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company, Ted Shawn and His Men Dancers, who would then go on to become the founder and first artistic director of Jacob’ s Pillow. Meeker shared stories that ignited Owen ' s lifelong passion for dance history— stories that most would have overlooked, but which Owen recognized as precious threads of artistic heritage.
Throughout the 1980s, Owen began to reshape the very concept of archival work. While serving as the Pillow’ s director of educational programs, he conceived a groundbreaking project that would become a defining moment in dance preservation. Securing funding from the National Endowment for the Arts, he embarked on a mission to restore silent films of His Men Dancers. Much of the music for the piece was written by Meeker, with newly created soundtracks for these historic works composed as close to the originals as possible, ensuring that the precious performances would resonate with future generations. It was more than preservation— it was a resurrection. " Norton sees what others miss," explains Pamela Tatge, the current executive and
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artistic director of the Pillow. " He understands that archives aren ' t about collecting dust. They ' re about keeping art alive, keeping memories breathing.”
The Norton Owen Legacy
Long before digital engagement became a mainstream concept, Owen was already reimagining how historical materials could be shared and experienced. In 2011, he spearheaded the creation of Jacob ' s Pillow Dance Interactive, an innovative online platform that threw open the doors of the archives. The impact was monumental.
When Tatge traveled to Taiwan in 2023 and presented a slide deck prepared by Owen featuring Taiwanese dance companies that had performed at the Pillow, faculty members were moved to tears, seeing their artistic legacies honored and remembered. " That ' s Norton ' s magic," Tatge says. " He makes everyone feel seen. He validates the artistic journey of every performer who has ever graced our stages." Owen not only preserves history— he bridges generations by creating living
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From top, The Norton Owen Reading Room in Blake ' s Barn at Jacob ' s Pillow; and Owen with American ballet dancer and choreographer Edward Villella. |
CHRISTOPHER DUGGAN( 2) |