Van Gogh In Motion
Fountain of Life at the Mertz Lawns
Van Gogh’s paintings are famous for their dynamic movement; his signature bold and sweeping brush strokes often give the impression that the scenes are alive. Inspired by the motion in Van Gogh’s paintings, a series of local dance companies present performances featuring movement and costumes inspired by seminal works.

- Pilobolus
May 23, 24, 30, & 31
A beacon of innovation in the dance world since 1971, Pilobolus pushes the limits of human physicality to reveal the beauty and power of connected bodies. With a fearless and rebellious spirit rooted in its Dartmouth College origins, Pilobolus captivates audiences through a dynamic blend of athleticism, artistry, and imagination. Pilobolus has been featured on CBS This Morning, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, NBC’s TODAY Show, and MTV’s Video Music Awards. Learn more here.
- Pigeonwing Dance
June 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, 21, 27, & 28
Pigeonwing Dance (PWD), founded in 2016 by Guggenheim Fellow Gabrielle Lamb, has been praised by The New Yorker as “eccentric…playful…curious.” Winning residencies at New York City Center, 92Y, and Princeton University’s Lewis Center for the Arts, they have also brought dance to new and unsuspecting audiences at the MIT Museum (The Choreography of CRISPR) and Selected Shorts at Symphony Space, where they were the first dance company commissioned by the beloved storytelling series. In 2020, PWD launched The Carpet Series—popup dances on an 8×10 Persian carpet in public spaces. Now in its sixth edition with over 200 performances across NYC’s five boroughs, the carpet has been unrolled at locations like the New York Botanical Garden, Governors Island, and the Museum of Arts & Design. DANCE Magazine observed, “the geometric patterns of the Persian rug echo and amplify Lamb’s idiosyncratic movement vocabulary, which is both intensely intricate and unusually syncopated.” PWD’s upcoming engagements include Harvard University and Rice University’s Moody Center for the Arts.
Moon on a Starry Night
Roaming Puppet between 7 and 9:30 p.m.
Garden Way
Drifting through the Garden, the Moon on a Starry Night puppet brings to life Van Gogh’s swirling night scenes. With painted gowns and an ornate crown, the puppet invites you to snap a photo and share in the up-close wonder of Mascara Viva’s artistry. Founded by Lucrecia Novoa, Mascara Viva creates large-scale character puppets using masks, costumes, storytelling, and dance to interpret art, traditions, and stories across cultures. Learn more here.
Living Portrait
7 to 9 p.m.
Conservatory Lawn
Amongst a field of sunflowers, step into the frame of a Van Gogh-inspired living portrait.