Intensives

Intensives

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Stay tuned for upcoming winter intensives and training opportunities! Check back soon for more information.

2024 Summer Intensives have wrapped! Dates for 2025 intensives will be available in mid-December when we announce our 2025 programming. Pre-registration opens in February 2025 and regular registration opens in April.

2024 Summer Intensives

Our 2024 summer programs were funded in part by the ASOST-S Grant from Massachusetts Afterschool Partnership.

Dance Discovery (Ages 8-13)

June 24 – 28 | Ages 8 to 13, half-day option for ages 8-9 (mornings only)

Monday to Friday, 9am-3pm; 9am-12pm half day

An exciting journey into the engaging and rewarding world of dance, this week-long 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+)

July 8 – 20 | Ages 11+

Monday to Friday, 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)

July 22 – 26 | Ages 4-7, half day

Monday to Friday, 9am-12pm

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+) – FULL, open to waitlist registration only

July 29 – August 2 | All levels, ages 10 to adult

Monday to Friday, 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+)

August 5 – 10 | All levels, ages 10+

Monday to Saturday, 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. 

The program’s final day (Saturday, August 10) will include morning classes, rehearsal, and an afternoon showing.

Adult Dance Intensive (Ages 18+)

with Tom Truss

August 19 – 23 | Beginner/intermediate dancers ages 18+

Monday to Friday, 9am-12:30pm

This 5-day intensive is for beginning/intermediate dancers ages 18 and up who want to explore new and familiar dance practices that emphasize body awareness, mindful technique, dancing together, and joyful creative exploration. In the morning we will begin with an hour of wellness class focusing on alignment, structural integrity, mind-body connection, and injury prevention, followed by daily classes alternating between Modern, Jazz, or Ballet techniques. We will come back together for a final hour exploring the choreographic process through making dances.

Schedule:
9-10am: Wellness
10:15-11:15am: Technique
– Studio 1 (M, T, W, TH, F): Modern, Jazz, Modern, Jazz, African-Rooted Dance
– Studio 2 (M, T, W, TH, F): Ballet, Modern, Ballet, Modern, African-Rooted Dance
11:30am-12:30pm: Exploring the choreographic process

with Bettina Montano and Fiona Scruggs

September 3-6 | For students Levels 2-3, age 11+

Tuesday-Friday, 4-8pm

For new students with at least 2 years of prior dance experience and returning Level 2-3 students

Daily schedule:
4-5:30pm Modern Class with Bettina
5:30-6pm Dinner
6-8pm Ballet and Pre/Beginners Pointe Class with Fiona

This program offers students who are returning to Pulse the opportunity to resume training with a week of afternoon classes before the Fall session begins, giving students in Levels 2-3 the opportunity to prepare physically and mentally for the fall session. The afternoon will begin with a Modern class where students will build upon the fundamentals of dance technique through the exploration of traditional modern dance principals. Students will explore center practice techniques, dynamic traveling sequences, basic phrases, improvisation, and dance making, fostering a strong sense of alignment, rhythm, musical versatility, and freedom of expression.

Dancers will also take a daily ballet class to review the fundamentals of ballet technique learned in Level 2-3 while rebuilding stamina and strength in preparation for the fall semester. Correct alignment, coordination, mobility, and conditioning for pointe will be emphasized in technique class. Pointe/pre-pointe exercises will be done to prepare students for returning to regular pointe practice and to continue developing their pointe technique. Students will learn a classical ballet variation to develop their artistry and musicality while learning about the art of storytelling in classical repertoire.