Youth Performing Arts Program
Our Summer 2025 Schedule is up and Web Registration is open. Check out our summer intensives and register today!
FOR SPRING 2025 PERFORMING CLASSES: Tech week runs May 19-23 at the Daniel Arts Center and Spring Celebration shows are May 24 & 25.
Learn more about our youth programming below!
Our Youth 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 6 levels to ensure their growth and success, while factoring in age and experience.
- Following an interdisciplinary philosophy, Youth Performing Arts Program classes fuse modern techniques with traditional approaches to cultivate a rich artistic experience.
- Berkshire Pulse holds its annual Dance and Music Celebration at the end of each Spring Session. Participation in the annual performance is optional. Most Youth Performing Arts Program classes are included, beginning with Foundations through the advanced levels. Additional performance opportunities are available for Levels 3 and 4 throughout the year.
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.
Enrollment in Levels 1 through 4 requires placement from Pulse teaching artists and staff. New students can take a placement class to determine their level. After class, the teaching artist and programming team will meet to determine placement for each student. No decision will be made on the spot. Please do not ask our teaching artists about class placement. 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.
Pulse has never turned away a student for an inability to pay. To learn more about our robust Tuition Assistance program and Card to Culture benefits, click here.
Check out our class descriptions from past sessions, including Spring 2022, Summer 2022 Intensives, Fall 2022, Spring 2023, Summer 2023, Fall 2023, Spring 2024, Summer 2024, and Fall 2024.
Below is a link to our one-page class schedule, which gives a snapshot of all the classes happening weekly at Berkshire Pulse – use it to plan your week!
Please read before registering:
To find and sign up for a class, scroll down to view our full roster of classes and use the search filters to identify classes by category, type, level, and day of the week.
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. Thank you!
Registration and Curriculum Guidelines
Click here for Community Classes for Adults and Teens.
Early Childhood (Ages 18 months-8 years)
Ages 18 months-8 years
1+ classes weekly
Our youngest dancers begin their journey in classes that foster their individual artistic voice, sense of creativity, and joy in movement.
Classes include: Caregiver/Child classes, Creative Dance, Tumbling, Intro to Dance
Berkshire Pulse offers many classes for youth, teens, and adults that require participation in only one class per week. For teens and adults, please refer to our Community Class Program for classes and schedule.
Foundations (Ages 8-13)
Ages 8-13
1+ classes weekly
Our Foundations Level classes can follow our Beginners Level classes or provide an introduction to dance on their own. These classes introduce dancers to specific dance forms and technique, while continuing a spirit of creativity, exploration, and joy.
Classes include: Modern/Ballet Foundations, Ballet Foundations, Dance Foundations 2, Beginners Tap, West African Drumming, Dances of Africa, Dance for Boys, Beginners Flamenco, Beginners Funk Box Breaking
Berkshire Pulse offers many classes for youth, teens, and adults that require participation in only one class per week. For teens and adults, please refer to our Community Class Program for classes and schedule.
Level 1 (Ages 9-12)
Ages 9-12+
2+ classes weekly
Level 1 dancers can deepen their experience with movement and learning by progressing into two classes per week. Dancing more than once per week allows for greater ease of progress and sense of fulfillment.
Classes include: Ballet 1, Modern 1, Dances of Africa, Beginners Flamenco, Beginners/Intermediate Funk Box Breaking, Musical Theater Collective, West African Drumming, Beginners Tap
Participation in two classes or more per week is required at this level. Berkshire Pulse offers many classes for youth, teens, and adults that require participation in only one class per week. For teens and adults, please refer to our Community Class Program for classes and schedule.
Level 2 (Ages 10+)
Ages 10+
2+ classes weekly
The classes in this level are designed to challenge, inspire, and foster love for dance as an art form and as a tool for developing the dedication necessary in fulfilling personal goals.
Classes include: Ballet 2, Pre/Beginners Pointe, Modern 2, Jazz 2-3, Young Choreographers Workshop, Beginners/Intermediate Flamenco, Swing, Beginners/Intermediate Funk Box Breaking, Musical Theater Collective, West African Drumming, Beginners/Intermediate Tap
Participation in two classes or more per week is required at this level. Berkshire Pulse offers many classes for youth, teens, and adults that require participation in only one class per week. For teens and adults, please refer to our Community Class Program for classes and schedule.
Level 3 (Ages 13+)
Ages 13+
3+ classes weekly
Students who are invited to participate in Level 3 have exhibited the desire, self-discipline, and dedication necessary for further progress and accomplishment in the Berkshire Pulse Youth Performing Arts Program. Level 3 students are expected to uphold class preparedness with appropriate dress code and to maintain conditioning, as well as deepen and widen their range of experience during school breaks with level-appropriate Pulse community classes, workshops, and intensives.
Classes include: Ballet 3, Pre/Beginners Pointe, Modern 3, Jazz 3-4, Young Choreographers Workshop, House, Beginners/Intermediate Flamenco, Swing, Beginners/Intermediate Funk Box Breaking, Musical Theater Collective, West African Drumming, Beginners/Intermediate Tap
Participation in three classes or more per week is required at this level. Berkshire Pulse offers many classes for youth, teens, and adults that require participation in only one class per week. For teens and adults, please refer to our Community Class Program for classes and schedule.
Level 4 (Ages 14+)
Ages 14+ and entering first year of high school
4+ 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 skills and individual expression of movement and artistry. These students are expected to uphold class preparedness with an appropriate dress code 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.
The class schedule is determined by program directors in consideration of individual students’ needs and interests.
Classes include: Ballet 3-4, Pointe, Contemporary 4, Jazz 3-4, Young Choreographers Initiative, Beginners/Intermediate Flamenco, Swing, Beginners/Intermediate Funk Box Breaking, Musical Theater Collective, West African Drumming, Intermediate/Advanced Tap
Participation in four classes or more per week is required at this level. Berkshire Pulse offers many classes for youth, teens, and adults that require participation in only one class per week. For teens and adults, please refer to our Community Class Program for classes and schedule.
Register today! Dance Discovery Summer Intensive (Ages 8-13)
Register today! Young Dancers and Choreographers Summer Intensive (Ages 11+)
Register today! Hip Hop and Street Style Summer Intensive (Ages 10-adult)
Register today! Musical Theater Summer Intensive (Ages 10+)
Register today! Dance Adventure Summer Intensive (Ages 4-7)
Register today! Simonson Jazz Evening Workshop Series (Ages 18+)
Register today! Limon-based Modern Dance Workshop Series (Ages 16+)
Register today! Site-Specific Dance Making Workshop Series at Chesterwood (Ages 16+)
Latin Dance/Danza Latina, for ages 5-10
Taekwondo, for ages 4-adult
