Looking to 2023…

Posted on December 1, 2022December 14, 2022 by Gillian Ebersole

We’re excited to announce we have received a matching grant from Alander Construction for the second year in a row, which means every dollar donated will be doubled – up to $5,000!

Your generosity is at the heart of our Pulse.

Click the button below to learn more about our work inside and out of the studio and how to support the future of Pulse.

GIVE THE GIFT OF DANCE

Take a Peek in the Studio

We’re so excited to be looking toward 2023! Mark your calendars – the class and workshop schedule for the next session will be live on December 8.

Select classes will be open for observation during the last week of the session, December 12 to 17. Keep an eye on your inbox to sign up to watch your dancers!

In-person registration for spring classes will also begin that week.

Two Workshops Next Week

OPEN LEVEL AFRICAN DANCE WORKSHOP

with Nkoula Badila

📅 Wednesday, December 7
🕓 5:45 to 6:45pm

Open to all levels; ages 12+

OPEN LEVEL HIP HOP WORKSHOP

with Dashawn Davis

📅 Friday, December 9
🕓 4 to 6pm

Open to all levels; ages 12+

See Pulse Teaching Artists Perform

A lighted sign reads "Broadway Cabaret" in front of a red theater curtain.

Enjoy two performances of fabulous show tunes, featuring Tom Truss, Molly Welch, and Wendy Welch!

Performance Dates

December 3 at 7pm
December 4 at 2pm

Venue

Dewey Memorial Hall
91 Main Street,
Sheffield, MA 01257

BUY TICKETS

Dancing with Gratitude

Posted on November 17, 2022December 12, 2022 by Gillian Ebersole

Thank you for being a part of what makes Pulse so special – the people that bring our studios to life.

We are especially grateful for our team of Teaching Assistants. Each week, they share the love of dance with others. We are so grateful for their dedication and wanted to highlight a bit more about them!

Maya Bergman

I have been dancing at Berkshire Pulse for 4 years, but I’ve been dancing since I could walk. I love working with younger dancers to help them express themselves. I’m really looking forward to this year at Pulse!

A fun fact about myself- I love snuggling with my two dogs, Hazel and Maggie!

Megan Linick

At Pulse, I enjoy all of the wide variety of classes and abilities. I feel that it allows me to be exactly who I am as a dancer.

Fun Fact: I lived in Florida for 15 years and moved to the Berkshires about a year ago.

Rubielle Nejaime

Rubielle has been dancing at Pulse since she was 11 years old. She is now continuing her training at Berkshire Pulse to prepare to enter the dance field and audition for Dance BFA programs for this upcoming year. She is delighted to be assisting Susan Quinn in the Young Choreographers Workshop and Fiona Scruggs in Ballet 1.

A fun fact about Rubielle is that her favorite style of dance is contemporary.

Cora Pacheco

Cora assists Creative Dance!

Liam Reynolds

Liam assists Modern 3!

Lily Reynolds

Hi I’m Lily! I have been a dancer at Berkshire Pulse for 4 years now alongside my 3 other siblings. I have been an assistant for the fall and spring season this past year, and I also assisted for the summer intensives as well.

Molly Welch

Molly Welch (they/she) grew up in Dallas where they attended the Dallas Ballet Center for 15 years. They studied ballet, tap, jazz, modern, hip hop, and lyrical. They were a teaching assistant while there and went on to teach Musical Theater dance in their summer workshops for the next 4 years. They attended Booker T. Washington HS for the Performing and Visual Arts, where they split their studies between theater and dance.

Support our Teaching Assistants and Tuition Assistance programs today.

YOUR SUPPORT MATTERS

Dance with Us This Week

Posted on November 7, 2022December 12, 2022 by Gillian Ebersole

We’re excited to host another African Dance Workshop with Nkoula Badila this Wednesday, November 9th at 5:45pm!

Learn different Traditional Dances of Ancestral Africa, accompanied by live percussion. This class is open to all levels, ages 11+.

Learn more and register here.

Dance Foundations is Back

A group of young dancers in a studio carry colorful scarves. Two dancers are in motion running toward a wall with windows while the other dancers line up in the corner and watch.

This dynamic class is for dancers ages 8 to 10 to build a basic understanding of traditional modern and ballet dance technique.

With joy and exploration at the heart, dancers will learn improvisational techniques, basic principles of rhythm, movement quality, musicality, and alignment! Class runs on Mondays from 4 to 5pm, starting November 7.

JOIN THE CLASS

Learn Chicago Footwork

A dance shot of Kelli Forman in an alley. Her legs are crossed and she pulls her left elbow up while looking toward her right hand reaching to the ground.

OPEN LEVEL WORKSHOP

with Kelli Forman

📅 Friday, November 18
🕓 4 to 6pm

Curious about Chicago Footwork? Watch a video of Kelli here.

Open to all levels; ages 12+

Move, Write, and Draw

Elizabeth Heller sits in a bright room with colorful space decorations. A group of adults and kids sit around with craft supplies.

Created by Elizabeth Heller, ERYT-200, Super Journal is a FREE mindfulness, movement, and journaling class for teachers and parents to provide them with an opportunity to recover from stress and learn wellness tools.

Sessions are ongoing at libraries in Housatonic, Lee, and Sheffield!

JOURNAL WITH US

Share the Joy of Pulse

There are still two weeks left to vote for Berkshire Pulse in the Rural Intelligence Readers’ Choice Awards!

Vote by visiting RuralIntelligence.com/ReadersChoice. Voting runs until November 14, and you can cast your vote every day. For voting instructions, visit the homepage.

VOTE FOR PULSE

Meet New Pulse Staff Members

Posted on October 25, 2022December 12, 2022 by Gillian Ebersole

Berkshire Pulse has new staff members! You might recognize their faces around our studios.

Joining the team this fall are our new Administrator Shannon Nulf, and Marketing/PR & Curriculum Coordinator Gillian Ebersole. Check out our staff page to learn more.

Vote for Pulse

It’s time for the Rural Intelligence Readers’ Choice Awards!

Berkshire Pulse is nominated in multiple categories, including Best Nonprofit, and our Artistic Director, Bettina Montano, is nominated in the category of Person Who’s Contributed Most to the Region.

Help us win by visiting RuralIntelligence.com/ReadersChoice to cast your vote! Voting runs until November 14, and you can cast nominations every day. For voting instructions, visit the homepage of our website.

VOTE FOR PULSE

Upcoming Workshops

OPEN LEVEL HIP HOP WORKSHOP
with Dashawn Davis

📅 Friday, October 28
🕓 4 to 6pm

Open to all levels; ages 12+

AUTHENTIC MOVEMENT
with Paula Josa-Jones

📅 Sunday, October 30
🕐 1 to 4:30pm

Open to all levels; ages 18+

AFRICAN DANCE WORKSHOP
with Nkoula Badila

📅 Wednesday, November 9

🕠 5:45 to 7:15pm

Open to all levels; ages 11+

Super Journal is Back

Move, Draw, and Write to Boost Your Best Self

Created by Elizabeth Heller, ERYT-200, Super Journal is a FREE mindfulness, movement, and journaling class for teachers and parents to provide them with an opportunity recover from stress and learn wellness tools.

Sessions start November 3 at libraries near you!

LEARN MORE

Take a peek inside our studios!

Posted on October 11, 2022December 12, 2022 by Gillian Ebersole

Taekwondo with the Martial Arts Institute of the Berkshires began their fall classes in our studios this week. The space feels alive with movement and breath from our Youth Performing Arts Program and Community Classes.

Don’t miss the upcoming opportunities in this post – we hope to move with you soon!

Groove with Dashawn Davis

Open Level Hip Hop Workshop

Mark your calendars for Friday, October 28!

Pulse is hosting the first of our monthly workshops in Hip Hop and Street Style dance. Join Dashawn Davis from 4 to 6pm. Open to all levels; ages 14+.

Dance with Luana

Latin Dance Shines

at Simon’s Rock

Tuesdays and Thursdays at 4:15pm beginning October 25
Ages 16+

Take an in-depth course on Salsa and Samba at Simon’s Rock. In this class, you’ll learn to identify rhythms, develop movement from Salsa and Samba steps, and progress into a choreography true to the original rhythm.

Can’t get enough? Luana’s Zumba class at Pulse starts Tuesday, October 25, at 1pm! Register for Zumba here.

Practice Authentic Movement

with Paula Josa-Jones

October 30 at 1pm
Ages 18+

Authentic Movement is a meditative, intuitive, improvisational movement. In this workshop, you will practice listening and attunement; slowing and opening to a deeper sensing of body and psyche. Give yourself the gift of this somatic and meditative experience!

Move with us for FREE this October!

Posted on September 26, 2022December 12, 2022 by Gillian Ebersole

Things are picking up at Pulse this fall! With our Youth Program and Community Classes in full swing, we are excited to share some special opportunities with you.

Scroll to read more about October events (including some FREE chances to dance with us).

FREE Events in the Housatonic Park

HOUSATONIC PARTY IN THE PARK
129 Front St, Housatonic
Saturday October 1 from 11am to 3pm

Come learn more about Pulse’s fall programming, try out East Coast Swing Dance, and visit other local vendors at this FREE block party. We’ll be selling SoCo ice cream as a fundraiser, so stop by to get a scoop!

PARTY WITH US

AFRICAN DANCE WORKSHOP
With Nkoula Badila
Wednesday October 5 from 5:45 to 6:54pm

Learn different Traditional dances of Ancestral Africa, accompanied by live percussion in this outdoor FREE workshop.

This opportunity is made possible by the South Berkshire County Fund Better Together.

TAKE A FREE DANCE CLASS

FREE Events for Housatonic Residents

COMMUNITY BOXING GYM

at the Housy Dome

Beginning October 3rd, this special program brings Genève Brossard of Berkshire Boxing to the Housy Dome on Mondays and Fridays from 4 to 6pm. This program is open to anyone from 8th grade to adults, with priority going to youth registrants.

FREE for Housatonic and Great Barrington Youth!

TRY OUT BOXING

YOGA

with Erin Naylor

Whether this is your first or 200th class, you’ll feel right at home here! Join us on Wednesdays from 6-7pm, and bring a mat, blocks, strap and anything else you like to use when taking a yoga class.

FREE for Housatonic Residents!

TAKE A YOGA CLASS

Classes Starting in October

DANCE FOR BOYS

Thursdays from 3:45 to 5pm
Starting October 6
Ages 10-14

Here’s a chance to jump, turn and soar! This class introduces boys, and male identifying persons, to the athletic and artistic skills required in dance training.

CREATIVE DANCE

Wednesdays from 3:45 to 4:30pm
Starting October 19
Ages 4-7

This class inspires the joy of movement and imagination through a playful and guided approach to improvisation, shape, rhythm, balance, flow, and locomotor skills.

Join us for our first week of classes!

Posted on September 12, 2022December 12, 2022 by Gillian Ebersole

Classes for our fall session are officially in full swing!

It’s not too late to sign up for our Youth Program classes—and drop in to try one of our Community Classes for movers of all ages and levels.

BROWSE CLASSES

Welcome to our New Teaching Artists

Sing with Wendy Welch

Tap with Molly Welch

Authentic Movement Workshops

Authentic Movement is a meditative, intuitive, improvisational movement practice. This fall, we are hosting a series of workshops for both experienced movers and those who are new to this practice.

Join Paula Josa-Jones for the first workshop on September 18!

Don’t Miss SIX Pulse Teaching Artists Perform

September 23 at 7:30pm
The Foundry West Stockbridge

This show brings together Berkshire-based dancers and performers – Veronica Bone, Gillian Ebersole, Molly Hess, Fern Katz, Shannon Nulf, and Fiona Scruggs– all with works answering the question “What are you celebrating?” What emerges is a series of works focused on resilience, perseverance, and triumph.

This event supports local artists and venues and is a part of ArtWeek Berkshires.

BUY TICKETS

Our Studios Are Buzzing with Summer Intensives!

Posted on July 8, 2022July 7, 2022 by Jordyn Cormier

Summer Intensive season is finally in full swing! Here’s just a taste of what our jam-packed July schedule looks like:

We are just wrapping up a fun, engaging, and challenging week of our Dance Discovery session.

Our Hip Hop Intensive begins next week, which we couldn’t be more excited about. (Want to join? Scroll down for more info.)

Our Contemporary Intensive starts on July 18th. Due to popular demand, we’ve decided to open up our Contemporary Intensive—as well as our August Ballet Intensive—to adults who are willing to commit to the entire program. If you’re interested, please feel welcome!

Want to participate in any of our intensives? Click below to learn more and register!

JOIN OUR INTENSIVES

SPECIAL OFFER!

Adult dancers (18+) can now join individual morning or afternoon classes from the summer Ballet, Contemporary, and Hip Hop/Street Styles Intensives!

This is a great option for adult dancers who can’t commit to a full day program, but crave a semi-intensive dance experience. Participants are required to commit to the daily class for the entire duration of the week or 2-week intensive.

CHECK OUT THE CLASSES!

THIS SUNDAY! Authentic Movement Workshop

Sunday July 10th, 1-4:30pm

with Paula Josa-Jones

Authentic Movement is a meditative, intuitive, improvisational movement practice involving a mover and a witness. It is a practice of listening, attunement; slowing and opening to a deeper sensing of body and psyche. It was developed by dancer and psychotherapist Mary Starks Whitehouse, who, following her work with Carl Jung, became curious about moving without intention, or the practice of “waiting to be moved.”

This simple meditation will provide the container for this workshop for both experienced movers and those who are new to this practice.

LET’S MOVE

STARTS NEXT WEEK! Hip Hop & Street Style Intensive

July 11-15th, 8am-3pm, ages 12-adult

Taught by Andres Ramirez, King Charles, Kelli Forman, and Jackson Whalan

In this week-long program, students will learn foundational movements and techniques of hip-hop and street style, alongside the cultural meaning and significance of these moves.

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. Styles will include beginner’s breaking, party grooves, and footwork.

NOTE: The Celebration Jam and All-Styles Battle has been moved to Friday July 15th at 1pm.

REGISTER NOW

Don’t Miss These Upcoming Classes + Guest Artists!

MEET GUEST TEACHER – Daphne Zniemer

Daphne is teaching two classes this summer, starting July 13th:

Intermediate Graham/Limon Modern, Wednesdays, 5:30-6:45pm, ages 14+

Community Beginner/Int. Ballet, Saturdays, 10-11:30am, ages 12+

Learn more about Daphne and each class by clicking below!

LEARN MORE + SIGN UP

NEW ON WEDNESDAYS – Intro to East Coast Swing

6-7pm, ages 16+

with Alex Bloomstein

This class is designed for people who have never taken a partnering ballroom class before. The class will introduce the participants to ballroom partnering and basic East Coast Swing steps. Students should sign up with a partner (or contact us if a partner is needed).

JOIN IN

*Photo credit for featured image: Susan Quinn

Meet Our Spring ’22 Class Assistants!

Posted on March 25, 2022March 25, 2022 by Jordyn Cormier

With limited class sizes for the past two years, we are so pleased to to announce that our Class Assistants Program is back!

This spring, seven upper level students have volunteered to assist our teaching artists in their weekly classes throughout the season. This program is just one of the ways we support creative youth development—and we are so happy that it’s back in action!

Ready to meet our wonderful Spring 2022 class assistants?

Eva Sophia

Assisting: Intro to Dance

Hi! My name is Eva. I have been dancing for ten and a half years. I started dancing at Pulse when I was seven. My favorite classes are Jazz and Ballet. The thing I love the most about dancing at pulse is the welcoming community, they are like a second family to me.

Rubielle Nejaime

Assisting: Foundations

I am a senior at Berkshire Pulse, and have been a part of the Pulse community for eight years. Now, I have the pleasure to assist the Foundations class, while watching them find their artistic ability.

Maya Bergman

Assisting: Creative Dance and Tumbling

My name is Maya. I’ve been dancing for ten years and I’ve been a

dancer at Berkshire Pulse for three years.

Lelia Belle

Assisting: Beginners Ballet and Ballet 1

I began my dancing journey in 2018 when I was eight with Intro to Dance Class and loved it, diving deeper each year in exploring the many classes Berkshire Pulse has to offer. I am happy to lend a helping hand and dancing feet to the studio!

Lily Reynolds

Assisting: Creative Dance

Hi I’m Lily Reynolds! I’m a high school student and have been dancing for 13 years now. Can’t wait to see the growth in the students!

Cecilia Kitross

Assisting: Modern 1

I’ve been taking classes at Berkshire Pulse for 6 years, and I’ve been a part of the Young Choreographers Initiative since 2018. Right now, I’m assisting the Modern I class taught by Susan Quinn.

Liam Reynolds

Assisting: Modern 3

Liam has been dancing since he was 4 yrs old….and has now combined his love of dance and musical theatre. When he’s not in a studio at Berkshire Pulse he’s in rehearsals in NYC for a new adventure.

Save the Dates… for Our Performances & Intensives!

Posted on February 10, 2022February 9, 2022 by Jordyn Cormier

Summer 2022 is really starting to shape up! We’re so pleased to share that our end-of-year performance will take place on Saturday, May 28th and Sunday, May 29th. These performances will be held at the Daniel Arts Center again—for the first time since 2019!

And while you have your calendar open…

Our summer intensive dates are officially up! Take an early peek at our Rhythm Alive, Dance Discovery, Hip Hop/Street Style, Contemporary, and Ballet intensives—more details and registration info to come.

VIEW THE SUMMER INTENSIVE LINEUP

February Break Reminder

During the break, all Youth Performing Arts Program classes are on break for the week of February 19-25, resuming on the 26th. Select community classes are ongoing—a full schedule for community classes during the break can be viewed here. Questions? Contact us here, or simply reply to this email.