It was in 1971 that three Dartmouth students — Moses Pendleton, Jonathan Wolken and Steve Johnson — in a dance composition class taught by Alison Chase created their first dance titled "Pilobolus." Since then they have gone on to build one of the most mesmerizing ensembles, with over 120 works under their belt and performances everywhere from Broadway, to the Oscars and the Olympic games. Now, fifty years later, Pilobolus is still going strong, making new collaborative movement pieces with stories that forward diverse people, ideas and ways of moving.  

And what better way to celebrate fifty adventurous years of dance than to come back to where it all started? The iconic company is revisiting its Dartmouth roots for a program including four vintage favorites from their stunning repertoire: the 1972 comedic classic Walklyndon which initiated the company's journey to an American institution; Femme Noir, a solo exploring the image of a fading starlet, the hilariously physical Solo from the Empty Suitor; and their signature mindbending Alraune. All performances will be taking place in the pandemic-friendly BEMA outdoor amphitheatre with its verdant backdrop.

A brief conversation with the artist follows each performance.

Photo courtesy of the artists

This event was made possible by the generous support of the Class of 1961 Legacy: The American Tradition in Performance Fund, the Amy and Henry Nachman Jr 1951 Fund for Visiting Performing Artists in Dance, Barbara J. and Richard W. Couch Jr. '64 E'65, and Claire Foerster and Daniel S. Bernstein 1987