Fiona Breslin reports from Becket. The excitement was palpable as guests dressed in the first of summer's cuts and colors (including Carol Zimmerman, Joan Hunter, chair of Jacob's Pillow board of directors, and director emerita Ann Herbst, at left) arrived at Jacob's Pillow for the 80th Anniversary Gala on Saturday June 16th, mingling before taking their seats in the Ted Shawn Theatre. Executive and artistic director Ella Baff expressed gratitude to those who have supported the Pillow throughout the years and presented the Jacob's Pillow Dance Award to dancer/choreographer Kyle Abraham. The evening's honorary co-chairs, Governor Deval Patrick and First Lady Diane Patrick, took the stage to offer praise for the Pillow and its patrons. The curtains rose on students from The School at Jacob's Pillow, executing the world premiere of April - England, by choreographer Michael Corder, which they had learned in just four days. Ballet superstar David Hallberg performed a solo by Nacho Duato, and the crowd gasped as much for his masterful dancing as for the magnificent backdrop when the barn doors opened to reveal the verdant Pillow grounds behind him. Daring duos from Brazil's Mimulus Dance Company and Australia's Circa previewed their opening week performances, and the dancers took their bows as the audience rose for a resounding standing ovation. After a live auction that raised money for scholarships and sponsorships of Inside/Out performances, followed by dinner catered by The Old Inn & Moore, the crowd was back on its feet for the evening's crescendo, a rip-roaring dance party that had patrons and pros alike strutting their stuff with joy and abandon.
Jacob's Pillow's former student and performer Regina Larkin with former Pillow photographer Stephan Driscoll and the Pillow's general manager Connie Chin; The Red Lion Inn's Nancy Fitzpatrick and Lincoln Russell with realtor and Pillow board member Nancy Kalodner.
Patrons Carole Hyatt, Gordon Hyatt, and Marsha Johnson; Hunter Kerr Runnette, a Pillow board member and chairman of the opening night gala, and Mark Vanden Bosch, chair of the Department of Anesthesiology and Medical Director of the Operating Rooms at Berkshire Health Systems.
Berkshire Creative board chair Cathy Deely, Karen Carhart, Christopher Owen, and gala committee member Kathleen Chrisman.
Molly Schulman and Allison Lee; Mary Mott, garden writer Honey Sharp, and artist Cynthia Wick.
Senior grant writer Estelle Woodward Arnal, Christie's auctioneer George McNeely, and director of development Dona Lee Kelly; Nurit Amdur, Rick Amdur, Fred Imberman, and Amie Nissenbaum.
Berkshire Property Agents' Tim Lovett with Lucy Holland and Tracy Foster; gala committee members David Schecker and Vicki Bonnington with Jacob's Pillow's Alison Hart.
Keshia Abraham, dancer Patrick Ferreri, and Jacob’s Pillow Dance Award recipient Kyle Abraham in the Ted Shawn Theatre.
Gala performers take their bows to a standing ovation.
Jacob's Pillow board members Peter Greer and Jessica Harris with Gussie Greer; Massachsuetts First Lady Diane Patrick and Governor Deval Patrick.
Clark museum director Michael Conforti and Licia Conforti; Great Barrington storeowner Robin Ban, jeweler Dai Ban, and Laurily Epstein.
The Dream Away Lodge's Daniel Osman and dance legend Marge Champion; Jim Youngerman, Jane Goodrich, gala committee members Katy Keller and Colter Rule.
Pillow head Ella Baff, Lift Ev’ry Voice festival co-chair Don Quinn Kelley, and Williams College’s Sandra Burton; Claudia Perles with evening ballet superstar David Hallberg.
Circa'sFreyja Edney and Lewis West with fan Neely Holt; Raymond and Young Kwok.
Gallerist Sienna Patti and Leo Quiles; executive director of Boston Ballet Barry Hughson and Pillow board member Sylvia Pope.
The vast tent was filled with celebrants, staff, and dancers.
Patrons Arielle Picheny, Steve Picheny, Pillow board member Helice Picheny, and Alexis Picheny; Lukas Hartvig-Moller and Ashley Mayeux, student dancers at The School at Jacob's Pillow
IS 183 executive director Hope Sullivan and gallerist Leslie Ferrin; dance critic Deborah Jowitt and Murray Ralph.
The School at Jacob's Pillow student dancers Devon Lodge, Katie Bonnell, and Marjorie Feiring; Pillow preservation director Norton Owen and photographer David Dashiell.
Oldies but goodies performed by Larry Siegel Music and Entertainment drew a crowd to the dance floor.
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Matteline deVries-Dilling, founder of Lite Brite Neon, one of the evening's honoree of this year's Upstate Benefit adresses the gala from the Caboose's caboose.
- Karen Pearson. Courtesy Art Omi.
Olana senior vice president and landscape curatorMark Prezorski, president Sean Sawyer, The evenings honoree Kristin Gamble and New York State Assemblymember Didi Barrett.
- Oxygen House Photo
