Jacob's Pillow

Jacob's Pillow is the oldest and one of the most respected dance festivals in the United States, and it unfolds on a pastoral hillside in Becket, a short drive from Lee and Lenox. Ted Shawn founded the farm-based company in the early 1930s and the festival grew out of his troupe. Today the site is a National Historic Landmark and a working school, and each summer brings a stream of dance companies from around the world, performing ballet, contemporary work, flamenco, tap and a wide range of styles in two theatres and an outdoor stage.Many visitors come for the program but stay for the atmosphere. The grounds are open for strolling, with barn-like studios where you can watch rehearsals, a lawn for picnics, a bookstore and a cafe. Free events such as the Inside/Out outdoor performances take place on a small stage under the trees, so you can enjoy dance without buying a seat. The mix of free and ticketed events, plus talks and exhibits, makes it welcoming for newcomers to dance.

The festival runs through the summer, usually from late June until late August or early September. Performances are held in the Ted Shawn Theatre and the Doris Duke Theatre, with different companies each week. Check the calendar, choose a program that matches your taste, and buy tickets early for the most popular companies.

Pre-show talks and informal Q and A sessions give context even if you know little about dance.Arrive early to enjoy the grounds. The Pillow's lawn is a good place for a picnic before an evening show, and you can wander the paths and look at the exhibits on dance history.

The Inside/Out stage typically hosts free performances in the late afternoon and early evening, and visitors often find them the most memorable part of a day. Bring a blanket and a light jacket, because the hills cool off at night.Parking is free on site and the hillside paths are manageable, though some are gravel. The theatres offer accessible seating and assisted listening, and staff can arrange assistance with advance notice. Children are welcome at most performances, and the free outdoor shows are the easiest way to introduce young ones.

Photography during shows is restricted. Make a day of it by combining Jacob's Pillow with a late lunch in Lee or Lenox and a stop at Tanglewood or Shakespeare and Company on adjoining evenings. Many travelers plan a Berkshires summer weekend around one performance at each of the three festivals.

If you can only choose one, Jacob's Pillow is the most informal, the best value and the easiest to enjoy with a mixed-age group, while Tanglewood offers the grander scale. Book lodging early because summer weekends fill up.If you are choosing performances, read the descriptions and look for the styles that appeal.

The festival presents classical ballet, modern dance, flamenco, hip hop, tap and world traditions, often in the same week, and the pre-show talks make unfamiliar forms easy to follow. The Pillow also runs a school, so you may see students rehearsing. Many repeat visitors build a day around a matinee, a picnic, a free outdoor show and a late-afternoon performance, which lets them see several styles without feeling rushed. Wear comfortable clothes and shoes, because the grounds involve walking on grass and gravel.