The School at Jacob’s Pillow

Auditions are coming up for the school at Jacob’s Pillow, home to America’s oldest dance festival.

Inside/Out Stage at Jacob's Pillow; Photo by John and Keturah

• Here is a flyer (pdf file) for the rapidly approaching Miami audition for the Contemporary and Hip-Hop program.
• Other scheduled auditions are listed here.
• Find out more about the school and its programs here.

This program for professional advancement is for advanced students. You must be 15 (on arrival day) for the ballet program, 16 for contemporary, cultural, jazz/musical theatre, and 24 for the Choreographer’s Lab. Scholarships are available.

I’ve personally visited Jacob’s Pillow many times and the school program performances are always stellar. This is an amazing program. The facilities and surroundings (the Berkshire mountains in western Massachusetts) are beautiful. You will be immersed in and surrounded by great dance throughout your summer stay.

Visit the Pillow

Quincy Market, Boston

For dancers, the historical significance of this site alone is worth a trip or visit, so even if you aren’t planning to attend the school, consider making this a destination for you or your family. Jacob’s Pillow is very near the quaint and culture-ridden towns of Stockbridge, Lenox (Tanglewood, the Boston Symphony’s summer home is here), and Lee, Massachusetts. There is plenty of shopping, museums, theaters, and historical sites in the area. Not to mention, the state of Massachusetts is not large. The drive from Boston on the eastern coast to the Berkshire hills is perhaps 2-3 hours without stopping. However, there is much to see and do in between. Last summer my family visited Boston, Revere Beach, Lexington, Walden Pond in Concord, Davis’ Farmland in Sterling, North Adams, Pittsfield, the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, Jacob’s Pillow and more, all in a surprisingly leisurely 8-day trip… driving… with an 11-month old! No kidding!

Originally posted December 19, 2008

Nichelle Strzepek is the writer/editor of Dance Advantage. Equipped with little more than passion for movement education, she embraced her inner computer nerd and began this blog in 2008. She holds a BA in dance and is an instructor with over 16 years experience. Nichelle continues to perform as a contemporary dance artist, covers dance in the Houston area as a freelance writer and critic, and balances daily life as a full-time mom.

Nichelle has written 300 articles for Dance Advantage.