Then and Now: Pride at the Pillow

Etched in the history of Jacob’s Pillow are the queer workings of Ted Shawn and His Men Dancers. Founded in 1933, Shawn created a community built on openness and acceptance, offering freedoms that, at the time, queer people could not safely experience in most places. As both a physical and artistic home, the Pillow became a rare space where dancers could explore identity, companionship, and creativity with a degree of safety that was uncommon in early twentieth century America, explains Brian Schaefer in the PillowVoices podcast episode “The ‘Secret’ Gay History of Jacob’s Pillow.”

Then: An "Early Gay Utopia"

PillowPicks_TedShawnMenDancers_DanceOfTheAges_photoShapiroStudios_BasicPara — Ted Shawn's Men Dancers; Shapiro Studios photo

In the podcast, Schaefer, a dance writer and Pillow Scholar-in-Residence, explores how gay history is intertwined with the Pillow’s very beginnings. Schaefer describes the campus as “a kind of early gay utopia,” reflecting on how the Pillow fostered “an open, non-judgmental community” during a time when queer identity was often forced into secrecy. While male dancers were frequently ridiculed in broader society, the Pillow offered a sense of refuge where artistry, physical labor, and companionship existed side by side.

The Men Dancers lived, trained, and built the campus together, forming what Schaefer calls “a controlled environment where the ingredients of art, labor and male love—both platonic and romantic—were intentionally mixed and allowed to grow and thrive.” Though Ted Shawn maintained strict expectations around masculinity and public image, the Pillow still provided many dancers with a sense of protection, belonging, and self-expression rarely found elsewhere at the time (Schaefer). Today, this history remains an essential part of understanding Jacob’s Pillow and the generations of LGBTQ+ artists who helped shape our legacy.

Now: A Campus Alive with Color

20250712_PrideParty_pCherylynnTsushima_0307 — 2025 Pillow Pride Party; Cherylynn Tsushima photo

Today, the Festival is a vibrant dance campus where queer artistry, history, and community continue to thrive (Schaefer). The Pillow continues to be a space that elevates queer voices, from week-long engagements by boundary-pushing artists and performances to special events such as Pillow Pride Weekend, which brings the campus alive with color.

IMG Block (600x300) (Presentation) (2) — BAAD! Bronx Academy of Arts and Dance; courtesy of the artists.

As part of Pillow Pride weekend, BAAD! Bronx Academy of Arts and Dance will present three artists, each sharing 15 minutes of dance work. Founded by former Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company member Arthur Avilés and longtime community activist Charles Rice-González, BAAD! supports and presents innovative contemporary performance works that uplift women, people of color, and LGBTQ+ communities.

20250713_PrideTour_pChristopherDuggan_0010 (2) — 2025 Pillow Pride History Tour; Christopher Duggan photo

During Pillow Pride Weekend, Pillow Historian and Founding Director of Preservation Norton Owen leads a celebratory tour of the Pillow’s queer past. From discussing legendary artists to spilling plenty of tea, this tour will let participants in on another side of Pillow history.

Pillow Pride Weekend invites audiences to experience the joy of dance, community, and queer celebration across the Jacob’s Pillow campus. From performances and social dancing to shared meals and conversations, the weekend brings people together in a space rooted in creativity, connection, and belonging. Grounded in the Pillow’s long queer history while celebrating the artists and audiences shaping its future, Pillow Pride Weekend honors the power of gathering, moving, and celebrating together.

This Pillow Pick was written by Justin Tran and Lucy Kudlinski and published on June 5, 2026.