ABOUT OUR SPACE
Our dance company and a team of collaborators are building a new space for dance and interdisciplinary art in the hilltowns of the Berkshires. We are located on over 40 acres of land in West Chesterfield, MA. Our company and community of friends/family are building studios, an outdoor dance deck, cabins, trails, and are close to finishing the main communal living space. Designed by architect Tris Metcalfe and the previous owners (Paul & Helene Copp), the tiered-tower residency space is perched above the landscape, built with timber from trees on site. We're 20 minutes from Northampton and the Five Colleges, 10 minutes from the Berkshires, 45 minutes from MASS MoCA, 2 hrs from Boston, and 3.5 hrs from NYC and Portland, ME. We are having events, festivals, and volunteer sessions these next couple of years to invite artists to come together to finish building the space with us. See below for details about upcoming events. And email us at info@torilawrence.org if you have any questions, would like to donate, or visit us in-person. If you would like to make a tax-deductible donation, we are fiscally sponsored by Fractured Atlas, a 501(c)(3) public charity. Contributions for the purposes of Tori Lawrence + Co. are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. You can donate online by clicking the link below.
ATLAND IMPROVISATION FESTIVAL 2022
In July 2022, we hosted our first festival in Chesterfield, MA with classes by incredible teachers such as Jennifer Nugent, The Architects, Jungwoong Kim, Sarah Konner, Edward Rice, Chris Aiken & Angie Hauser, and more (see full schedule below). All classes focused on dance improvisation and were accompanied by live music by musicians Michael Chorney, Deborah Felmeth. Ron Rost, and Jake Meginsky. Housing and meals were provided for out of town dancers, with the option to camp, glamp, or stay in the cutest of cabins, and delicious evening meals were enjoyed on the large outdoor deck and were prepared by a guest chef. Local dancers were invited to attend all events and meals, or drop in to individual workshops. In addition to workshops/classes, attendees worked together on building trails, creating a garden, and various building projects to work together to create the emerging Atland Residency space.
We celebrated the festival with a free public dance film screening event, ATLAND CINEDANCE FEST, at the Chesterfield Town Hall in September. The screening featured films by festival artists including Tori Lawrence, Pam Vail & Jeremy Moss, The Architects, Makenna Finch & Eleanor Crawford, and Jake Meginsky, and was made possible with support of the Chesterfield Cultural Council.
Atland Improvisation Festival 2022 Schedule of classes and events:
July 5 - Jennifer Nugent (afternoon class)
July 7 - Edward Rice (morning class), Jen Polins (afternoon class)
July 9 - Katherine Ferrier /Pamela Vail / Kathy Couch (morning and afternoon class) with musician Deborah Felmeth
July 10 - Katherine Ferrier /Pamela Vail / Kathy Couch (morning and afternoon class) with musician Ron Rost
July 11 - Katherine Ferrier /Pamela Vail / Kathy Couch (morning and afternoon class) with musician Ron Rost
July 13/14 - Penny Campbell (afternoon and morning class) with musician Michael Chorney
July 15 - Jungwoong Kim (morning class), Sarah Konner (afternoon jam) with musician Jake Meginsky
July 16 - Chris Aiken & Angie Hauser (morning class) with musician Jake Meginsky
Sept 11 - Atland Screendance Festival at Chesterfield Town Hall
ATLAND IMPROVISATION FESTIVAL 2023
DATES AND REGISTRATION INFO COMING SOON. HERE ARE PHOTOS, BELOW, FROM OUR FESTIVAL LAST SUMMER (2022)!
