International Dance Festival

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With limber bare feet, a dancer keeps a rhythm to the beat of a drum. Behind him, trees on the open ridge line catch the sun. Cicadas hum under the white pines.

Dancers, companies and choreographers come from around the world to the top of a mountain in Becket, where an old farm has become the campus of an international festival.

The pioneering Modern dance choreographer Ted Shawn founded Jacob’s Pillow here more than 80 years ago, as a home for his company of Men Dancers. He wanted a place close to the dance community in New York and sheltered enough for new work to grow.

His balance still holds here today. The summer festival brings more than 40,000 people in June, July and August to see performers on indoor and outdoor stages, and artists in residence develop new work here year-round.

Where to Find it

phone: (413) 243-0745
website: https://www.jacobspillow.org/
Pilobolus dance company created and performed a new work at Jacob's Pillow International Dance Festival in summer 2017.
Pilobolus / Photo by Pei Check Productions

Virtual Pillow

In spring 2020, as theaters and performance spaces adapt to a physically distancing world, Jacob’s Pillow has launched a new series of online programming. Virtual Pillow is live on their website now with new programming, Pillow Talks and a deep archive of dance on film.

Through the summer, the Pillow will create conversations with the dance companies and artists they had invited to their festival 2020, before the coronavirus compelled them to postpone it. They will hold live virtual events to share dance they love.