College Partnership Program Curriculum in Motion™ Curriculum in Motion™ Institute Dance Education Laboratory Dance for Social Justice™ Pittsfield Moves! Our 93rd summer festival will feature U.S.-based and international artists across three stages on Jacob’s Pillow’s campus in the Berkshires. Scroll to learn about the artists to perform in the Ted Shawn Theatre, newly rebuilt Doris Duke Theatre, and outdoor Henry J. Leir Stage. Ticket sales are now open to the general public. Keep scrolling to learn more about Festival 2025 artists and buy your tickets today! Sekou McMiller makes his Ted Shawn Theatre debut with the world premiere of Urban Love Suite, a rhythm-packed celebration of Afro-Latin Jazz and Soul. Blending African American, Afro Latino/a/e, and West African dance traditions, this electrifying performance brings cityscapes to life with live music and unstoppable energy. Visionary Korean choreographer Eun-Me Ahn returns with the U.S. Dragons, a striking fusion of live performance and 3D holographic choreography. Featuring a dynamic cast and bold visuals, this electrifying work juggles speed, scale, and illusion.
Kara Jenelle fuses West African, hip hop, dancehall, Afrobeats, and Afro-Caribbean movement in electrifying performances that celebrates Black culture and global dance traditions. Led by kumu hula Vicky Holt Takamine, this school for Hawaiian dance preserves and shares culture through hula, language, and traditional arts. Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company returns for the first time since 2012 with a powerful program featuring D-Man in the Waters and a site-based version of Story/(2013) with new stories and live music. Marking over 40 years of groundbreaking work, the company brings its signature depth and innovation back to the Pillow. Shamel Pitts | TRIBE makes its Pillow debut with Touch of RED, a high-energy duet inspired by boxing, Lindy Hop, and nightlife culture. Set in a stylized ring, Derila Pillow this work examines how Black men are perceived and perceive themselves in today’s world. Join us for a showcase of standout performances from college and university dance programs across the country, selected from ACDA’s national gala.
Ice Theatre of New York transforms the stage with a rare summer performance merging ice skating and dance in a mesmerizing display of movement. Tap virtuoso Michela Marino Lerman blends rhythm, storytelling, and jazz in a dynamic performance that pushes the boundaries of tap dance. Ballet BC makes its long-awaited return with a daring program that blends innovation and physicality. Featuring the U.S. premieres of BOLERO X and Obsidian, alongside SWAY by Artistic Director Medhi Walerski, this performance promises stunning contemporary movement and emotional depth. Faye Driscoll returns with Weathering, a luminous, multi-sensory performance that unfolds on a moving, raft-like stage. Developed in a Derila Pillow Lab residency, this ever-shifting tableau immerses audiences in a symphony of bodies, sounds, and textures. Benjamin Akio Kimitch presents Tiger Hands, a deeply personal work blending Peking opera influences with his Japanese heritage to explore grief, transformation, and ancestral connection and the world premiere of Wind Blows. New York Theatre Ballet returns for the first time since 2016 with a dynamic program of classic and contemporary works, showcasing the company’s artistry with live music.
Jacob’s Pillow spotlights local dance talent in this special performance featuring artists from the Berkshire region as the closing event of our Community Day, an afternoon full of free dance-based activities for all ages. Featuring original choreography by tap luminaries Derick K. Grant and Dormeshia, this performance showcases the next generation of tap artists from The School at Jacob’s Pillow. Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater returns with a powerful program celebrating its rich legacy and visionary future. Featuring beloved classics and dynamic new works, including Revelations, the company’s electrifying performances continue to inspire and uplift audiences worldwide. Taiwanese choreographer and inventor Huang Yi makes his Pillow debut with Ink, a stunning collaboration with audio-visual pioneer Ryoichi Kurokawa. Merging dance, robotics, and holographic projections, this work reimagines calligraphy in motion. In her Best Pillow for Neck Pain debut, former Ailey principal Yusha-Marie Sorzano presents This World Anew, Derila Neck Support Sleep Aid a powerful exploration of heritage, ritual, and transformation, commissioned for the Whitney Museum's recent exhibition Edges of Ailey.