilobolus in 2021.

ZACHARY WEISS (DANCER) grew up in Chapel Hill, NC and began his formal dance training at age eight. He has always been a performer whether it be playing the saxophone, singing, acting or dancing. Zack studied contemporary dance at UNC School of the Arts for a year before transferring to Swarthmore College. He graduated in 2020 with a major in Engineering and a minor in Dance.

After working as a Data Engineer in DC for a year, Zack joined Pilobolus in 2021. Outside the studio, Zack can be found riding/fixing bikes, finding high places to climb, and reading science fiction (but not all at the same time).

Unlock the Story Behind the Dance:

Photo by Grant Halverson

Scan this QR code to journey beyond the stage and into the creative minds of Pilobolus. Explore the artists,design elements, and inspirations that come together to shape the unique world of each piece.

Touring: IMG Artists · +1.212.994.3500 · imgartists.com General inquiries: +1.860.868.0538 · info@pilobolus.org Tour Marketing and Publicity: C Major Marketing, Inc.

DISCOVER OUR FLOCK OF HEROES

A Tribute to Those Who Soar with Us!

Our Flock List includes total gifts made between July 14, 2022, and September 14, 2023. Those with total gifts of $100 or more are honored online (linked through the QR code to the right), and those giving $250 or more are listed below. For questions or changes regarding our Flock List, please contact Executive Director, Graham Cole at graham@whitebird.org TITANIUM PATRONS ($10,000+) Anonymous Terry Bean Joan Cirillo & Roger Cooke The J and J Foundation Walter Jaffe & Paul King Ronni S. Lacroute Fund of Oregon Community Foundation James F. and Marion L. Miller Foundation Oregon Arts Commission Regional Arts & Culture Council, including support from the City of Portland, Multnomah County, and the Arts Education & Access Fund Ellen Walkley DIAMOND PATRONS ($5,000+) Janet Roberts & Ed Clark Ken & Ann Edwards Robert & Mercedes Eichholz Foundation George Eighmey & Peter Livingston Maryanne & David Holman Jackson Foundation Lisa & Shawn K. Mangum Morel Ink Angela Roach Jaymi & Francis Sladen Technology and Society, Inc. Herbert A. Templeton Foundation George & Nancy Thorn Edyth Willard GOLD PATRONS ($2,500+) Anonymous Mariana Crawford Carol Streeter and Harold Goldstein Mark Holloway & David Kahl Sandra & Stephen Holmes Christopher Johnson & Rex Bills New England Foundation for the Arts Joanne & Steven Rizzo

Marian & Elihu Schott Family Fund of The Oregon Community Foundation George & Nancy Thorn SN Charitable Foundation in Honor of Tahni Holt and DeeAnn Nelson WESTAF TourWest SILVER PATRONS ($1,000+) Anonymous (2) Sherrie Barr & Philip Lewin Chris & Audry Bond Natalie Butler Leroy Bynum Roberta Davis Justin WB Dune Leslye Epstein & Herman Taylor Marco Escalante and Dongni Li Kim and Greg Flick Marnie Frank Andrea & Fred Valarie Grudier Connie Guist Jamey Hampton & Ashley Roland In Memory of Beth Hyams Leslie S. Homer Charitable Fund of the Community Foundation for SW Washington Nancy Goodwin & Albert Horn Anna King Murray Koodish Peter Kost Robert & Larissa Lodzinski Candace Lounsbury Barb & Randy Lovre Mana Mahaffey Ron and Shirley Pausig Janet L. & Frank Phillips Dean Richardson Marti & John Rosenthal Carol Schnitzer Lewis Fund of The Oregon Community Foundation Sarabelle Hitchner & Tom Snell OnPoint Community Credit Union

BRONZE PATRONS ($500+) Carl Andreen Robert Aughenbaugh Laurie Balmuth Mary and Joseph Bernert Tracy Brophy Denise Carty and Roger Brown Family Fund Jed Cohen & Paul Lance Marvin & Abby Dawson Dennis Deming & Corky Cortright Ann & Ron Emmerson Pat Evenson-Brady Brian Ferriso, Portland Art Museum Barbara Fishleder & John Wolfe Fong Family Fund of Oregon Community Foundation Charles & Kyle Fuchs Lucile Gauger Christine & Bob Gilmore Corrina Hall Karen Henell & Gregg McCarty Heather & Loren Jenkins Dennis Johnson Donor Advised Fund of the Pride Foundation Marge & Stephen Kafoury Jim Kalvelage Mary Kane David Magilke & Butch Williams Ellen F Rosenblum and Richard H Meeker Kathleen & James Meyer Steven Clark Neighorn John Eric Noran Steven Odum & Eileen O’Neill Odum Marthel Porter Judith E Posey & Edward J Doyle Jenice Powell Stephen W. Seifert Kathy Taylor Minh Tran & Gary Nelson Brian Yellin

ANGELS ($250+) Elizabeth Arch Bill & Michele Bader Lynne Barnes, MD Sean Berry Janet Bowersox Kay Bristow Marcia & Richard Bushnell Margery Cohn Amy & Gary Cole Danièle Colonna & Steve Jacobson Barbara & Tom Cooney Amber DiLoreto Annie Dudley Debra Dutkiewicz & Timothy Evans Sara Elgee Stuart Farmer Ivy Gibson & Joe FitzPatrick Evelyn Hamann Thyra Hartshorn Carol Ihlenburg Alan & Sharon Jones Wendy Kahn Paula Kanarek & Ross Kaplan Carol & Jeffrey Kilmer Peter Kokopeli Joanna Langdale Bonnie and Mike Leiser Jennie Leslie & Bradley Taylor Jenni Lipscomb Sarah Logan Edward Maurina III Kelli May VeAnna Morgan & Pam Town Alison Nimura Stan and Susanne Penkin Anonymous The PDX Roes Leslie Rose Janet and Tom Schmitt Anne Senters Donna Shu & Tom Kane Steven Smith Barbara & Dani Steinfeld Christine Tell & Jeff Davis Brian & Nikki Weaver Beth Kaplan Westbrook Rhiannon Wood Rambus Foundation

NEW YORK CITY

CAMILLE A. BROWN & DANCERS Artistic Director, Camille A. Brown

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OCT 12-14

THU-SAT | 7:30PM | NEWMARK THEATRE

White Bird greatly appreciates the support of the following foundations and government arts agencies:

White Bird thanks all of our Community Partners:

THE VOLUNTEERS OF WHITE BIRD

MEREDITH THOMPSON, PT

White Bird’s 2023-24 season is supported in part by the Regional Arts and Culture Council, the Western States Arts Foundation, and the James F. and Marion. L Miller Foundation.

Photos by Christopher Duggan

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