Our Fall 2024 Schedule is Live and Registration is Open! Classes begin September 9.

Tag: registration

Welcoming our First Executive Director

Posted on by Max

Dear Pulse Community,

I am writing to share exciting news – we have started planning for the future with an expansion initiative and have begun by hiring our first-ever Executive Director to accompany me in leadership of the organization. Abigail (Abi) Rollins will join Berkshire Pulse on July 15th!

Pulse has grown exponentially: increased community demand, regional expansion, and an ever-growing list of diverse offerings in the creative arts. Pulse will continue to expand in every way, and Abi will help us manage our growth in a way that stays true to our mission.

Abi Rollins joins Pulse from Berkshire Opera Festival, where she has served as Executive Director since 2019. Abi moved to the Berkshires from Boston, where she held the positions of General Manager and later Managing Director of Commonwealth Shakespeare Company, for a total of nine years. She honed her many skills in arts administration through positions at Trisha Brown Dance Company, Lyric Stage Company, and Boston Ballet, among others. She has an MA in Arts Administration from Boston University, and a double-major undergraduate degree in Dance and Psychology from Kenyon College. 

At Pulse, Abi will drive strategic and business planning as well as development, and will oversee day-to-day operations including finance, administration, and facility operations. About the role, Abi said “I first began my career specifically with the aim of working with and supporting dance artists. Along the way, I have had many rewarding opportunities outside of dance, gaining real world experience and refining my skills as an arts administrator. I know this is the opportunity I’ve been working towards during my 20+ years of learning and working in dance and arts administration.” Abi first experienced Pulse in early 2023 when she started taking dance classes there after a long hiatus from dancing. She was immediately moved by the warmth and culture of respect for dancers of all abilities and ages and inspired to apply for the Executive Director position when we announced it earlier this winter. 

Our Board President Gail Belmuth said “Pulse has entered a new chapter of strategic growth, and Abi will help us manage that growth while also building for a sustainable future. She is a great addition to a wonderful team.”

While Abi and I will partner in many areas, having an experienced, collaborative partner means that I can turn my attention more fully to my role as Artistic Director, leading Pulse’s mission and artistic vision, curriculum development, and continuing standards of excellence in programming and performance.

Please join me in welcoming Abigail Rollins to the Pulse family!

My Very Best,

Bettina Montano

Artistic Director/Founder

Community Class Highlights

Community Modern – Intermediate+

With Madison Palffy

Intermediate – ages 14 to adult

📆Thursdays 6:00pm-7:30pm, June 6 – August 22 (no class July 4)

Drawing from a variety of modern dance traditions and techniques, this class emphasizes classwork which develops strength, alignment, agility, musicality and versatility of expression.

Classes consist of structured improvisation, inversions and floorwork, exercises to challenge rhythm and musicality, and phrases to encourage students to move in a full bodied physicality that travels through space.

REGISTER HERE

Spend your Summer Dancing!

Posted on by Max

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!

PRE-REGISTER HERE!

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.

Let dance keep you warm!

Posted on by Teak

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.

LEARN MORE ABOUT WINTER INTENSIVES

Save the dates! Our summer intensive schedule is live on our website. Registration will open in February.

SUMMER 2024

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!

Posted on by Teak

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!

SUPPORT TUITION ASSISTANCE
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.
CHOOSE YOUR CLASSES

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.

VIEW CLASSES + REGISTER

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+

Everyone deserves to experience the joy and power of creative expression.

Posted on by Teak
Double your impact

We’re excited to announce we have received a matching challenge gift from Alander Construction for the third year in a row, which means every dollar donated will be doubled – up to $7,500! You can donate here.

Thanks to your incredible generosity, Pulse has never turned away a student for an inability to pay. 

In 2023, approximately 1 out of 6 students qualified for and were awarded between 25% and 100% of their tuition.

Your generosity gives the gift of joy to our community. And today, across our country and around the world, we need joy.

With your support and the matching challenge gift from Alander, we are even closer to raising our year-end goal for tuition assistance. Please consider supporting our Tuition Assistance Program so we can make our offerings more accessible to everyone in our community.

SUPPORT TUITION ASSISTANCE

With every donation, you are supporting individual expression, nurturing health and well-being, strengthening cultural identity, healing trauma, and fostering connections across communities.

Click the button below to view our 2023 Annual Impact Report.

READ MORE
Annual Report cover page. Two young dancers oustide.

Spring Registration is Open!

Posted on by Teak

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.

VIEW AND REGISTER HERE
Double your gift!

We’re so grateful to have received a matching challenge gift from Alander Construction for the third year in a row, which means every dollar donated will be doubled – up to $7,500! You can donate here or by clicking the button below.
GIVE THE GIFT OF DANCE
Annual Report cover page. Two young dancers oustide.

NEW in 2024: Winter Intensives

Ballet Intensive
with Hillary Jackson and Vincent Brewer
for ages 11 to adult
📅 February 23-25
This intermediate-level weekend intensive will focus on ballet technique and conditioning, as well as pre/beginners pointe and variation work. Each day will begin with Vaganova floor barre and conditioning, followed by a ballet class and pointe class. Then, dancers will learn and rehearse a variation from Paquita. Develop your passion for ballet while strengthening your artistry! 
Open to dancers enrolled in Ballet 2-4 and beginner/intermediate adults.

SIGN UP

When Paths Cross: Contemporary Dance, Theater, and Soft Acrobatics
with Fern Katz and Ricardo Paz
for ages 14 to adult
📅 February 23-25
The purpose of this workshop is to spark a creative burst of energy and playfulness, to foster communication and teamwork, all within a theatrical/dance context. In this workshop, we will teach how to be resourceful, quick-thinking, and use our instincts to create; let’s discover the vast realm of creative possibilities in this weekend workshop!
Open to dancers ages 14+ and intermediate/advanced adults.

SIGN UP

Don’t Miss: Berkshire Pulse Dancers at NightWood

Nighttime picture at The Mount
@ericlimonphotography

Berkshire Pulse teaching artists and choreographers are performing site-specific duets at The Mount. Duets include Laura Coe and Liam Coote, Veronica Bone and Akinyemi Blackshear, Gillian Ebersole and Shannon Nulf.
📅 Wed-Sat, December 20-23 
🕠 5:20 and 6:20pm 

TICKETS

In-School & Community Program Spotlight

Five teen students in a school classroom.

This fall, our Moving Life Stories program, led by Tom Truss, took off at Pittsfield High, Taconic High, and Mt. Everett High, engaging high school students for the first time.

We’re proud to showcase how this dance and storytelling program builds lifelong skills, meeting school standards with a focus on self-reflection, physical awareness, confidence, and social-emotional intelligence. 

Beyond high schools, we’ve successfully run a community Moving Life Stories series for six weeks at the William Stickney Pittsfield Adult Learning Center with students who’ve returned to school to obtain their GED and learn English.

Looking back at our year…

Posted on by Teak

Your generosity is at the heart of Berkshire Pulse.

Just last week, we were so honored to be named the First Place Winner in three categories (Arts Organization, Art Classes, Dance Studio/Classes) for the Rural Intelligence Readers’ Choice Awards.

This is a testament to the spirit of community that surrounds Berkshire Pulse. To all who placed nominations and votes in our name, to those who spread the word about Pulse, and to those who attend our programming across the county – you make Pulse possible.

We wanted to share our annual impact report with you. Click the button below to learn more about our work inside and out of the studio and how to support the future of Pulse.

SEE YOUR IMPACT
Double your gift!

We’re are so grateful to have received a matching challenge gift from Alander Construction for the third year in a row, which means every dollar donated will be doubled– up to $7,500!

Berkshire Pulse Dancers at NightWood

Nighttime picture at The Mount
@ericlimonphotography

Berkshire Pulse teaching artists and choreographers are performing site-specific duets at The Mount. Duets include Laura Coe and Liam Coote, Veronica Bone and Akinyemi Blackshear, Gillian Ebersole and Shannon Nulf.

📅 December 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23 

🕠 5:30 and 6:30pm 

TICKETS

Our Spring Schedule is Live!

Shakia instructing hip hop students

Start your new year with dance! Registration for 2024 classes opens next week on Monday, December 11.

VIEW THE SCHEDULE

In-School Program Spotlight

Sara Kiesel holding a tambourine for a little kid to hit

This Fall, Berkshire Pulse is piloting the Dance for the Special Child program at Muddy Brook Elementary and Undermountain Elementary School with Sara Kiesel, Pulse’s Special Education Curriculum Advisor and Teaching Artist. Each week, Sara visits 4 integrated pre-K classrooms and 1 substantially separate classroom.

Here’s what one classroom teacher has to say about the program:

“Sara is amazing! She has such a calm way about her that she draws all of my children to her and her calm nature. She integrates language into every aspect of dance and practices turn-taking, sharing, and breathing exercises, just to name a few.  

Sara explores body parts, spatial relationships, and dance elements to each child’s ability. Sara is great at differentiating what each child’s abilities are and how to help them progress. The children get very excited on Thursdays when they see Ms. Sara’s photo on our visual schedule and know she is coming. We love having Ms. Sara teach dance to our class and hope that this continues.

Having a program for special needs children as wonderful as this, in our small town, is nothing less than spectacular!!!”

Thank you Teaching Assistants!

Posted on by Teak

We are so grateful for the dedication and leadership of our 10 Teaching Assistants (not all pictured) Beatrice, Chris, Georgia, Maya, Eva Sophia, Antonia, Ned, D’Ari, Megan, and Estrella.

These dancers are an integral part of our Youth Performing Arts Program, and their love for dance inspires our younger dancers. Thank you!

Share your love for Pulse!

Thanks to community nomination, Berkshire Pulse made it to the voting round of the Rural Intelligence Readers’ Choice Awards!

Berkshire Pulse is nominated in multiple categories under Arts & Entertainment, including Best Dance Classes/Studio and Best Arts Organization.

Help spread the word about Berkshire Pulse by visiting RuralIntelligence.com/ReadersChoice to cast your vote! Voting runs until November 13, and you can cast nominations every day. Voting is easy – you just need to enter a valid email!
VOTE FOR PULSE

In-School Program Spotlight

An indigenous man in front of a stage with a drum next to a standing woman

Shawn Stevens, from the Stockbridge Munsee Mohican reservation in Wisconsin, and Shannon Chada from Chicago, made their annual pilgrimage to their ancestral native lands in Berkshire County. Before being displaced, the Mohican/Munsee land extended across six states, including parts of Vermont, New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.

Berkshire Pulse partnered with Shawn and Shannon to bring their dedicated work of educating and connecting with people of all ages and backgrounds to local schools. They held school assemblies in three Berkshire County Elementary schools and had an in-depth discussion with first-year students at Simon’s Rock, reaching over 1000 students.

READ MORE

Upcoming Beatboxing Workshops

Galush holding a synthesizer with blue and pink lights on him.

We’re excited to have John “Galush” Galusha teaching two upcoming beatboxing workshops as part of our Wacky Wednesday Workshop Series. Join us on November 8 and 15 to try beatboxing!

In these workshops, you will learn the ways beatboxing can be implemented into a musical mental health practice along with the beatbox basics: BTK and variations on BTK.

WACKY WEDNESDAY SERIES
for ages 12 to adult
📅 Wednesdays from October 11 – 25
🕡 6:45-8pm

All workshops are open to absolute beginners, meaning you don’t need any related experience to participate. Just bring your curiosity and an open mind!

SIGN UP HERE

Join our Dances of Africa Class

Does your child love rhythm, music, and dance? Do you want to add or join a dance class this fall? It’s not too late! 

Join us for our upcoming DANCES OF AFRICA class!
📅 Tuesdays beginning November 7
🕛 4:45-5:45pm

This class is for ages 8-10, with Nkoula Badila and Angel Lau.

There’s still time to register if you haven’t yet.

SIGN UP TODAY

Share Your Love for Berkshire Pulse

Posted on by Teak

Thanks to community nomination, Berkshire Pulse made it to the voting round of the Rural Intelligence Readers’ Choice Awards!

Berkshire Pulse is nominated in multiple categories, including Best Dance Classes/Studio and Best Arts Organization.

Help spread the word about Berkshire Pulse by visiting RuralIntelligence.com/ReadersChoice to cast your vote! Voting runs until November 13, and you can cast nominations every day. Voting is easy – you just need to enter a valid email!

VOTE FOR PULSE

Upcoming Community Classes & Workshops

Flamenco Dancers outside

We’re excited to have new classes and workshops for teens and adults beginning in October and November.

FRIDAY HIP HOP & STREET STYLE SERIES
📅 Fridays
🕕 6:15pm

Join us for a special series of Beginners Funk Box Breaking for Adults and Teens with Andres Ramirez, on October 13, 20, 27 and November 3 from 6:15-7:15pm. For ages 16 to adult

Then, come dance with Dashawn Davis on November 17 and Shakia Barron in December and January from 6:15-7:45pm! For ages 12 to adult
ABSOLUTE BEGINNER FLAMENCO SERIES
📅Mondays in November
🕤9:30am

Joanne Bockemuehl-Jackson leads a beginner series this November. This series is targeted to everyone that is curious about tapping into their own passionate courage to allow themselves to stand up and be seen! For ages 18+
COMMUNITY WORLD PERCUSSION
📅Tuesdays starting November 7
🕕6pm

Angel Lau teaches the basics of how to play any percussion instrument. Using these foundations, you’ll learn different rhythms from all over the globe with a focus on West African, Afro-Cuban, and Brazilian percussion. For ages 11+. Absolute beginners and experienced drummers are all welcomed.
 DUNHAM TECHNIQUE SERIES
📅Thursdays during Community Modern starting November 9
🕕6pm

Explore Dunham Technique, an Afro-Modern dance technique, with Saroya Corbett in this special series. For beginner and intermediate dancers ages 14+
VIEW ALL COMMUNITY CLASSES

Wacky Wednesday Workshops

a rotating workshop series with classes for all levels

Dancers doing salsa in a studio

Join us for 3 weeks of Salsa with Luana Dias David, as part of our rotating workshop series with guest teaching artists.

WACKY WEDNESDAY SERIES

for ages 12 to adult

📅 Wednesdays

🕡 6:45-8pm

All workshops are open to absolute beginners, meaning you don’t need any related experience to participate. Just bring your curiosity and an open mind!

SIGN UP HERE

Youth Classes Starting Soon

Dancers following their instructor in a studio

There are a few classes starting next week in our Youth Performing Arts Program.

DANCE FOUNDATIONS 2
for ages 10-13
📅Mondays starting October 23
🕠5:25-6:25pm

DANCE FOR BOYS
for ages 10-13
📅Wednesdays starting October 25
🕓4-5:30pm

Coming soon: DANCES OF AFRICA
for ages 8-10
📅Tuesdays starting November 7
🕟4:45-5:45pm

PUSH THE BUTTON

In Case You Missed It…New Bean Bags!

Posted on by Teak

We’ve been busy making some updates in our space – including these fun new bean bags in our new lounge (formerly our music room). Next time you’re in our studios, peek in the back to check it out!

October brings so many new classes to our space. We’re excited to launch new classes in our Youth Performing Arts Program and continue to introduce workshops for teens and adults in our Community Class Program.

BROWSE CLASSES

Classes Starting in October

Three boys dancing onstage

There are a few classes starting this October in our Youth Performing Arts Program.

DANCE FOUNDATIONS 2
for ages 10-13
📅Mondays starting October 23
🕠5:25-6:25pm

DANCE FOR BOYS
for ages 10-13
📅Wednesdays starting October 25
🕓4-5:30pm

Coming soon: DANCES OF AFRICA
for ages 8-10
📅Tuesdays starting November 7
🕟4:45-5:45pm

VIEW CLASSES & REGISTER

Upcoming Hip Hop & Street Style Workshops

with Sereena Hunter, Andres Ramirez, Dashawn Davis, and Shakia Barron

Dancers posing in a dance studio

For teens and adults at beginner and intermediate levels, our Hip Hop & Street Style workshops feature guest teaching artists with experience in all different styles. Whether this is your first time in a Hip Hop & Street Style class or you’re excited to return, these workshops offer a chance for you to groove and have fun!

SATURDAY COMMERCIAL HIP HOP WORKSHOP
📅Saturday, October 7
🕛12:15pm

Sereena Hunter returns to teach a Commercial Hip Hop Workshop! This hip-hop class is a fast-paced and energetic dance style using the latest street/urban dance moves set to commercial hip-hop music. For ages 13 to adult
FRIDAY HIP HOP & STREET STYLE SERIES
📅 Fridays starting October 13
🕕 6:15pm

Join us for a special series of Beginners Funk Box Breaking for Adults and Teens with Andres Ramirez, on October 13, 20, 27 and November 3 from 6:15-7:15pm. For ages 16 to adult

Then, come dance with Dashawn Davis on November 17 and Shakia Barron in December and January from 6:15-7:45pm! For ages 12 to adult
SEE THE SCHEDULE

Wacky Wednesday Workshops

a rotating workshop series with classes for all levels

Dancers doing salsa in a studio

Each Wednesday, we have rotating workshops with guest teaching artists. All workshops are open to absolute beginners, meaning you don’t need any related experience to participate. Just bring your curiosity and an open mind!

We started with 4 weeks of Improv Theater with Liz Butler and Ben Jardine (last class October 4, it’s not too late to try)! Next, join us for 3 weeks of Salsa with Luana Dias David.

WACKY WEDNESDAY SERIES

for ages 12 to adult

📅 Wednesdays

🕡 6:45-8pm

SIGN UP HERE
Berkshire Pulse