Jacob's Pillow Dance

Jacob's Pillow, the home of America's longest-running dance festival, celebrates its 76th anniversary in 2008.

The only dance institution to be named a National Historic Landmark, it encompasses—beyond the world-class performances by leading companies — a professional school, rare and extensive archives open to the public free of charge, an Intern program, year-round Community Programs, and a Creative Development Residency program. The historic site includes 163 acres, 31 buildings, three unique stages (including the first theater in the U.S. built specifically for dance), three dance studios, exhibition spaces, restaurants, the Pillow Store, residential housing, administrative offices, a health center, gardens, trails, and woodlands.

The Pillow presents dance from all over the world in all forms, styles, and traditions, plus approximately 200 free events each season, including performances, lectures, tours, film showings, exhibits, and talks with artists, which result in around 83,000 visitor experiences each summer.

Located in the town of Becket in the Berkshire hills of western Massachusetts, Jacob's Pillow was originally the Carter family farm in the 1700s, and in the 1800s served as a station on the Underground Railroad. Its pioneering spirit was furthered in 1933, when legendary dancer, teacher, and choreographer Ted Shawn founded the Festival as a showcase for his company of Men Dancers and as a home for dance in the U.S.