Community Workshops

Community members of all ages are invited to explore the varied works of visiting artists through movement and conversation.

Workshops are held in Pittsfield and are free to attend. All ages and experience levels are welcome.

Jacob’s Pillow is committed to creating accessible spaces and experiences. Please contact community@jacobspillow.org with accessibility questions or accommodation requests.

Schedule of 2024 Festival Community Workshops

Seniors Get Down with David Dorfman and Lisa Race
This event took place on August 4, 2024.
Common Room, Zion Lutheran Church, 74 First Street

Movement of our precious bodies – in any way, shape, or form – is all important. In this workshop tailored to our senior population, we’ll explore line dancing, disco, and improvisation. Seniors with any level of dance experience (or none!) can find joy and discovery in this workshop. In our unpredictable world, filled with daily obstacles of all kinds, how do we navigate toward positive change, resilience, and empathic behavior? Our answer is to dance through life with each other safely and with magical risk appropriate for the occasion. We need to move in new directions—discover paths we have only dreamt of. Click here to learn more about David Dorfman and Lisa Race.

Afro Latin Jazz and Soul Experience with Sekou McMiller
This event took place on July 24, 2024.

Sekou’s Afro Latin Jazz and Soul Experience took a rhythmical journey through African American, Afro Latino, and other African cultures looking at similarities, intersections, and fusions. This class explored the fundamental elements and movement principles of social dance and Embodied Africanist Aesthetics. We engaged with Caribbean dance and music cultures including Samba, Mambo, and Cha Cha while blending jazz and modern dance traditions. Click here to learn more about Sekou McMiller.

Every Body Move – Community Residency in Pittsfield with Camille A. Brown & Dancers
This residency took place on June 28 – June 30, 2024
Common Room, Zion Lutheran Church, 74 First Street

Jacob’s Pillow welcomed Camille A. Brown’s community engagement initiative, Every Body Move (EBM), to Pittsfield for a multi-day community residency. In partnership with Rites of Passage and Empowerment (R.O.P.E.) and Railroad Street Youth Project (RSYP), this series of movement workshops led by dance artists Ethel Calhoun and Maxine Montilus engaged participants in the rich history of the cultural significance of African Diasporic Dance. Workshops were intergenerational, inviting participants of all ages to join in celebration and learning through dance.

Support for Every Body Move is generously provided by Gail and Gilbert Ahye.

Black Girl Spectrum Workshops (BGS)
This workshop took place on June 28, 2024
Common Room, Zion Lutheran Church, 74 First Street

Born from Camille A. Brown’s choreographic masterpiece, Black Girl Linguistic Play, BGS is a unique program that aims to empower women and girls of all ages to develop pride, joy, collaboration, and confidence through the art of African American social dance. The workshop provided participants with a safe and supportive space where they explored and expressed their creativity and cultural heritage, and also empowered participants with a deeper understanding and appreciation of the importance of African American social dance in their lives. This intergenerational workshop invited participants of all ages to join in celebration and learning through dance.

BGS workshops aim to nurture Black, Brown, and girls of color brilliance through social dance workshops that spur creativity and self-expression, promote health, well-being and body positivity, and nurture pride.

West African Dance Workshop
This workshop took place on June 29, 2024
Common Room, Zion Lutheran Church, 74 First Street

Led by artist Ethel Calhoun, this workshop explored the rich and rhythmic world of West African dance! This dynamic workshop invited participants to experience the powerful movements and deep cultural roots of West African traditions. This intergenerational workshop invited participants of all ages to join in celebration and learning through dance.

Every Body Move & Groove Dance Party
This workshop took place on June 29, 2024
Common Room, Zion Lutheran Church, 74 First Street

Participants grooved to dances from Lindy Hop to the Electric Slide, from the Kid-n-Play to the Running Man, and more! Workshop participants got their groove on and immersed themselves in the vibrant world of social dance. This intergenerational workshop invited participants of all ages to join in celebration and learning through dance.

Haitian Folkloric Dance Workshop
This workshop took place on June 30, 2024
Common Room, Zion Lutheran Church, 74 First Street

Led by artist Maxine Montilus, participants experienced the rhythm and passion of Haiti’s rich dance heritage, where each movement tells a story deeply rooted in cultural traditions. This workshop invited participants to explore, celebrate, and master the dynamic expressions of Haitian folklore. This intergenerational workshop invited participants of all ages to join in celebration and learning through dance.

Soca Dance Workshop
This workshop took place on June 30, 2024
Common Room, Zion Lutheran Church, 74 First Street

Led by Ethel Calhoun, participants unleashed their energy and immersed themselves in the vibrant rhythms of the Caribbean with our Soca Dance Class. This high-energy class was perfect for anyone looking to dive into the exhilarating world of Soca, a dance form celebrated for its spirited beats and joyful movements. This intergenerational workshop invited participants of all ages to join in celebration and learning through dance