FREE: The Complete Jacob’s Pillow Schedule of Inside/Out Performances [Berkshire on Stage]

For ticketed performances, see our season schedule story.

Presenting both emerging and esteemed dance artists from across the U.S., the Inside/Out Performance Series at Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival in Becket will return to the outdoor Henry J. Leir Stage this summer, beginning today (June 24). An essential part of the Pillow’s mission and a beloved tradition, Inside/Out performances are free and open to the public, featuring family-friendly and diverse dance styles ranging from classical ballet and hip-hop to tap and circus arts.

Serving a record-breaking 22,500+ audience members of all ages in 2014, the series is a part of more than 350 free programs including performances, talks, tours, exhibits, films, classes and community events offered throughout the festival.

Schedule of Free Performances 2015

Free Inside/Out Performance: Kùlú Mèlé Dance & Drum Ensemble
Today (Wednesday, June 24), 6:15pm
Infusing African dance with urban American flair, Philadelphia-based Kùlú Mèlé boasts a rich repertoire of authentic, folkloric dance from Guinea, Nigeria, Senegal, and Cuba. Founded in 1969 by Baba Robert Crowder and led by Artistic Director Dorothy Wilkie, the company’s high-energy performances get adults and children up on their feet and dancing in the aisles, distinguishing itself with beautiful costumes, a thrilling percussion battery and dynamic choreography. FREE

Free Inside/Out Performance: Summation Dance Company
Thursday (June 25), 6:15pm
Brooklyn-based and all-female, Summation Dance Company finds beauty in struggle and humor in the mundane. Led by NYU Tisch School of the Arts graduates Sumi Clements and Taryn Vander Hoop, the modern dance company is “full of energy and creativity” (Roslyn Sulcas, The New York Times), performing highly physical work since its formation in 2010. Summation presents an excerpt from “Shift” (2013) which explores the notion of planes of existence, and “Updating Route, Please Standby” (2014), a reflection on the relationship between expectation and reality. FREE

Click to read the rest at Berkshire on Stage.