Transforming Dancers into
Artists
“Jacob’s Pillow changed my life.” - ALUMNUS ROBERT SWINSTON, MERCE CUNNINGHAM DANCE COMPANY
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jacobspillow.org 413.243.9919 Cover photo: Alexis Convento, Contemporary; photo Eduardo Patino
The School at
Jacob’s Pillow
“
There comes a time in every dancer’s life when they have to push themselves further than they think possible. Jacob’s Pillow is the ideal place to experience the joy, pain, troubles, and pure passion that pursuing a career in dance takes.”
Karama Butler, Contemporary: photo Stefanie Motta
— I-FEN LIN, CONTEMPORARY PROGRAM
“
There comes a time in every dancer’s life when they have to push themselves further than they think possible. Jacob’s Pillow is the ideal place to experience the joy, pain, troubles, and pure passion that pursuing a career in dance takes.”
Karama Butler, Contemporary: photo Stefanie Motta
— I-FEN LIN, CONTEMPORARY PROGRAM
Transforming Dancers into
Professional Artists “ What we do at The School is bring in exceptional dancers and send them out as young artists. Our job is not to tell them that they are good, but to help them become great.” — Milton Myers, Contemporary Program Director
Dancers memorize steps and perform them brilliantly, but artists immerse themselves in the vision and purpose of the art form. A dancer takes class dance. A dancer trains for today and tomorrow, while an artist strives to powerfully communicate through the art form. Becoming a great artist requires not only years of practice, but experiences that nurture artistry. From its inception, Jacob’s Pillow’s dedication to art and education has fostered transformational experiences for young dancers.
curriculum tailored to prepare students to work as professional dancers. Stamina, perseverance, risk-taking, and creative collaboration are challenged daily in technique and repertory classes.
The School’s programs in Ballet, Choreography, Contemporary, Cultural Traditions, and Jazz/Musical Theatre Dance provide an incomparable
Invaluable education in injury prevention, auditioning, and career options further prepares students for the rigors of a demanding professional life.
Personal and artistic growth is a hallmark of The School at Jacob’s Pillow. Generous individual coaching and mentoring is possible, as the student body in each program is limited to twenty-five dancers. In dance training, the experience of performing for the public is essential to honing artistry. At the Pillow, students perform on the Inside/Out stage, at the Season Opening Gala, and at A Jazz
Happening alongside world-class stars. Unique to The School is the fact that programs occur in the midst of the renowned Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival where students are immersed in a rich world of performances by the most significant international artists of our day; rare treasures from the Pillow Archives, talks by dance scholars, and daily interaction with inspiring Festival artists.
Sarah deVries and Alban Lendorf, Ballet; photo Ben Rudick
daily to improve technique, but an artist lives, breathes, and dreams
Transforming Dancers into
Professional Artists “ What we do at The School is bring in exceptional dancers and send them out as young artists. Our job is not to tell them that they are good, but to help them become great.” — Milton Myers, Contemporary Program Director
Dancers memorize steps and perform them brilliantly, but artists immerse themselves in the vision and purpose of the art form. A dancer takes class dance. A dancer trains for today and tomorrow, while an artist strives to powerfully communicate through the art form. Becoming a great artist requires not only years of practice, but experiences that nurture artistry. From its inception, Jacob’s Pillow’s dedication to art and education has fostered transformational experiences for young dancers.
curriculum tailored to prepare students to work as professional dancers. Stamina, perseverance, risk-taking, and creative collaboration are challenged daily in technique and repertory classes.
The School’s programs in Ballet, Choreography, Contemporary, Cultural Traditions, and Jazz/Musical Theatre Dance provide an incomparable
Invaluable education in injury prevention, auditioning, and career options further prepares students for the rigors of a demanding professional life.
Personal and artistic growth is a hallmark of The School at Jacob’s Pillow. Generous individual coaching and mentoring is possible, as the student body in each program is limited to twenty-five dancers. In dance training, the experience of performing for the public is essential to honing artistry. At the Pillow, students perform on the Inside/Out stage, at the Season Opening Gala, and at A Jazz
Happening alongside world-class stars. Unique to The School is the fact that programs occur in the midst of the renowned Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival where students are immersed in a rich world of performances by the most significant international artists of our day; rare treasures from the Pillow Archives, talks by dance scholars, and daily interaction with inspiring Festival artists.
Sarah deVries and Alban Lendorf, Ballet; photo Ben Rudick
daily to improve technique, but an artist lives, breathes, and dreams
Dancers on the Cusp “I have become a better artist and a better person because of the level of work we have been challenged to achieve.” —Stephanie Card, Jazz/Musical Theatre Dance Program
Auditioning and arriving with dreams and hopes of their next artistic opportunity, no more than twenty-five dancers at a time are selected to attend The School at Jacob’s Pillow. Thousands of candidates audition annually in cities around the world and by DVD. Those chosen are already highly trained dancers; some are apprentices in world-class companies who come seeking additional professional advancement or have already earned significant awards and honors nationally and internationally, and some are just discovering the possibilities that exist for a career in dance. When eyes and minds are opened to different ways of life, experience and perspective deepen. In and outside of the studios, cultural exchange is part of the learning experience at Jacob’s Pillow. Here, an 18-year-old from Colorado makes life-long connections with dancers from Argentina, Japan, and Russia. Almost half the students hail from other countries.
Students have gone on to perform with major dance companies worldwide, form their own companies, appear in Broadway productions, and choreograph for television and film. Among our distinguished alumni are Meredith Monk, Nikolaj Hübbe, Mia Michaels, Robert Swinston, and “So You Think You Can Dance” winner Joshua Allen.
Hannah Sides, Jazz/Musical Theatre Dance; photo Christopher Duggan
Dancers on the Cusp “I have become a better artist and a better person because of the level of work we have been challenged to achieve.” —Stephanie Card, Jazz/Musical Theatre Dance Program
Auditioning and arriving with dreams and hopes of their next artistic opportunity, no more than twenty-five dancers at a time are selected to attend The School at Jacob’s Pillow. Thousands of candidates audition annually in cities around the world and by DVD. Those chosen are already highly trained dancers; some are apprentices in world-class companies who come seeking additional professional advancement or have already earned significant awards and honors nationally and internationally, and some are just discovering the possibilities that exist for a career in dance. When eyes and minds are opened to different ways of life, experience and perspective deepen. In and outside of the studios, cultural exchange is part of the learning experience at Jacob’s Pillow. Here, an 18-year-old from Colorado makes life-long connections with dancers from Argentina, Japan, and Russia. Almost half the students hail from other countries.
Students have gone on to perform with major dance companies worldwide, form their own companies, appear in Broadway productions, and choreograph for television and film. Among our distinguished alumni are Meredith Monk, Nikolaj Hübbe, Mia Michaels, Robert Swinston, and “So You Think You Can Dance” winner Joshua Allen.
Hannah Sides, Jazz/Musical Theatre Dance; photo Christopher Duggan
“
There is no other place like the Pillow. To have an entire campus devoted to dance— classes, performances, books, videos, paintings, photographs, and more—revitalizes the dancer’s soul and connects it to the roots and future of dance.”
— Sabrina Jaafar, Contemporary Program
Guest Artist Richard Gonzalez and students, Cultural Traditions; photo Stefanie Motta
“
There is no other place like the Pillow. To have an entire campus devoted to dance— classes, performances, books, videos, paintings, photographs, and more—revitalizes the dancer’s soul and connects it to the roots and future of dance.”
— Sabrina Jaafar, Contemporary Program
Guest Artist Richard Gonzalez and students, Cultural Traditions; photo Stefanie Motta
Legendary Faculty In The School at Jacob’s Pillow, morning class might be taught by a world renowned artist students have only glimpsed in The New York Times. During afternoon rehearsal, they work with an acclaimed artistic director from Australia for whom they dream of auditioning. That evening, they see a world premiere from Denmark, and the next morning, they take a master class from the choreographer who created it. A Jazz/Musical Theatre Dance student might take a class from experts in Cambodian dance to feel, in their muscles and bones, the relationship between their craft and an ancient dance tradition from another part of the world. Every day, all day, students at The School are surrounded by and working directly with icons of the dance world.
The opportunity for young dancers to work closely with artists of this caliber is of inestimable value, as these artists typically only work with professional dancers and are not available to dancers in training centers. Guest faculty comprise a veritable Who’s Who of dance, including Mark Morris, Mercedes Ellington, Tim Rushton, Rennie Harris, Nina Ananiashvili, Tero Saarinen, and Jock Soto, among many others.
“I would never have guessed that a few weeks could make such an impact on me as an artist. I am leaving here with so much valuable information that I will keep with me throughout my career.” — Ballet Program student
distinguished program directors include: anna - marie holmes (Ballet), an internationally acclaimed and award winning dance luminary whose stagings of the Russian classics are in the repertoires of leading ballet companies worldwide.
(Jazz/Musical Theatre Dance), a performer on Broadway since the age of 16 and creator of the Tony Award-winning musical Fosse, who works internationally as a director, choreographer, and artistic director of WALKERDANCE.
chet walker
(Contemporary), a revered master teacher who serves as Choreographer in Residence for Philadanco and is on the faculties of The Ailey School and The Julliard School.
milton myers
Tim Rushton, Artistic Director of Danish Dance Theatre, and Scott Bartell, Contemporary; photo Ben Rudick
Legendary Faculty In The School at Jacob’s Pillow, morning class might be taught by a world renowned artist students have only glimpsed in The New York Times. During afternoon rehearsal, they work with an acclaimed artistic director from Australia for whom they dream of auditioning. That evening, they see a world premiere from Denmark, and the next morning, they take a master class from the choreographer who created it. A Jazz/Musical Theatre Dance student might take a class from experts in Cambodian dance to feel, in their muscles and bones, the relationship between their craft and an ancient dance tradition from another part of the world. Every day, all day, students at The School are surrounded by and working directly with icons of the dance world.
The opportunity for young dancers to work closely with artists of this caliber is of inestimable value, as these artists typically only work with professional dancers and are not available to dancers in training centers. Guest faculty comprise a veritable Who’s Who of dance, including Mark Morris, Mercedes Ellington, Tim Rushton, Rennie Harris, Nina Ananiashvili, Tero Saarinen, and Jock Soto, among many others.
“I would never have guessed that a few weeks could make such an impact on me as an artist. I am leaving here with so much valuable information that I will keep with me throughout my career.” — Ballet Program student
distinguished program directors include: anna - marie holmes (Ballet), an internationally acclaimed and award winning dance luminary whose stagings of the Russian classics are in the repertoires of leading ballet companies worldwide.
(Jazz/Musical Theatre Dance), a performer on Broadway since the age of 16 and creator of the Tony Award-winning musical Fosse, who works internationally as a director, choreographer, and artistic director of WALKERDANCE.
chet walker
(Contemporary), a revered master teacher who serves as Choreographer in Residence for Philadanco and is on the faculties of The Ailey School and The Julliard School.
milton myers
Tim Rushton, Artistic Director of Danish Dance Theatre, and Scott Bartell, Contemporary; photo Ben Rudick
Make a Difference Most of the extraordinary dancers of The School at Jacob’s Pillow could not attend without financial assistance. Acceptance is based on talent and
“My husband and I have derived tremendous satisfaction from providing sponsorship support to students at The School at Jacob’s Pillow. To witness the transformation of talented young dancers into real artists in a matter of weeks is magical and awe-inspiring.”
aptitude, and we believe no dancer should be turned away because they lack the means to pay tuition, room, and board. You can make a difference and help change the life of a promising young dancer by becoming a Pillow Student Sponsor. Full sponsorships of $5,000 cover the cost of tuition, room, board, and admittance to all Festival events for one student; partial sponsorships of $1,000 or more are also needed. You will be invited to observe dancers’ defining moments in School auditions, meet your student at an intimate luncheon, observe them in class, and see them perform on stage. Sponsors are rejuvenated by the the energy and aspirations of these young dancers, and the satisfaction of following a
I-Fen Lin, Contemporary; photo Christopher Duggan
Alexis Convento, Elaine Wolbrom, and Maleek Washington, Contemporary; photo Ben Rudick
— Elaine Wolbrom, Pillow Student Sponsor
dance career after they leave the Pillow. You’ll know that you made a difference at a crucial moment in their development as a dance artist. The Pillow’s ability to offer financial aid to the most talented and deserving students is central to the continued strength and vitality of The School. The School at Jacob’s Pillow is one of the most prestigious and sought-after professional advancement centers in the world. Please help create the next generation of dance artists by sponsoring a talented student.
Make a Difference Most of the extraordinary dancers of The School at Jacob’s Pillow could not attend without financial assistance. Acceptance is based on talent and
“My husband and I have derived tremendous satisfaction from providing sponsorship support to students at The School at Jacob’s Pillow. To witness the transformation of talented young dancers into real artists in a matter of weeks is magical and awe-inspiring.”
aptitude, and we believe no dancer should be turned away because they lack the means to pay tuition, room, and board. You can make a difference and help change the life of a promising young dancer by becoming a Pillow Student Sponsor. Full sponsorships of $5,000 cover the cost of tuition, room, board, and admittance to all Festival events for one student; partial sponsorships of $1,000 or more are also needed. You will be invited to observe dancers’ defining moments in School auditions, meet your student at an intimate luncheon, observe them in class, and see them perform on stage. Sponsors are rejuvenated by the the energy and aspirations of these young dancers, and the satisfaction of following a
I-Fen Lin, Contemporary; photo Christopher Duggan
Alexis Convento, Elaine Wolbrom, and Maleek Washington, Contemporary; photo Ben Rudick
— Elaine Wolbrom, Pillow Student Sponsor
dance career after they leave the Pillow. You’ll know that you made a difference at a crucial moment in their development as a dance artist. The Pillow’s ability to offer financial aid to the most talented and deserving students is central to the continued strength and vitality of The School. The School at Jacob’s Pillow is one of the most prestigious and sought-after professional advancement centers in the world. Please help create the next generation of dance artists by sponsoring a talented student.
“
Everything at Jacob’s Pillow has been beyond my expectations. The faculty has become a family for all the participants; our teachers, a real source of knowledge; and the guest companies, an inspiration to further our careers.”
Jazz/Musical Theatre Dance; photo Karli Cadel
— Konstantinos PaPamatthaiaKis, ContemPorary Program
For a closer look at The School at Jacob’s Pillow please click here to view a 10 minute video. For inquiries on how to become a Pillow Student Sponsor today, call or email: Dona Lee Kelly, Director of Development 413.243.9919 x120 dlkelly@jacobspillow.org
“
Everything at Jacob’s Pillow has been beyond my expectations. The faculty has become a family for all the participants; our teachers, a real source of knowledge; and the guest companies, an inspiration to further our careers.”
Jazz/Musical Theatre Dance; photo Karli Cadel
— Konstantinos PaPamatthaiaKis, ContemPorary Program
For a closer look at The School at Jacob’s Pillow please click here to view a 10 minute video. For inquiries on how to become a Pillow Student Sponsor today, call or email: Dona Lee Kelly, Director of Development 413.243.9919 x120 dlkelly@jacobspillow.org
For a closer look at The School at Jacob’s Pillow
please click here to view a 10 minute video
Transforming Dancers into
For inquiries on how to become a
Artists
Pillow Student Sponsor
call or email: Dona Lee Kelly, Director of Development 413.243.9919 x120 dlkelly@jacobspillow.org
“Jacob’s Pillow changed my life.” - ALUMNUS ROBERT SWINSTON, MERCE CUNNINGHAM DANCE COMPANY
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JACOB’S PILLOW D A N C E
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413.243.9919
Cover photo: Alexis Convento, Contemporary; photo Eduardo Patino
The School at
Jacob’s Pillow