Every Jacob’s Pillow pre-show performance announcement concludes with the phrase “our history continues with this performance.” On May 26, the history of the Jacob’s Pillow 2026 intern class was just beginning. Twenty interns from across the country sat around a table behind the Stone Dining Hall in Becket, Massachusetts, the summer ahead holding new experiences and relationships none of them saw coming. Over the next three months, the interns spent nearly every day together working, living, and dancing, despite all meeting at very different points in their lives. Relationships grew, memories were made, and quickly, everyone began to feel the Pillow was becoming home.

To Keep Dancing

(From left) Shea Hancock leads a ballet barre for other interns Eden Arzu, Z Johnson, and Jenna Eckenrod on the Henry J. Leir Stage after their first full day of orientation on May 27, 2026 in Becket, M.A.

(From left) Shea Hancock leads a ballet barre for other interns Eden Arzu, Z Johnson, and Jenna Eckenrod on the Henry J. Leir Stage after their first full day of orientation on May 27, 2026 in Becket, M.A.

(From right) Z Johnson, Shea Hancock, and Eden Arzu do contact improv while other interns look at the Blue Moon and the stars outside of Overlook A staff housing on May 30, 2026.

(From right) Z Johnson, Shea Hancock, and Eden Arzu do contact improv while other interns look at the Blue Moon and the stars outside of Overlook A staff housing on May 30, 2026.

Interns cheer each other on while watching their structured improvisational pieces during “Interns Make A Dance,” a class taught by Dawn Lane on June 6, 2026.

Interns cheer each other on while watching their structured improvisational pieces during “Interns Make A Dance,” a class taught by Dawn Lane on June 6, 2026.

Interns follow the tradition of signing the wooden beam underneath the Henry J. Leir Stage following The PillowCase on Aug. 10, 2026.

Interns follow the tradition of signing the wooden beam underneath the Henry J. Leir Stage following The PillowCase on Aug. 10, 2026.

Jess Brown cuts Delaney Gondo’s hair outside of Overlook C staff housing on July 13, 2026.

Jess Brown cuts Delaney Gondo’s hair outside of Overlook C staff housing on July 13, 2026.

(From left) Shaye Hazen, Tamarah Minami, Elizabeth Buchheister, Gianna Dobrich, and Jenna Eckenrod all jump and skip for Video Documentation Intern Delaney Gondo’s dance music video on June. 9, 2026.

(From left) Shaye Hazen, Tamarah Minami, Elizabeth Buchheister, Gianna Dobrich, and Jenna Eckenrod all jump and skip for Video Documentation Intern Delaney Gondo’s dance music video on June. 9, 2026.

(Clockwise from bottom left) Shea Hancock, Aaryn Coleman, Gianna Dobrich, Victoria Isabel Piccolo, and Z Johnson lie on the ground during filming for Video Documentation Intern Nastia Yavorski’s dance music video on June 8, 2026.

(Clockwise from bottom left) Shea Hancock, Aaryn Coleman, Gianna Dobrich, Victoria Isabel Piccolo, and Z Johnson lie on the ground during filming for Video Documentation Intern Nastia Yavorski’s dance music video on June 8, 2026.

(From left) Aaryn Coleman and Eden Arzu perform karaoke together during Post at The Pub on July 30, 2026.

(From left) Aaryn Coleman and Eden Arzu perform karaoke together during Post at The Pub on July 30, 2026.

Jess Brown (left) and Shaye Hazen (right) laugh and dance together during the 2026 Season Opening Gala on June 20, 2026.

Jess Brown (left) and Shaye Hazen (right) laugh and dance together during the 2026 Season Opening Gala on June 20, 2026.

Jenna Eckenrod choreographs the end of “Grace Period,” her piece for The PillowCase: The 2026 Intern Showcase on July 31, 2026.

Jenna Eckenrod choreographs the end of “Grace Period,” her piece for The PillowCase: The 2026 Intern Showcase on July 31, 2026.

Interns do their pre-show ritual on the Henry J. Leir Stage before presenting and performing in The PillowCase on Aug. 10, 2026.

Interns do their pre-show ritual on the Henry J. Leir Stage before presenting and performing in The PillowCase on Aug. 10, 2026.

(From left) Jess Brown and Gianna Dobrich receive homemade paper flowers from Jenna Eckenrod as a “thank you” for being involved in “Grace Period” backstage before The PillowCase on Aug. 10, 2026.

(From left) Jess Brown and Gianna Dobrich receive homemade paper flowers from Jenna Eckenrod as a “thank you” for being involved in “Grace Period” backstage before The PillowCase on Aug. 10, 2026.

Interns gather to make s’mores and celebrate Jenna Eckenrod’s birthday by lighting two pillar candles that they found on Aug. 10, 2026

Interns gather to make s’mores and celebrate Jenna Eckenrod’s birthday by lighting two pillar candles that they found on Aug. 10, 2026

Tamarah Minami (tattoo) hugs Shaye Hazen before she leaves to return to college at the end of her internship on Aug. 28, 2026.

Tamarah Minami (tattoo) hugs Shaye Hazen before she leaves to return to college at the end of her internship on Aug. 28, 2026.

Interns wave and say goodbye to Shaye Hazen as she finishes her internship and goes back to college on Aug. 28, 2026.

Interns wave and say goodbye to Shaye Hazen as she finishes her internship and goes back to college on Aug. 28, 2026.