Online Course: Dance History 101
Instructor: Wendy Perron, with guest speakers
Curious about the history and context behind the dance artists and performances you love?
This six-week online course is designed for curious audience members, dance lovers, and anyone who wants to deepen their understanding of dance history in the United States. Drawing on the rich, diverse resources of the Jacob's Pillow Archives, participants will explore key moments in dance, from modern and contemporary to postmodern, ballet, tap, jazz, and dances of identity.
Through guided discussions, shared viewings, and optional readings, participants will look at who artists are through their choreography. The course will center various artistic and choreographic voices, featuring artists such as Alvin Ailey, Bill T. Jones, Eiko Otake, George Balanchine, Joanna Haigood, José Limón, Kinetic Light, Loie Fuller, Martha Graham, Merce Cunningham, Savion Glover, Ted Shawn and Ruth St. Denis, and Trisha Brown.
Show Information
Time
6-7:30pm ET
Cost
$300 per participant for 6 sessions
Who this course is for:
- Dance enthusiasts who are curious about the historical, political, cultural, and social contexts of dance in the United States
- Audience members who want to understand where different styles, movements, and aesthetics originate
- Instructors and students of dance studies, dance history, and dance appreciation who wish to incorporate archival material and historical context into their courses/studies
- Lifelong learners and supporters of dance interested in exploring the work and processes of influential choreographers
- Dance lovers who have not yet been able to visit Jacob’s Pillow in person, but want a guided way to explore and engage with our digital content
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About the Instructor
- Alumn
Wendy Perron
Instructor
Weekly Modules
Featured artists: Ruth St. Denis, Ted Shawn, Loie Fuller, Martha Graham, and more
Guest speaker: Wendy Whelan
Featured artists: Vaslav Nijinsky, George Balanchine, Dance Theatre of Harlem, William Forsythe, and more
Featured artists: Martha Graham, José Limón, Merce Cunningham, Alvin Ailey, Steve Paxton, Twyla Tharp, Paul Taylor, and more
Featured artists: Ronald K. Brown, Katherine Dunham, Savion Glover, Michelle Dorrance, Rennie Harris Puremovement, and more
Guest speaker: Joanna Haigood
Featured artists: Eiko Otake, Joanna Haigood, Kinetic Light, STREB, David Parsons, and more
Guest speaker: Kyle Abraham
Featured artists: Pearl Primus, Tom Two Arrows, Talley Beatty, Urban Bush Women, Bill T. Jones / Arnie Zane Company, Kyle Abraham, and more
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Frequently Asked Questions
The course is held online via Zoom and meets weekly on Tuesday evenings from 6:00–7:30pm. Each course consists of six sessions.
All registered participants will receive a Zoom link by email. The same Zoom link will be used each week. You will also receive reminder emails with the link the day before and the day of each session.
No prior dance training or formal education is required. These courses are designed for curious audience members and dance enthusiasts of all backgrounds.
Live participation is encouraged, as the courses include discussion, but it is not required. Recordings of each Zoom session will be shared with registered participants after each class.
Course materials will be shared after registration closes on March 1 via a password-protected webpage. You will have access to all course content through August 31, 2026. After that date, access will no longer be available.
No. Registration is for the full six-session course, and individual classes are not available for purchase.
Optional video viewings and readings may be suggested to enrich the discussion, but there is no required homework.
You will need a reliable internet connection and a device capable of running Zoom. A webcam and microphone are recommended but not required.
Please email [email protected] with any questions about registration or the course.
Learn with The School at Jacob’s Pillow
From online courses to in-person programs at Jacob’s Pillow and around the country, explore opportunities to deepen your dance knowledge and experience.
Header image: Carmen de Lavallade and Alvin Ailey in Lester Horton’s Dedication to José Clemente Orozco at Jacob’s Pillow, 1961. Photo by John Lindquist © Harvard Theatre Collection.