Creating in Jazz
Program Director LaTasha Barnes
Music Director Christopher McBride
July 21–27 | At the Pillow
Artist Faculty Lisa La Touche and Natasha Powell | Festival Artists may lead additional classes and talks | Read about the Artist Faculty
For 24 international, multigenerational artists—musicians, dancers, and/or choreographers—dedicated to the practice of one or more Black American social dance forms or their influencing movement and music traditions: i.e. Authentic/Vernacular Jazz, Lindy Hop, Hip Hop, House Dance, Mambo, Salsa, Soft Shoe, Waacking, etc. will be an international, multi-generational group. Everyone must be at least age 16 on arrival day, no exceptions possible.
LaTasha Barnes has crafted an experience for dancers and musicians to evolve their collaborative abilities through the exploration of Jazz tradition and contemporary innovation guided by the practices of study, entertainment and play. Artists will live and work alongside the Festival’s international community, researching in the Jacob’s Pillow Archives, attending talks, performances, and cultivating a supportive network to continue their development beyond the program. This deeply immersive program is designed to nurture each artist’s creative sensibilities and skills along the jazz spectrum and serve as a beacon for their future endeavors.
Studio days will begin with a communal gathering for warmup, intention setting, grounding exercises, and other practices leading to improved movement efficiency and creative flow. Emphasis on form, musicality and the range of partnering traditions steeped in Black American social dances—i.e. artist to space, dancer to musician, dancer to dancer, and musician to musician—will impart the skills and techniques essential to approaching and sustaining artistry during specialized improvisational sessions. Rigorous training in historical movement and music canons, along with the development of bespoke creative tools, will build each artist’s improvisational voice.
Weekly discussions with Artist Faculty and Festival Artists will offer deeper insights into being legacy holders within social, competitive, and performative practices. The week will culminate with an informal Pause in the Process studio showing, shared on Instagram, for Festival audiences.
Participating Artists also:
- Attend Festival performances, scholar-led talks, and other events after the studio day. These take place at the Pillow’s three stage venues and across the Jacob’s Pillow grounds.
- Participate in career-building seminars and discussions led by Artist Faculty, Festival Artists, and Pillow Alumni. Career topics focus on building an artistic practice, choreographic voice development, wellness practices, contract negotiations and decisions, dance citizenship, and strategies to achieve the momentum needed to confidently and resiliently forge one’s own path in the field.
- View Pillow-available-only digital dance works connected to Artist Faculty, Festival Artists, and program curriculum in the Jacob’s Pillow Archives, as well as explore the wealth of material that aligns with personal dance interests.
- Complete program assignments which may include improvisational studies, collaborative movement invention, choreographic ideas, journal writing, and other activities.
- Build a Career Network from the seamless daily interactions at the Festival with peers, staff, Artist Faculty, artistic directors, company members, dance supporters, audiences, community members, and visitors. Dancers depart the program as life-long members of the global Jacob’s Pillow Alumni Network.
The Jacob’s Pillow School Experience is a day-to-evening conservatory style curriculum, designed to instill the stamina, perseverance, entrepreneurial, and collaborative voracity required to live and work as a creative dance artist.
OPEN THE SECTIONS BELOW TO APPLY
2025 Creating in Jazz Application Deadlines & Notifications
Jan 27 at 11:59pm EST | Priority Deadline | $45 processing fee
Feb 24 at 11:59pm EST | Regular Deadline | $50 processing fee
After Feb 24 | Rolling Basis* | $55 processing fee
Acceptd offers financial assistance to applicants who meet Application Fee Waiver requirements. Application Fee Waivers are subject to approval by the Acceptd Support team and are granted based on proper documentation, when provided in advance of an application submission. Contact Acceptd Support when you set up your portal.
*Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis by Program Directors and School staff; with admittance status sent by email on a rolling basis if spaces are available.
Looking for a discount to a Jacob’s Pillow 360 Workshop in 2025?
Submit your application by the priority deadline, and you’ll receive a $5 discount code for a 360 workshop in your area! It’s your chance to connect with Jacob’s Pillow Artist Faculty and Alumni in a city near you.
- Clicking BEGIN YOUR APPLICATION takes you to Acceptd, our application portal where you will upload materials described below.
- Review the Application Guidelines located there in order to submit a complete and competitive application.
- Before submitting, review your work carefully, as only complete applications are considered for acceptance. Scholarship applications, if applicable, must be submitted with your program application. For more information, see below.
- If you need any assistance, contact school@jacobspillow.org.
Required Program Application Materials to Upload
1. Audition Video
Footage must be of clear viewing quality and preferably shot within three months, or as recent as possible, prior to submission. Media-enhanced, highly edited, or promotional type videos are not reviewed. Adjudicators prefer one concise video with a table of contents; multiple videos will be viewed if contents are properly identified. Use one of the following file types to successfully upload your video(s): MP4, M4V, AVI, FLV, MOV, WMV, MPG, MPEG, M2V, MKV, and WEBM.
- Verbal self-introduction, 2 minutes maximum
- Your name and current affiliation
- Why this program is important to you
- What you see contributing to the program
- What you are showing on your reel
- Social Dance/Improvisation Clips, 3 minutes maximum
- Shot in a social setting
- 2 samples preferred
- Competition or Performance Clips, 3 minutes maximum
- Showcase your execution of choreography, solo or ensemble. If you are in a group, clearly denote which dancer is you for the reviewers.
- 2 samples preferred
- Improvisation Clip, 3 minutes maximum
- Shoot a video, specifically for this program application, demonstrating your current movement skills, abilities, and style preferences.
2. Written Statement, in 500 words or less, please share:
- Influences on your current dance work and artistic goals
- Finish this statement: “This summer, in thinking about what I know how to do and what I would appreciate exploring in my life as a dance artist, I’d like to…”
- Finish this statement: “My career aspirations include…”
- How you envision this program impacting your vision of yourself as an artist
3. Résumé/C.V.
4. Headshot
5. If 17 or younger, a Letter of Recommendation is required
- You will be asked to list the name, title, phone, and email of a dance teacher or artist who has agreed to write a Letter of Recommendation. On receipt of an email, they should be prepared to address the following:
- Technical and performance artistry
- Stamina to participate in rigorous, professional level classes, rehearsals, performances before the public, and evening responsibilities
- Ability to interact and live responsibly as a professional in a diverse artist community
- Read Program Fees & Scholarships for program costs and all scholarship opportunities.
- The Scholarship Application is found within the Program Application.
- If you are a dependent, all financial information provided must be for your parent/guardian(s).
- U.S. and international dancers are eligible for scholarship awards.
- If you need any assistance, contact school@jacobspillow.org.
- Read Participation Requirements & Policies for important eligibility details.
Scholarships
The School at Jacob’s Pillow Scholarships are open to any dancer needing assistance with program tuition fees. Program Applications are reviewed need-blind and Scholarship Applications are reviewed only when acceptance determinations are finalized. A Scholarship Application is located within the Program Application and must be submitted with the Program Application.
Program Director Spotlight
Check out Program Director LaTasha Barnes in the 2021 performance of The Jazz Continuum on the Henry J. Leir Stage!
2025 Programs | At the Pillow
Contemporary Ballet
Contemporary
Creating in Jazz
Tap Dance
Choreography Fellowship
2025 Artist Faculty
The School Experience
Alumni of The School
School Sponsorships
Perles Family Studio
2025 Workshops & Intensives | Around the Country
Jacob’s Pillow 360
CONTACT US
If you have questions or need additional information, we are happy to help. Please email us at school@jacobspillow.org.
Explore our online Archive resource, Dance Interactive, to experience an invaluable tool able to support your growth as an artist.