In the late 1790’s New England settlers noticed a zigzag road resembling rungs of a ladder between Boston, Massachusetts and Albany, New York which they named “Jacob’s Ladder.” Along the zigzag road were many farms with scattered boulders, on The Carter Family farm their boulder was curiously shaped. Being so close to “Jacob’s Ladder” the Carter’s turned to the Book of Genesis, “which tells of Jacob laying his head upon a rock and dreaming of a ladder to heaven” establishing the farm property to be known as “Jacob’s Pillow.”
Jacob’s Pillow was first known in the mid 1800’s as a stop on the Underground Railroad where slaves escaped to Canada. In 1930, Ted Shawn, a modern dance pioneer purchased the farm from the Carter family, known as “Jacob’s Pillow.” Ted Shawn was married to Ruth St. Denis, both founders of the Denishawn Company, a revolutionary dance form rooted in theatrical and ethnic traditions. Many legendary modern dancers such as Martha Graham, Charles Weidman, and Doris Humphrey were members of the Denishawn Company. In the fall of 1931, Ted Shawn and Ruth St. Denis parted ways personally and professionally ending the future for Denishawn Company. Two years later in 1933, Shawn recruited eight males to form his new dance company. When the company was not dancing, they were building many of the structures still used today atJacob’s Pillow.
Jacob’s Pillow was first known in the mid 1800’s as a stop on the Underground Railroad where slaves escaped to Canada. In 1930, Ted Shawn, a modern dance pioneer purchased the farm from the Carter family, known as “Jacob’s Pillow.” Ted Shawn was married to Ruth St. Denis, both founders of the Denishawn Company, a revolutionary dance form rooted in theatrical and ethnic traditions. Many legendary modern dancers such as Martha Graham, Charles Weidman, and Doris Humphrey were members of the Denishawn Company. In the fall of 1931, Ted Shawn and Ruth St. Denis parted ways personally and professionally ending the future for Denishawn Company. Two years later in 1933, Shawn recruited eight males to form his new dance company. When the company was not dancing, they were building many of the structures still used today atJacob’s Pillow.
That same year, in July 1933, Shawn and his Men Dancers began to give the public “Tea Lecture Demonstrations” to promote their work and to eat! The first show was performed on the deck in front of the Bakalar Studio to 45 curious audience members. Through-out the summer the crowed began to grow and expanded to the point that by the end of the summer people were turned away. This became the roots that established Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival.
Over the next seven years, Shawn and his Men Dancers toured throughout the United States, Canada, Cuba and England, performing more than 1,250 times in 750 cities, but still continued to have their summer “Tea Lecture Demonstrations.” In 1940, Ted Shawn believed that society was accepting the dance as an honorable profession for men, and The Men Dancers of the company joined the armed forces. During this time, Shawn was in debt and proposed selling Jacob’s Pillow, but ended up leasing the property to dance teacher Mary Washington Ball who produced the Berkshire Hills Dance Festival which became a financial disaster. The following year, Shawn leased the Pillow again, but this time to British Ballet stars Alicia Markova and Anton Dolin, Markova and Dolin produced their International Dance Festival, it was so successful that local supporters formed the Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival Committee raising $50,000 to buy the property and build a theatre. The committee made Ted Shawn the director and decided that audiences should see a variety of dance including ballet, modern, mime, ballroom, folk and classical dance of many cultures.
The Ted Shawn Theatre opened its doors on July 9, 1942 making it the first theatre in the United States designed specifically for dance. Both architect Joseph Franz and Shawn agreed that the theatres exterior should resemble with the existing farmhouse and barns. Ted Shawn spent every summer at Jacob’s Pillow until his death in 1971 at the age of 81. John Christian, Shawn’s successor served one year due to illness, and dance critic Walter Terry served one year but caused a huge deficit. As the committee seeked to find a new director, Charles Reinhart helped out while also directing the American Dance Festival. In 1975 Norman Walker was appointed, he revamped and upgraded the Pillow’s educational and presentational standards. In 1980 Liz Thompson took on the role, welcoming new artists and audiences. Thompson created the “Inside/Out” presentations and constructed the now known Doris Duke Theatre. Samuel A. Miller followed Thompson’s footsteps and took over in 1990. Miller helped with renovations for the Ted Shawn Theatre and the creation of Blake’s Barn.
Sali Ann Kriegsman led the Pillow during a difficult time of $4.8 million in debt, but with the help of celebratory projects for the 65th anniversary was able to end up on top. In 1997, the Board launched a nationwide search and selected current director Ella Baff to lead Jacob’s Pillow. In 2000, The Pillow was included on the Dance Heritage Coalition’s list of America’s Irreplaceable Dance Treasures, and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In 2003, the federal government named Jacob’s Pillow a National Historic Landmark, also known as the country’s first and only Landmark dance institution. In 2007, the Pillow was formally dedicated as a site on the Upper Housatonic Valley African American Heritage Trail, and in 2011 President Barack Obama honored the Pillow with the National Medal of Arts. Last year Jacob’s Pillow celebrated their 80th Anniversary Festival, and this year the Pillow is presenting both the Ted Shawn Theatre and Doris Duke Theatre with renovations including new theater seats. As the history and culture continues to grow here at Jacob’s Pillow I am honored to be a part of something so historical and share with others the passion for dance.
Over the next seven years, Shawn and his Men Dancers toured throughout the United States, Canada, Cuba and England, performing more than 1,250 times in 750 cities, but still continued to have their summer “Tea Lecture Demonstrations.” In 1940, Ted Shawn believed that society was accepting the dance as an honorable profession for men, and The Men Dancers of the company joined the armed forces. During this time, Shawn was in debt and proposed selling Jacob’s Pillow, but ended up leasing the property to dance teacher Mary Washington Ball who produced the Berkshire Hills Dance Festival which became a financial disaster. The following year, Shawn leased the Pillow again, but this time to British Ballet stars Alicia Markova and Anton Dolin, Markova and Dolin produced their International Dance Festival, it was so successful that local supporters formed the Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival Committee raising $50,000 to buy the property and build a theatre. The committee made Ted Shawn the director and decided that audiences should see a variety of dance including ballet, modern, mime, ballroom, folk and classical dance of many cultures.
The Ted Shawn Theatre opened its doors on July 9, 1942 making it the first theatre in the United States designed specifically for dance. Both architect Joseph Franz and Shawn agreed that the theatres exterior should resemble with the existing farmhouse and barns. Ted Shawn spent every summer at Jacob’s Pillow until his death in 1971 at the age of 81. John Christian, Shawn’s successor served one year due to illness, and dance critic Walter Terry served one year but caused a huge deficit. As the committee seeked to find a new director, Charles Reinhart helped out while also directing the American Dance Festival. In 1975 Norman Walker was appointed, he revamped and upgraded the Pillow’s educational and presentational standards. In 1980 Liz Thompson took on the role, welcoming new artists and audiences. Thompson created the “Inside/Out” presentations and constructed the now known Doris Duke Theatre. Samuel A. Miller followed Thompson’s footsteps and took over in 1990. Miller helped with renovations for the Ted Shawn Theatre and the creation of Blake’s Barn.
Sali Ann Kriegsman led the Pillow during a difficult time of $4.8 million in debt, but with the help of celebratory projects for the 65th anniversary was able to end up on top. In 1997, the Board launched a nationwide search and selected current director Ella Baff to lead Jacob’s Pillow. In 2000, The Pillow was included on the Dance Heritage Coalition’s list of America’s Irreplaceable Dance Treasures, and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In 2003, the federal government named Jacob’s Pillow a National Historic Landmark, also known as the country’s first and only Landmark dance institution. In 2007, the Pillow was formally dedicated as a site on the Upper Housatonic Valley African American Heritage Trail, and in 2011 President Barack Obama honored the Pillow with the National Medal of Arts. Last year Jacob’s Pillow celebrated their 80th Anniversary Festival, and this year the Pillow is presenting both the Ted Shawn Theatre and Doris Duke Theatre with renovations including new theater seats. As the history and culture continues to grow here at Jacob’s Pillow I am honored to be a part of something so historical and share with others the passion for dance.