Special Events and Parties

A photo of Jacob's Pillow Season Opening Gala. Gala attendees sit at round tables in a large tent lit with purple lighting and decorated with greenery.

Season Opening Gala

The event took place on June 22, 2024.

Our Season Opening Gala on June 22 featured performances by guest artists, a cocktail party, auctions, dinner, and dancing under the stars.

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2 ballet dancers in costumes dressed as Romeo and Juliet smile at each other. In the background, other dancers in costume appear mid-motion.

Romeo and Juliet: Beyond Words Film Screening

This event took place on July 5, 2024.

This film screening featured the 2019 film, directed by former dancers and International Emmy Award-winning filmmakers Michael Nunn and William Trevitt, known for their 2008 Pillow appearance as the Ballet Boyz.

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MX Oops, a Black emcee, performs in a party setting, their hair fashioned in neon green braids and whipping around their head in mid-motion. MC raises one arm and grips on to the railing in front of them, looking enthusiastic to be performing.

Pillow Pride Party

This event took place on July 13, 2024.

Our annual LGBTQIA+ celebration returned with a dance party and performances, following the evening performance of the Ballet du Grand Théâtre de Genève in the Ted Shawn Theatre.

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6 dancers appear sitting in chairs with their backs to the camera. They are wearing white, buttoned shirts and sitting with their backs straight and their arms bent in front of their bodies.

The Art of Black Grace 3/5

This event took place on July 10-13, 2024.

Jacob’s Pillow explored the intersection of dance and technology this summer with immersive experiences for the whole family. The world premiere of The Art of Black Grace 3/5 combined dance, music, art, and video recordings that brought small groups of visitors face-to-face with the dancers of Black Grace, one of New Zealand’s leading contemporary dance companies.

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A hip hop dancer wearing a black shirt, black cap, and cargo pants jumps in the air and points to one side. A crowd of people watches on.

All Styles Dance Battle

This event took place on August 2, 2024.

Dancers representing a wide range of styles—including Festival artists, dancers of The School at Jacob’s Pillow, regional street artists, and more—competed in this lively battle.

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Headshots of LaJuné McMillian and Talvin Wilks

Snakehips In Our DNA

This exhibit was open from July 31-August 4, 2024.

Snakehips in our DNA was a free, open-gallery experience where visitors explored the trajectory of dance from the Harlem Renaissance to the present through a stunning video installation of Black movement artists.

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