By Oriana Valentina Buchszer Sanchez – Contributor

The birds are chirping, the sun shines through my bedroom window, and I feel a light summer breeze on my face. My loud alarm clock wakes me up; it’s 7 a.m. I usually take 30 minutes before I finally get up and start my day. I do my morning routine and then go to the Stone Dining Hall, where breakfast awaits me. That’s how a typical Wednesday starts. Yet again, what is a typical day at Jacob’s Pillow?

Wednesdays are no joke at the Jacob Pillow, a dance centre in Becket, Massachusetts, known for its summer dance festival. Wednesdays mark the opening of a new week, where a new crowd of people arrives on campus. Everyone is frantic and excited about a new beginning but tired from the previous week.

My job starts when the dance company arrives around 10 a.m. At that point in the day, their name tags and an organized hospitality table with snacks are ready for them. I give them a little campus tour, explaining that Jacob’s Pillow was founded in 1931. On this tour, I also pinpoint the essential places the dancers must recognize for their stay. 

By 11 a.m., we have a meeting with the company representatives to review all the details of and schedule planned for the week. Straight after this meeting, it is already time for lunch. I only have 45 minutes to eat since we have the director’s welcome, where the artistic director of the dance festival, Pamela Tatge, introduces every department and artist to everyone. It is a beautiful moment where everyone stands in a giant circle and feels connected to one another. At that point, I must ensure that my company takes the iconic picture on Jacob’s Pillow Rock. 

It’s 1:30 p.m., and the moment I get to slow down arrives. I stay in front of my computer for the next few hours since the company has a dress rehearsal/photocall until 5 p.m. During my office time, I need to start advancing for the next dance company arriving the following week, ordering the printed picture of the Pillow Rock, and making sure all the calendars are up to date. At the same time, I need to watch for any requests the company may have during their rehearsal. 

By 6:30 p.m., it is time to grab my dinner and enjoy the performance outside on the Leir Stage. It’s my favourite moment of the day because I get to enjoy the beautiful combination of nature and dance. After the Leir stage show, I head toward Bakalar studio, where the company is warming up for their night show. I make sure they have everything they need, and then it’s 8 p.m. I go to the Ted Shawn Theater entrance, where I can get a bell ticket to enter the indoor show.

As I write these lines, I am experiencing my last Wednesday at the Pillow. It is a bittersweet feeling because I am returning home to family and friends with many stories. However, I am leaving behind a magical place where I felt artistically challenged like never before.