Pilobolus Artistic Director, Matt Kent spent a week in residence at Chapman University working with the Dance majors. In this extended residency, Matt taught students the Pilobolus creative process of improvisation and collaborative choreography, our signature partnering techniques and advised students on their Senior dance performance pieces.
In addition, the company performed at the Musco Theater and our dancers participated in student and faculty luncheons and talkbacks.
Below see some feedback from students who participated.
“I remember watching videos of Pilobolus on YouTube during our Intro to Dance Studies course first semester and thinking that they were a phenomenal group. However, seeing Pilobolus live in the Musco theatre was truly otherworldly. Within 5 works, Pilobolus was able to convey multiple stories and prompt various emotions from the audience including laughter, awe, fear, and a journey back towards childhood. The community within Pilobolus’ company and love towards their craft was evident during the master classes we had, as well as the conversations we had after the show. This is showcased not only in the trust they have in one another sharing weight and executing nearly impossible lifts, but with the collective laughter during their conversations. Pilobolus has a very humane and personable nature about their company. I have so many takeaways from Pilobolus’ residency, but if I were to select one it would be one of the quotes Matt described in our class. He recalled Leonardo da Vinci’s quote, “art lives from constraint and dies from freedom.” This sentiment stuck with me, as it is opposite of my typical mindset. Moving forward I am going to attempt to use what inhibits us as dancers as avenues of possibility while searching for creative solutions.”
“My takeaways from concert and classes are truly eye-opening. I overall feel more light in a sense, which I believe is from the heavy experimentation with free movement. Creating with my fellow peers in such a new environment helped create a closer bond amongst us all, and I even saw that bond within the dancers on stage. This furthers my appreciation for dancer, for which dance creates such a beautiful and emotional connection throughout so many. I am forever grateful for Pilobolus!”