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The Journey from Cannon’s Creek“I kind of still have to laugh at this idea of a kid from Cannon’s Creek and a bunch of his mates … kind of getting together and arriving in Boston, Massachusetts, for one of the oldest dance festivals around and having all these wealthy, arty types come in and watch us. I mean, it’s… it’s… I don’t know, it’s really surreal.”
At the time of filming this documentary, Black Grace was a close ensemble company that not only worked together, but who had also lived and toured together for several years. Originally recruited from Neil’s own friends, the company was comprised almost entirely of Maori and Pacific Islander men. Many of the dancers came with no formal dance training; their previous dance experience was hip-hop. They were playful, lively, funny, musical; fond of food and Neil was their leader. In 2004 Ella Baff, Executive Director of Jacob’s Pillow invited the company to the festival. Black Grace was the first New Zealand dance company to receive such an invitation. Located in the town of Becket, in the Berkshire Hills of Western Massachusetts, the Pillow was originally a family farm in the 18th century, and in the 19th century was a station on the Underground Railroad for slaves escaping to the North. Its dynamic history grew in 1933, when dancer, teacher, and choreographer Ted Shawn founded the Pillow first as a retreat and then as a showcase for his company of male dancers. Internationally recognized as a mecca for dance artists, the festival has provided pivotal exposure for such dance luminaries as Paul Taylor and Mark Morris. The invitation to perform at Jacob’s Pillow catapulted Neil Ieremia as a choreographer and Black Grace into the highly competitive American market and the international stage. The invitation came on the eve of Black Grace’s tenth birthday and fulfilled the last of their goals: “To present New Zealand contemporary dance on an international stage.”
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Black Grace Links |
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Black Grace: From Cannon’s Creek to Jacob’s Pillow was coproduced by Seannachie Productions and Tawera Productions. Presented by Pacific Islanders in Communications. © 2007 Pacific Islanders in Communications. All Rights Reserved. Published May 7, 2007 |
