Jacob’s Pillow
Curriculum in Motion® Institute

Join Us to Learn the Curriculum in Motion® Method

Curriculum in Motion® is a critically acclaimed method where Artist Educators apply their unique dance-making practices in the design of co-creative workshops and residencies with community partners, inspired by the partner’s themes or issues. Community partners have included K-12 classrooms, health and social service organizations, cultural centers, galleries, historical sites and more. 

10 individuals in the 2021-2022 Jacob's Pillow Curriculum in Motion Institute cohort pose on the Pillow Rock. 4 members are holding up their phones to show members participating remotely.
The 2021-2022 Jacob’s Pillow Curriculum in Motion Institute cohort on the Pillow Rock; by Danica Paulos

In the Institute, you:

  • Train for a Certificate in the Curriculum in Motion® Method
  • Enhance pedagogical skills that use dance-making for transformational experiences for participants, you, and community partners 
  • Explore your artist identity: 
    • Develop a practice of self-renewal through the work we do in community
    • Develop a reflective practice to be in continual engagement with who you are, what you do and why
  • Engage in peer to peer creative investigation through dancing, journaling and dialogue 
  • Build an invested network of peer artists
5 dancers pose in appear in different poses in a dance studio.
The 2021-2022 Jacob’s Pillow Curriculum in Motion Institute cohort in Sommers Studio; photo by Michael Richter.

The Curriculum in Motion® Institute is facilitated by Director and Co-Founder Celeste Miller with Co-Directors Kimberli Boyd and Michael Richter. The Curriculum in Motion® Institute and method embrace dance as an accessible, complex system of physical, mental, emotional, creative, and spiritual processes rooted in body-based intelligence. Dance for Every Body is at the heart of Curriculum in Motion®.

Curriculum in Motion®, founded in 1993 by Celeste Miller and “J.R.” Glover, is an artist-driven methodology that applies the creative practices of our discipline toward building a more just and humane world.

Learn more about the Curriculum in Motion® Institute with the video below:

This 10-month intimately curated experience includes two weekend modules at Jacob’s Pillow, a series of monthly online seminars, and more.

  • Two in-person weekend modules at Jacob’s Pillow. On-campus experiences take place in the natural, cultural and historic Pillow environment as we enter the world of Curriculum in Motion® with interactive dancing, journaling, learning labs and more. 
    • Opening weekend module is Sept 14-17, over the Rosh Hashanah weekend. We invite you to start the New Year with dance-making and nature as we incorporate Rosh Hashanah traditions into our time together. Whether you are Jewish or not, this provides an opportunity to apply Curriculum in Motion® methods with community for mutual fulfillment.
    • Closing weekend module: July 24-29 at the Pillow during the 2024 Festival. In addition to the learning sessions, participants attend festival performances, master classes and more. The final module is also offered in hybrid format. See registration information for additional fees. 
  • Monthly Seminars (Zoom): Institute Directors Celeste, Kimberli and Michael lead monthly seminars with guided discussion and active artistic engagement for participants to envision and develop their applications of the Curriculum in Motion methodology to their life and work. Participants may attend live, or access to recordings of sessions.
    Monthly 11AM-12:30 Noon, Eastern: Oct 15, Nov 12, Dec 17, Jan 21, Feb 18, March 17, Apr 21, May 19, June 16.
  • Monthly “Coffee Klatches” with peers (Zoom): Meet up with your cohort to explore ideas through dance-making, discussing, sharing. (Dates TBA)
  • Individual mentoring with Institute Directors (Zoom). These one-on-one sessions provide individualized mentoring adapted to your needs and questions about Curriculum in Motion®
    (Individually scheduled)
  • Peer-to-peer co-mentoring pods for support and creative exchanges with one another.  (Zoom)
    (Individually scheduled)
  • A 100+ workbook to accompany the Institute
  • Opportunity to present your Curriculum in Motion® design in an Open Forum during the 2024 Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival.

Upon Successful Completion of the Course:

  • Receive a Certificate of Completion
  • Apply to become a Curriculum in Motion® Fellow
  • Apply to become a Curriculum in Motion® Certified Practitioner

Modes of Learning:

Dancing, improvising, choreographing, journaling, art-making, reading, observing, discussing, collaboration, peer to peer co-mentoring, and self-reflection comprise the curated Institute experience. Limited participant enrollment affords the opportunity for an intimate and individualized experience that values the unique voices and perspectives of each participant.

Cohort participants actively design, lead and receive feedback on co-creative dance-making activities using the Curriculum in Motion method with prompts supplied by the Institute Directors.