Please note: Berkshire Pulse office hours are adjusted the following days:
5/20-24: Office is OPEN 11am-7pm
5/25 & 5/26: Studios fully CLOSED because of our Spring Celebration performances at Simon's Rock - get tickets here!

Tag: new classes

Meet New Pulse Staff Members

Posted on 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+

REGISTER

AUTHENTIC MOVEMENT
with Paula Josa-Jones

📅 Sunday, October 30
🕐 1 to 4:30pm

Open to all levels; ages 18+

REGISTER

AFRICAN DANCE WORKSHOP
with Nkoula Badila

📅 Wednesday, November 9

🕠 5:45 to 7:15pm

Open to all levels; ages 11+

REGISTER

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 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+.

REGISTER TODAY

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.

SIGN UP TODAY

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!

REGISTER TODAY

Move with us for FREE this October!

Posted on 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. 

REGISTER

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.

REGISTER

Join us for our first week of classes!

Posted on 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

Take a class with Shaan Battersby
Move with Jessica Mahaney
Dance with Emily Hildebrand
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!

REGISTER

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

Time to Sign Up for Fall Classes!

Posted on by Jordyn Cormier

Registration for our fall classes is officially underway. Check out our new Youth Performing Arts Program schedule—and don’t miss out on our freshest Community Classes. 

Get excited—classes start September 12th!   

REGISTER NOW

Can’t Wait to Start Dancing Again? Try This… 

3 Day Ballet Jump Start Youth Program

with Fiona Scruggs and Emily Hildebrand

for ages 10-18

This program offers students who are new or returning to Pulse the opportunity to resume training with 3 consecutive afternoons of classes just before the Fall session begins. Previous dance experience is required.

SIGN UP

2 CLASSES AVAILABLE:

Advanced Beginner, ages 10-12

Tuesday 9/6 thru Thursday 9/8

4-5:30pm

with Fiona Scruggs

Intermediate+, ages 13-18

Tuesday 9/6 thru Thursday 9/8

4:30-6pm

with Emily Hildebrand

And Make Sure to Check Out Our NEWEST Classes!

These classes are available for the first time ever!

🎤 The Art of Rap (Ages 10+)

Learn how to rap with Jackson Whalan and explore verse writing, freestyling, and collaboration techniques.

🎸 Rock Band Camp (Ages 11+) 

Turn your rockstar dreams into reality with Jeffrey Howard. Calling all drummmers, guitarists, bassists, keyboardists, vocalist—level up your playing skills and let’s play together!

🎭 Musical Theater for Teens (ages 12-18)

Work on songs and learn to use the body and voice for healthy acting and singing with Wendy Welch.

🎭 Musical Theater for Adults (ages 18+)

Love to sing? Explore the fun and freedom of singing through a healthy vocal technique, breath and connection to the material with Wendy Welch.

💕 Dance for the Special Child (ages 6-9)

With deep respect for the journey of the child whose perceptions and abilities are getting in their way​, Sara Kiesel offers therapeutic movement classes​ ​that develop skills in communication, behavioral skills management, and social/emotional interactions. 

🕺🏽 Vitamin D (ages 14+)

Vitamin D is a choreographed fitness class with Jessica Mahaney for ANY BODY that wants to shake a tail feather!

💃🏽 Latin Dance at Simon’s Rock (ages 16+)

Join Luana Dias David and discover the rhythms and movements from Salsa and Samba steps—progressing into a choreography true to the original rhythm.

🥊 Community Boxing Gym (8th graders to adults)

*FREE for Housatonic + GB youth*

Genève Brossard’s fun class focuses on improving fitness and learning all the elements of boxing training; practicing punch combos, footwork, jump-rope tricks, mitt work, and conditioning.

BROWSE MORE CLASSES

Summer Starts Now!

Posted on by Jordyn Cormier

Yes, we know summer technically starts June 21st. But with so many fun events going on this weekend—like Jacob’s Pillow Community Day—along with the start of our summer session on Monday, we can’t help but feel that a fantastic summer is already ramping up!  

By the looks of it, it’s going to be a summer season for the books…     

Join Us This Saturday at Jacob’s Pillow Community Day

Come out to Jacob’s Pillow this Saturday for a FREE family-friendly day of performances, fun activities, and workshops!  

Enjoy a showing of beautiful outdoor performances by Pulse students from Modern 3, Contemporary 4, and the Young Choreographers Initiative. There will also be performances by Pulse teaching artists Gillian Ebersole, Fern Katz, and Andres Ramirez (Funk Box Dance Studio).   

All-level workshops will be available throughout the day, including classes led by Pulse teaching artists Luana Dias David and Madeline Despres-Chen. It’s not to be missed!   

LEARN MORE HERE

Summer Classes Start Monday

This session kicks off with a lineup of special guest teachers…

Contemporary – 6-7:15pm on Mondays

6/13, 6/20 & 6/27 with Sayer Mansfield

Ballet – 10-11:30am on Saturdays

6/18 with Sophie Alpern

6/25 with Moscelyne ParkeHarrison

Contemporary – 11:45-1:45pm on Saturdays

6/18 & 6/25 with  Moscelyne ParkeHarrison

SIGN UP HERE

And lastly, a very special thank you… to all who attended our Moving Life Stories Celebration last week. Thank you for making it an unforgettable evening of dance, food, sharing, and community! We look forward to seeing you again in the fall.

Spring Classes Are Here!

Posted on by Jordyn Cormier

Let’s dance all this winter cold away! Our community classes and upper level PAP classes are officially back in full swing—and our younger students will return to start the spring session on January 29th. (You can review the limited changes we’ve made to the PAP schedule here.)

Haven’t signed up for a class yet? Don’t forget—for the month of January, try any of our community classes, including one of our 6 brand new community classes, for FREE!

Two New Community Classes to Try!

Brazilian Percussion Ensemble

with Tarcísio Ramos Dos Santos

Ages 11+, Thursdays 5:45-6:45pm

In this class we will learn several iconic Brazilian rhythms. We will learn Samba, Samba Reguea, Baião, Xaxado and Maracatu. All these rhythms have an African influence and they are the back bone of the Brazilian musical soul. We will learn to play traditional Brazilian instruments that compose the Brazilian percussive ensemble called Bateria! It will be fun and we will learn together one beat at the time!

SIGN UP

Intro to Brazilian Samba Dance

with Tarcísio Ramos Dos Santos

Ages 16+, Thursdays 7-8pm

Samba is the most popular Afrobrazilian dance known and practiced in Brazil and around the world. The peculiar and fun samba dance steps is a fun workout and a way to express yourself. The meter is a simple 2/4 but its syncopation brings an authentic energy where the dancer will play, dance, create and the most important, have fun. This is an introductory Samba class and no dance experience is required.

SIGN UP

BODYSONNET presents: Art Tonic

January 30- February 1

Art Tonic is a virtual celebration and a platform to premiere new work developed and produced by BODYSONNET, a collective of contemporary dance artists. As a collective committed to innovative and accessible art, BODYSONNET will be hosting Art Tonic on bodysonnet.org as a private website open for 72 hours to audience members who make a tax-deductible donation of ten dollars or more to receive a ticket.

Included in the virtual space is a talkback hosted by creative consultant, and educational developer Antonio Viva, the world premiere of BODYSONNET’s new film The Mount: a visually captivating short set at the historic home of Edith Wharton, and exclusive season previews.

Go to bodysonnet.org for tickets or contact collective@bodysonnet.org.

Berkshire Pulse