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