Youth Performing Arts Program
The Spring session runs January 3 through May 27, unless otherwise noted. The annual Spring Celebration performance is scheduled for May 27 & 28 (tickets available here).
Families and caregivers, click here for the tech week schedule of rehearsals.
Our Performing Arts Program (PAP) provides an in-depth, interdisciplinary learning experience to young dancers ages 4 to 18. From the start of their training, students are introduced to dance practice with an equal emphasis on technical development as well as artistic exploration. As they progress in age and level, a comprehensive curriculum encourages students to expand their creative language while challenging their intellectual, technical, and artistic abilities.
- Weekly classes, special workshops, and summer intensives are offered to all students.
- Students are placed in one of 5 levels to ensure their growth and success, while factoring in age and experience.
- Following an interdisciplinary philosophy, PAP classes fuse modern techniques with traditional approaches to cultivate a rich artistic experience.
- All students ages 8+ participate in an annual PAP Performance Celebration, with additional performance opportunities throughout the year for upper level students.
Placing students correctly is a core aspect to the Berkshire Pulse Performing Arts Program curriculum. For placement and class recommendations, we carefully consider a wide variety of factors: specific interest, physical skill, peer group, emotional maturity, years of previous study and age. Each student is placed where we believe they will have the greatest potential for fulfillment and growth. NEW dance students age 9+ who would like to participate in the Ballet and Modern classes are encouraged to attend one class for placement prior to enrollment. Returning students are not required to take placement classes. Students who would like to try a class, or are seeking class recommendations, can contact us for more information.
Check out our class descriptions from past sessions, including Spring 2022, Summer 2022 Intensives, and Fall 2022
Pulse Is for Everyone
Learn more about our Tuition Assistance Program and EBT Benefits.
PLEASE READ BEFORE REGISTERING
If you do not yet have an account with the site, please create one on the My Account page. ALSO please be sure to complete the ‘Account details‘ section of the My Accounts page and make sure that all of your information is current, including for any children you will be registering for classes. Please be sure to read Pulse’s policies before registering.
Questions about Pulse’s COVID policies? See our policies.
Click here for Spring 2023 Community Classes for Adults and Teens
Beginner / Foundation / Open Level
Ages 4-18+
1+ classes weekly
Berkshire Pulse offers many classes for youth, teens and adults that require participation in only one class per week.
For Youth and Teens: Dances of Africa, Beginner Drumming, Intermediate Drumming, Beginners Tap, Dance for Boys, Creative Dance, Tumbling, Intro to Dance, Dance Foundations, Beginners Flamenco, Musical
Theater for Teens 1, Funk Box Breaking, Beginners Ballet
For Teens and Adults: Please refer to the Community Class Program for classes and schedule
Level 1 – Beginner / Advanced Beginner
Ages 9+
2+ classes weekly
Participation in two classes per week is required at this level if participating in Ballet or Modern 1. Dancing more than once per week allows for greater ease of progress and sense of fulfillment. Class requirements can be fulfilled with Beginners Flamenco, Dances of Africa, Funk Box Breaking, Beginners Tap, Ballet 1, or Modern 1. Class offerings are subject to change
Level 2 – Advanced Beginner
Ages 10+
3+ classes weekly for Ballet 2 students, 2+ Classes for All Other Level 2 students
The classes in this level will challenge, inspire and foster the love for dance as an art form and a tool for developing the dedication necessary in fulfilling personal goals.
Participation in at least two classes per week is required for level 2 students (in accordance with individual placement recommendations). For ballet 2 students, participation in two ballet classes plus a choice of one modern, jazz, Flamenco, Dances of Africa, or Funk Box Breaking class is required. Community ballet classes are available for students age 11+ who do not wish to participate in the ballet 2 class program for youth.
Level 3 – Intermediate
Ages 12+
4+ classes weekly
Students who are invited to participate at the intermediate level have exhibited the desire, self-discipline, and dedication necessary for further progress and accomplishment in the Berkshire Pulse Performing Arts Program. Level 3 students are expected to uphold class preparedness with equipment necessary for all classes and to maintain conditioning as well as deepen and widen their range of experience during extensive school breaks with level appropriate Pulse community classes, workshops, and intensives.
Participation in at least four classes a week are required for students participating in ballet or modern at this level. Level 3 ballet students take two upper-level plus one lower-level ballet, and one modern, jazz or contemporary technique classes per week to fulfill Level 3 technique class requirements. All other Level 3 students are required to take a modern class, a ballet class, and 2 other classes with options in Young Choreographers Workshop, Flamenco, Jazz 2/3, Musical Theater for Teens, Funk Box Breaking, and Tap.
Level 4 – Intermediate / Advanced
Ages 14+
5+ classes weekly
Students invited to level 4 have a self-motivated and rigorous work ethic, the ability to welcome ongoing challenges and retain corrections and the patience to go deeper into developing technical skill and individual expression of movement and artistry. These students are expected to uphold class preparedness with equipment necessary for all classes and to maintain conditioning during breaks with level appropriate Pulse community classes, workshops, and intensives. Level 4 students have the opportunity to study with visiting teaching artists regularly throughout the year and are invited to participate in performances and workshops at other venues throughout the region.
Advanced level students are required to participate in a minimum of five classes per week. The class schedule is determined by program directors in consideration of individual student needs and interests.
Dance Discovery, for ages 8-13
Musical Theater, for ages 10+
Deep Dive! Contemporary Intensive, for ages 17+
Pride Ballet Workshop 🌈 – Open Level, for ages 12-adult
World Percussion Series – Open Level and Intergenerational, for ages 8-adult
African Dance Series – Open Level, for ages 14-adult
Contact Improv – Open Level, for ages 13-adult
Dunham Technique – Open Level, for ages 13-adult
Capoeira – Open Level, for ages 13-adult
Jazz – Int/Adv, for ages 13-adult
Community Beginners Tap, for ages 13-adult
Tuesday Community Ballet – Beginners, for ages 12-adult
Thursday Community Ballet – Int/Adv, for ages 14-adult
Saturday Community Ballet – Adv Beg/Int, for ages 12+
Taekwondo, for ages 4-adult



