You’re Invited to our Annual Spring Celebration!

Tickets are on sale now for our Spring Celebration, taking place on May 25 & 26 at the Daniel Arts Center at Simon’s Rock.

All tickets are general admission, and are available on a first come, first served basis. Please note that you will need to purchase tickets to attend a performance, even if a child of yours is performing in the show. If you prefer not to purchase tickets online, please email berkshire.pulse@gmail.com so our staff can make arrangements with you to purchase tickets in-person/over the phone. All proceeds from the Spring Celebration will benefit the Pulse Tuition Assistance program!

*Online ticket sales are open until midnight the night before each performance. Limited tickets may be available at the door, but each performance is expected to sell out and families are encouraged to purchase tickets early.

Innovate, Inspire, Dance!

Berkshire Pulse invites you on Tuesday, May 7 at 6pm to The Foundry for an evening of innovative & inspired dance created and performed by the 2023/2024 members of the Berkshire Pulse Young Choreographers Workshop and Young Choreographers Initiative

This program is a fundraiser for our Diane Pearlman Young Choreographers Initiative Scholarship.

Launched in 2023, this scholarship underwrites the Young Choreographers Initiative tuition for all students, as well as the senior choreography project, providing graduating dancers with the studio space, professional mentorship, and production support needed for the senior solo creative process. Choreographic exploration and process is an essential component of the Pulse Youth Performing Arts Program curriculum, incorporated into classwork beginning at age 6 and continuing with increasing intention as students progress throughout the levels.  

Can’t make the presentation? Support the Diane Pearlman Young Choreographers Initiative Scholarship here.


Come Shake Your Soul!

Shake Your Soul®

with Madeline Despres-Chen

Shake Your Soul® is a movement practice that relaxes the nervous system, energizes the body, and awakens the soul through a fluid dance repertoire set to music from around the world. All levels welcome!

Class typically begins with a Qi Gong warm up followed by movement sequences that help you connect with your fluid nature. The final portion of the class includes creative exercises that allow for individual expression, solo exploration, and moving in pairs or with the group. This class is about feeling and embodying, not about how you or your movement looks. Participants are encouraged to adjust any movement that is offered according to their own needs and level of comfort.

All Levels – Ages 18+ – 📆Thursdays – 5:30 – 6:30pm & 📆Fridays – 9:00 – 10:00am


Thank You Soul Steps!

This past Saturday, April 6th Soul Steps concluded their 3-week artist residency with Berkshire Pulse by teaching a step class and sharing excerpts of their work with our community. During their residency, the company reached approximately 70 students at Pittsfield High School and Taconic High School, leaving a lasting impact on the students. We are incredibly thankful to the Soul Step artists for their care, energy, and inspiration, and we’re looking forward to continuing our partnership next year. Thank you so much, Maxine, Destiny, Daisha, Brandon, and Mark!

Step and Stretch into Spring!

Soul Steps is offering a free Community Workshop and informal presentation of excerpts from their musical “Step Show: The Musical” for ages 10 and up from 1:00-3:00pm on Saturday, April 6th!

Soul Steps is a NYC-based dance-theater company founded in 2005, dedicated to teaching and performing African American step dance. They are in residence at Berkshire Pulse for 3 weeks while they teach step dance in the Pittsfield Public Schools and develop their new musical about the history of step dance.


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.


Yoga is Stretching Out until May!

All Levels Yoga: Lunar New Year’s Series

with Bethany Trozzo

A weekly class series to help students explore their mind-body connection through foundational yoga postures, sequences, and breathing exercises. Focus is on creating safe alignment, cultivating body awareness, and relaxation.

Postures introduced and practiced will include: Sun salutations A/B, chair, downward facing dog, warrior 1 & 2, balancing poses, mountain, spinal twists, savasana, Ujjayi breath, and others. Class themes will focus on connecting with the energy of the Lunar New Year, Year of the Wood Dragon.

Please bring your own yoga mat.

Ages 18+

 📆Tuesdays March 26th – May 7th

🕕5:45pm – 6:45pm

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+

Berkshire Pulse