Save the Date for our Annual Spring Celebration!

We’re pleased to announce our annual Spring Celebration will take place on May 25 & 26 at the Daniel Arts Center at Simon’s Rock.

The Spring Celebration will showcase the work of our Youth Performing Arts Program students, as well as alumni and teachers. 100% of the proceeds from these performances will benefit our Tuition Assistance program.  

More information on the performance and ticket sales coming soon!


Want to be a part of the Spring Celebration? Consider becoming a sponsor! Sponsorships help fund our Tuition Assistance Program, which make educational and empowering arts experiences accessible to all.


Congratulations Bettina!

Bettina has been chosen by the Southern Berkshire Chamber of Commerce for the Women in Leadership Change Maker Award!

The recipients were selected from more than 90 nominations by a non-Board sub-committee, in conjunction with the SBCC Board Programs Committee and then submitted to the Southern Berkshire Chamber of Commerce board of directors.

Congratulations Bettina, and all the wonderful leaders in our community who were nominated and awarded this year!

New Opportunities Await at Pulse This March!

Group of students sitting in a semi circle while being read a story

March is almost here, and we are excited to share updates about our Tuition Assistance program!

We are so proud to announce our new partnership with the Wonderfund! The Wonderfund is a nonprofit serving foster children and families engaged with the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families. Families can present their Wonderfund Access Card in-person at Pulse’s Front Desk and fill out a short form to receive an 100% discount on Performing Arts Program Enrollments, Community Classes, and Pulse Summer programs!


New Family Class Passes! These special family passes can be shared by anyone age 13+ living in one household!


Three children sitting at a table doing arts and crafts

Dance Making/Art Making

with Sara Kiesel

This 6-week workshop is designed for students who love to dance and do ART. We will explore how art and dance intersect by dancing and “drawing dance” with different mediums – from simple crayon sketches to more involved projects using paper, collage, and shadow play. Students will sharpen their visual skills, learn to let go of how something is “supposed ” to look, and gain confidence in diving into art while exploring basic elements of dance.

Ages 6-9

 📆Saturdays March 9th – April 13th

 🕘9:00am – 10:00am

All art making materials will be provided!



Residences at Berkshire Pulse

We are so excited to announce our newest residency taking place right now in our studios! Sayer Mansfield and Sydney McManus will be starting their initial research and creation for a contemporary dance theater work. This will be their second creation together, their first work “Jane & Fiona” was created in residence at Berkshire Pulse summer 2022 and has since been performed at The Foundry and Jacobs Pillow.

Want to learn more about residencies at Berkshire Pulse? Artists-in-residence at Pulse have the opportunity to join our community and use the studios on an exchange basis. Pending studio availability and application approval, artists can receive studio time at a discounted rate (or free of charge) in exchange for teaching classes, conducting workshops, presenting in-studio performances or Q&A, or other types of studio work. Artists can also request additional dancers or other Pulse resources, as available. We welcome projects in any stage and wish to support artists who are working towards a performance and artists who have an emphasis on process and experimentation. We always look forward to having new work created and shared in our space!

Spend your Summer Dancing!

Berkshire Pulse is excited to have summer dance intensives for ages 4 to 18 running June through August, alongside community classes for dancers of all ages!

Our offerings range in style and genre, from contemporary and choreography, to musical theater, hip hop, and more. Scroll to see all our intensives or check out our website.

Pre-registration is open! Save your spot and start your dream summer today!


Summer Intensives


🔎Dance Discovery (Ages 8-13)

📅 Monday to Friday, June 24 – 28

🕘 9am – 3pm; 9am – 12pm (half day)

This intensive has a half-day option for dancers ages 8-9.

An exciting journey into the engaging and rewarding world of dance, this one-week program provides an introduction to dance forms including ballet, modern, African, and more. Dancers will also have a chance to practice dance-making of their own!


🎶Berkshire Pulse Intensive (Ages 11+)

📅 Monday to Friday, July 8 – 20

🕘 9am – 4pm

Second week, Monday to Saturday, 9am – 4pm 

This two-week program allows dancers ages 11+ to develop excellence in technique, as well as versatility and collaboration in the creative process. Daily classes will include ballet, contemporary, jazz, hip hop, swing, salsa, and flamenco. Dancers will explore dance-making through partnering and improvisation. Plus, field trips to local partnering organizations. For students with at least two years of prior dance training.  


🚀Dance Adventure (Ages 4-7)

📅 Monday to Friday, July 22 – 26 

🕘 9am – 12pm (half day)

This program for our youngest dancers invites them on an expedition into the exciting, engaging, and rewarding world of dance. Classes will include creative dance, tumbling, drumming, and more! 


👟Hip Hop and Street Style (Ages 10+)

📅 Monday to Friday, July 29 – August 2  

🕘 9am – 3:30pm

In this week-long program, dancers will learn foundational movements and techniques of hip-hop and street style dance, alongside discussions about the cultural meaning and significance of these dance forms. The program will create an encouraging space to try out what you learn and most importantly show off your unique style and personality while freestyling in daily cyphers.


🎭Musical Theater (Ages 10+)

📅 Monday to Saturday, August 5 – 10 

🕘 9am – 3pm

This week-long program gives students the opportunity to jump right into the world of musical theater with classes in broadway jazz, voice, acting, and improvisation. Students will learn healthy warm-up practices for the voice and body, and work on character development, expression, participating in an ensemble, and more. The program directors will work with students to produce an informal performance for the final day of the program. 


💃🏾Movement Lab: A Workshop in Professional Practice w/ Joe Poulson and Isadora Wolfe (Ages 17+)

📅 Monday to Saturday, August 12 – 16 

🕙10am – 3pm

Advanced teens and undergrad students 17+, adults with advanced contemporary experience

In this week long intensive, student artists will be immersed in the experience of a dance company: challenging morning class imparting new skills, honing technique, and full-bodied dancing. Followed by an afternoon of process: Joe and Isadora will guide and direct the “company” through various tasks involving dynamic phrases, improvisation and mini-modules using contemporary, contact and physical theater practices. The emphasis is on the process, and sharing the information that Joe and Isadora have acquired through their years of experience inside companies and as makers in their own right. Expect to end each day sweaty, spent, inspired and filled up. 


Starting in 2024, Berkshire Pulse is implementing a $20 non-refundable registration fee for our summer intensives. This charge covers administrative needs and is only charged once per student. If you register for multiple intensives, you will only pay one registration fee per student.

The Word of the Year is…

Stretch it out with Yoga, Sign up for our Winter Intensives, and Spread Joy with us!

Each year, our teaching artists meet to brainstorm a word of the year. Back in August, they settled on “JOY.” As we enter 2024, we wanted to bring attention to this word. We want to hear from you! What’s something that brings you joy? Is it walking your dog? Spending time with family? Dancing at Pulse? Write it down on the big piece of paper in the hallway, and join us in having the most joyous year ever!


Person doing a yoga pose in front of a mirror

Yoga w/ Bethany Trozzo

It’s not too late to join! This weekly class series helps students explore their mind-body connection through foundational yoga postures, sequences, and breathing exercises.

Please bring your own yoga mat

Open to all levels! Ages 16+

📅 Tuesdays starting January 30th

🕕 5:45pm-6:45pm



Stay warm with dance this winter during one of our winter intensives!

Ballet Winter Intensive with Hillary Jackson and Vincent Brewer

for ages 11 to adult

 📅 February 23-25

Open to dancers enrolled in Ballet 2-4 and beginner/intermediate adults.

When Paths Cross: Contemporary Dance, Theater, and Soft Acrobatics with Fern Katz and Ricardo Paz

for ages 14 to adult

 📅 February 23-25

Open to dancers ages 14+ and intermediate/advanced adults.

Let dance keep you warm!

Stay warm with dance this winter during one of our winter intensives!

Ballet Winter Intensive with Hillary Jackson and Vincent Brewer

for ages 11 to adult

📅 February 23-25

Open to dancers enrolled in Ballet 2-4 and beginner/intermediate adults.

When Paths Cross: Contemporary Dance, Theater, and Soft Acrobatics with Fern Katz and Ricardo Paz

for ages 14 to adult

📅 February 23-25

Open to dancers ages 14+ and intermediate/advanced adults.

Save the dates! Our summer intensive schedule is live on our website. Registration will open in February.


Community Classes for You

Want to take multiple classes in one day? Here’s a schedule for you to pick and choose from!

Tuesday Evening Classes

Get movin’ and groovin’ with Madison Palffy in Dance Moves & Grooves, relax in Yoga with Bethany Trozzo, and finish out the night with your tap shoes for Community Tap with Teak Welch.
Wednesday Evening Classes

Start your Wednesday learning to sing and act in Community Musical Theater with Wendy Welch. Then, take Bettina Montano’s Community Modern for Beginners.
Thursday Evening Classes

Get in touch with yourself in Shake Your Soul with Madeline Depres-Chen. Later, you can grab a partner in Swing with Brianne Szymanski (no partners required)!

Are you a morning person? Classes for you:

We Met the Match!

Together, we met our matching gift challenge! You helped us raise over $15,000 for the Tuition Assistance Program in less than 3 weeks!

Thank you to Alander Construction and everyone in our incredible community who donated to match their generous gift.

You can still give to our Tuition Assistance Program for 2024 and continue to help us make our programming accessible to all people!


Start Your New Year with Dance
Registration for our Spring session is underway! Be sure to check out our offerings and sign up.

Community Classes begin on January 8, and Youth Performing Arts Program Classes begin on January 16.

New Community Classes

We are excited to have returning favorites and new classes in 2024! Learn more about our Community Classes for Teens and Adults by clicking the button below.

Community Classes begin next week, unless otherwise noted.

Dance Moves & Grooves with Madison Palffy

📅 Tuesdays
🕓 4:15-5:30pm
For beginner movers ages 16+

Community Modern with Bettina Montano

📅 Wednesdays
🕡 6:45-7:45pm
For beginner movers ages 16+

Yoga Series with Bethany Trozzo

📅 Tuesdays, January 30 to March 12
🕠 5:45-6:45pm
For all levels ages 16+

Everyone deserves to experience the joy and power of creative expression.

Double your impact

We’re excited to announce we have received a matching challenge gift from Alander Construction for the third year in a row, which means every dollar donated will be doubled – up to $7,500! You can donate here.

Thanks to your incredible generosity, Pulse has never turned away a student for an inability to pay. 

In 2023, approximately 1 out of 6 students qualified for and were awarded between 25% and 100% of their tuition.

Your generosity gives the gift of joy to our community. And today, across our country and around the world, we need joy.

With your support and the matching challenge gift from Alander, we are even closer to raising our year-end goal for tuition assistance. Please consider supporting our Tuition Assistance Program so we can make our offerings more accessible to everyone in our community.

With every donation, you are supporting individual expression, nurturing health and well-being, strengthening cultural identity, healing trauma, and fostering connections across communities.

Click the button below to view our 2023 Annual Impact Report.

Annual Report cover page. Two young dancers oustide.

Spring Registration is Open!

Registration for our Spring session is underway! Be sure to check out our offerings and sign up.

Community Classes begin on January 8, and Youth Performing Arts Program Classes begin on January 16.

Double your gift!

We’re so grateful to have received a matching challenge gift from Alander Construction for the third year in a row, which means every dollar donated will be doubled – up to $7,500! You can donate here or by clicking the button below.
Annual Report cover page. Two young dancers oustide.

NEW in 2024: Winter Intensives

Ballet Intensive
with Hillary Jackson and Vincent Brewer
for ages 11 to adult
📅 February 23-25
This intermediate-level weekend intensive will focus on ballet technique and conditioning, as well as pre/beginners pointe and variation work. Each day will begin with Vaganova floor barre and conditioning, followed by a ballet class and pointe class. Then, dancers will learn and rehearse a variation from Paquita. Develop your passion for ballet while strengthening your artistry! 
Open to dancers enrolled in Ballet 2-4 and beginner/intermediate adults.

When Paths Cross: Contemporary Dance, Theater, and Soft Acrobatics
with Fern Katz and Ricardo Paz
for ages 14 to adult
📅 February 23-25
The purpose of this workshop is to spark a creative burst of energy and playfulness, to foster communication and teamwork, all within a theatrical/dance context. In this workshop, we will teach how to be resourceful, quick-thinking, and use our instincts to create; let’s discover the vast realm of creative possibilities in this weekend workshop!
Open to dancers ages 14+ and intermediate/advanced adults.


Don’t Miss: Berkshire Pulse Dancers at NightWood

Nighttime picture at The Mount
@ericlimonphotography

Berkshire Pulse teaching artists and choreographers are performing site-specific duets at The Mount. Duets include Laura Coe and Liam Coote, Veronica Bone and Akinyemi Blackshear, Gillian Ebersole and Shannon Nulf.
📅 Wed-Sat, December 20-23 
🕠 5:20 and 6:20pm 


In-School & Community Program Spotlight

Five teen students in a school classroom.

This fall, our Moving Life Stories program, led by Tom Truss, took off at Pittsfield High, Taconic High, and Mt. Everett High, engaging high school students for the first time.

We’re proud to showcase how this dance and storytelling program builds lifelong skills, meeting school standards with a focus on self-reflection, physical awareness, confidence, and social-emotional intelligence. 

Beyond high schools, we’ve successfully run a community Moving Life Stories series for six weeks at the William Stickney Pittsfield Adult Learning Center with students who’ve returned to school to obtain their GED and learn English.

Looking back at our year…

Your generosity is at the heart of Berkshire Pulse.

Just last week, we were so honored to be named the First Place Winner in three categories (Arts Organization, Art Classes, Dance Studio/Classes) for the Rural Intelligence Readers’ Choice Awards.

This is a testament to the spirit of community that surrounds Berkshire Pulse. To all who placed nominations and votes in our name, to those who spread the word about Pulse, and to those who attend our programming across the county – you make Pulse possible.

We wanted to share our annual impact report with you. Click the button below to learn more about our work inside and out of the studio and how to support the future of Pulse.

Double your gift!

We’re are so grateful to have received a matching challenge gift from Alander Construction for the third year in a row, which means every dollar donated will be doubled– up to $7,500!

Berkshire Pulse Dancers at NightWood

Nighttime picture at The Mount
@ericlimonphotography

Berkshire Pulse teaching artists and choreographers are performing site-specific duets at The Mount. Duets include Laura Coe and Liam Coote, Veronica Bone and Akinyemi Blackshear, Gillian Ebersole and Shannon Nulf.

📅 December 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23 

🕠 5:30 and 6:30pm 


Our Spring Schedule is Live!

Shakia instructing hip hop students

Start your new year with dance! Registration for 2024 classes opens next week on Monday, December 11.


In-School Program Spotlight

Sara Kiesel holding a tambourine for a little kid to hit

This Fall, Berkshire Pulse is piloting the Dance for the Special Child program at Muddy Brook Elementary and Undermountain Elementary School with Sara Kiesel, Pulse’s Special Education Curriculum Advisor and Teaching Artist. Each week, Sara visits 4 integrated pre-K classrooms and 1 substantially separate classroom.

Here’s what one classroom teacher has to say about the program:

Sara is amazing! She has such a calm way about her that she draws all of my children to her and her calm nature. She integrates language into every aspect of dance and practices turn-taking, sharing, and breathing exercises, just to name a few.  

Sara explores body parts, spatial relationships, and dance elements to each child’s ability. Sara is great at differentiating what each child’s abilities are and how to help them progress. The children get very excited on Thursdays when they see Ms. Sara’s photo on our visual schedule and know she is coming. We love having Ms. Sara teach dance to our class and hope that this continues.

Having a program for special needs children as wonderful as this, in our small town, is nothing less than spectacular!!!”

Give the gift of JOY

Double your impact

We’re excited to announce we have received a matching challenge gift from Alander Construction for the third year in a row, which means every dollar donated will be doubled– up to $7,500! 

JOY.

Your generosity gives the gift of joy to our community.

And today, across our country and around the world, we need joy.

I’m sharing our Annual Impact Report, where I hope you see a hint of the joy that happens at Berkshire Pulse every day. The way the hallways are filled after school and on weekends with children

and teens, buzzing with laughter and excitement as they prepare for class: Ballet, Jazz, West African Drumming, Musical Theater, Hip Hop, Dance Making, or another of our many movement and music forms.

I wish you could see the intergenerational community classes. Adults of all ages, returning to practice or experiencing a class for the very first time. Happy to see and check in on each other, remark on current events, and realize “we’re dancing together – for this moment we can forget all that.”

The joy of connecting with others is more critical than ever right now.

At Berkshire Pulse, dance, music, and movement practices taught by caring teaching artists help children, teens, and adults manage the stress of our unprecedented times. They experience the joy of connecting, breathing, and moving together with others. They are seen and heard. As one of our alums put it, Berkshire Pulse “has taught me how to live in the world.”

With your support, Berkshire Pulse emerged stronger after the pandemic, fortifying our commitment to accessibility and inclusivity, building on the promise of our mission, that these arts can be for everyone. I invite you to visit our website to see the full scope of all that we do, together.

Please accept my deepest gratitude for your belief in and support of Berkshire Pulse. I hope you will join us again in spreading the joy that is so needed in our world.

With deep gratitude,

Bettina Montano

Berkshire Pulse