Pillow Debut
Jacob’s Pillow welcomes Brooklyn-based artist and producer Benjamin Akio Kimitch for his Pillow debut with Tiger Hands. Inspired by his varied training in Chinese dance and intimate encounters with Peking opera, Kimitch crafts a vivid, world-building performance that honors his late mother, a Japanese American folk dancer and taiko drummer.
In Tiger Hands, Peking opera technique becomes a channel for reconnection, transformation, and personal expression. In this cosmic work, Kimitch and his collaborators—including Jeffrey Gan, Pareena Lim, Lai Yi Ohlsen, and Carlos Soto—draw on the experimental energy that birthed this artform, simultaneously preserving and expanding tradition. A 2024 Asian Cultural Council Fellow and 2023 Bessie Award winner, Kimitch has premiered his works at The Shed, The Noguchi Museum, Danspace Project, and more.