Our Spring 2024 schedule is posted! Please note that classes will appear as “out of stock” until we open up web registration this upcoming Monday, December 11. Fall classes still run through December 16.

We are grateful for YOU!

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

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.

Annual Report cover page. Two young dancers oustide.

November is also Native American Heritage Month. We acknowledge that we are learning, creating, and gathering on the ancestral homelands of the Muhheaconneok people, who are the indigenous peoples of the land upon which Berkshire Pulse sits.

Despite the tremendous hardship of being forced from their land, today their community resides in Wisconsin and is known as the Stockbridge-Munsee Community.

You can read more about Native American Heritage Month at the Massachusetts Center for Native American Awareness.

We are still open next Monday and Tuesday for classes. Our studios will be closed Wednesday, November 22 through Sunday, November 26.

In-School Program Spotlight

Kids break dancing in a gym

The Afterschool Dance Program at the Boys & Girls Club is a pilot partnership to provide free, high-quality, and youth-driven dance programming for Pittsfield middle and high school students. This fall, we are holding Hip-Hop and House classes taught by Madison Palffy and Laura Coe on Thursdays for 9 weeks, with 13 participating so far. We plan to continue and build this program for the Spring session as well as introduce a mini-intensive during their school February vacation. 

“We have a really great group of middle schoolers! They’re both enthusiastic and friendly with each other, I think they’re excited about the material Madison is bringing in and telling friends and siblings about it.” ~ Laura Coe, Teaching Assistant

Upcoming Workshops for Teens & Adults

A dance teacher addressing students on a dance studio
FRIDAY HIP HOP & STREET STYLE SERIES
📅 Fridays
🕕 6:15pm

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+
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+

Thank you Teaching Assistants!

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!

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.


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!


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.

Share Your Love for Berkshire 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, 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!


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+

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!


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

In Case You Missed It…New Bean Bags!

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.


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


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

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

Celebrating our love of dance

Yesterday was National Dance Day, but we celebrate dance every day at Berkshire Pulse!

With our Youth Performing Arts Program and Community Classes in full swing, our studios are alive with movement and life.

Berkshire Pulse is Hiring
We are expanding our staff and hiring for a few positions, both part-time and full-time, including a full-time Operations Manager, part-time Development Manager, and Front Desk Staff. View our open positions here.

Wacky Wednesday Workshops

a rotating workshop series with classes for all levels

Our newest workshop series is off to a great start!

Each Wednesday, we’ll 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!

WACKY WEDNESDAY SERIES

for ages 12 to adult

📅 Wednesdays

🕡 6:45-8pm

First up – 4 weeks of Improv Theater with Liz Butler and Ben Jardine! Next, join us for 3 weeks of Salsa with Luana Dias David.


Youth Classes Open for Registration

It’s not too late to sign up for our Youth Performing Arts Program. There is still time to get your young dancer signed up for class!

We are so excited to welcome every new mover to our studio (and welcome back so many familiar faces).


Upcoming Hip Hop Workshops

with Andres Ramirez, Dashawn Davis, and Shakia Barron

for beginner and intermediate levels, ages 16+

📅 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.

Then, come dance with Dashawn Davis on November 17 and Shakia Barron on December 1, 8, 15, and January 12 & 19 from 6:15-7:45pm!

Join us for our first week of classes!

Classes for our fall session are officially in full swing!

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


Introducing Wacky Wednesday

a rotating workshop series with classes for all levels

Circle of teens doing improv

We’re excited to announce a new workshop series called Wacky Wednesdays!

Each Wednesday, we’ll 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!

WACKY WEDNESDAY SERIES

for ages 12 to adult

📅 Wednesdays starting September 13

🕡 6:45-8pm

First up – 4 weeks of Improv Theater with Liz Butler and Ben Jardine!

Improv theater is the practice of building a scene or a story one piece at a time, in the moment, without any planning or scripting. Working with a group of others, or by yourself, you create a supportive environment where anything goes. It’s a joyous, uplifting, and deeply rewarding exercise where you can learn about yourself and have fun in the process.


Swing for Teens and Adults

Two people Swing dancing in a park on the road

📅 Thursdays

🕓 6:45-7:45pm

for beginner and intermediate dancers ages 12 to adult

This class teaches the partnered basics of East Coast Swing with a particular emphasis on rhythm, artistry, and jazz dance history. We’ll explore movement patterns that establish the foundations of Lindy Hop as a social, vernacular jazz dance. The goal is to boost your confidence to hit the dance floor and have fun, while celebrating the music, movement, and spirit of the Harlem Renaissance and Swing Era! 

No partner necessary – come as you are!


Ballet Zen is Back!

with Melissa Elstein

Melissa Elstein doing Ballet barre

for beginner and intermediate levels, ages 21+

📅 Thursdays

🕑 2-3:30pm

Learn gentle core strengthening exercises at the beginning of class, followed by ballet barre and basic center work, with a guided deep relaxation and short meditation to close. This class emphasizes leg and core strength, weight shifts, and balance work while learning ballet technique. 

These skills are useful for fall prevention – so important as we age – and combined here with beautiful music, the gracefulness of ballet movement, mental focus and relaxation, students will have a holistic movement class experience.

Spirits of Chesterwood

Thursday, July 27 at 4pm and 6pm

Rain date: Friday, July 28

Spirits of Chesterwood is an intergenerational dance project created by seven local choreographers in the Berkshire Pulse community. This roving, site-specific performance will be presented as a part of Chesterwood’s Arts Alive! series on Thursday, July 27, once at 4pm and again at 6pm, to allow an intimate group of audience members to follow the performers along the route. 


Dunham Technique Workshop Series

With Saroya Corbett

A group of dancers pose for a photo in a studio.

Open level, for ages 13-adult

📅 Saturdays, August 5 – 26

🕦 11:30am – 1pm

In this series, Saroya Corbett, Arthur Levitt Jr. ’52 Artist-in-Residence Fellow at Williams College, will share her expertise in Dunham Technique, an Afro-Modern dance technique. 


Sharing Summer Intensive Joy

A circle of student dancers surrounding a dance teacher in a dance studio

Our Dance Discovery Intensive brought together dancers ages 8 to 12 for two weeks of exploration! In particular, they loved their African Dance class with Nkoula Badila and Angel Lau (pictured here).

Upcoming Summer Intensives

It’s not too late to register for our upcoming summer intensives!

Hip Hop/Street Style Intensive
(July 31-August 4)
ages 12 to adult

Musical Theater
(August 7-12)
Day Camp: ages 10 to 14
Evening Series: ages 14 to adult

Deep Dive! Contemporary Intensive
(August 14-18)
for advanced teens and adults ages 17+


Dance with us this summer!

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

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


Upcoming Community Classes

Basic Dance Composition with Rebecca Alson-Milkman

Beginner, for ages 16-adult

📅 Tuesdays beginning July 11 

🕠 5:30-7:00 PM

Have you ever been curious about making your own choreography but thought you missed your chance? Here it is!

Through group improvisations and assigned studies, budding dancemakers will be introduced to the building blocks of composition: movement theme and variation, varying ways to code and carve the dance space, and how to define relationships between dancers. 

Capoeira with Tarcísio Ramos Dos Santos

For beginner movers and all levels, ages 13-adult

📅 Tuesdays and Thursdays beginning July 11 

🕠 5:30-6:45 PM

Experience acrobatic movements, dance, powerful kicks, and the enchanting rhythms of traditional Capoeira music. This dynamic practice cultivates strength, flexibility, rhythm, and coordination. Suitable for all levels, come and embrace the spirit of Capoeira!

Community Musical Theater with Wendy Welch

Open level, for ages 16-adult

📅 Wednesdays starting July 5

🕠 5:30-6:30pm

For everyone who loves to sing!

In this class, you will learn healthy vocal techniques, breath support, and how to connect to the material! You will also explore ‘acting the song’ through improvisation and acting exercises, while also having the opportunity to learn solo and group songs.


Spirits of Chesterwood

Spirits of Chesterwood is an intergenerational dance project created by 7 local choreographers in the Pulse community. This will be performed as a part of Chesterwoods’ Arts Alive series on Thursday, July 27, with shows at 4pm and 6pm.

What’s New at Pulse

Our summer session is in full swing! We’re so excited for our Dance Discovery program to begin next week. Plus, our Community Classes with new and continuing class and workshop options for all ages and levels of experience.

Next Tuesday, June 27, join the Feel Into Your Wholeness Workshop Series with Madeline Despres-Chen, Registered Somatic Movement Therapist & Educator. Madeline will guide you through a gentle somatic yoga experience to connect with your heart and lungs, followed by a therapeutic expressive arts process. The workshop will conclude with a facilitation of guided movement to support your fluid nature and deepen your mind-body-spirit connection.


World Percussion & African Dance

with Angel Lau & Nkoula Badila

A group of dancers in an African Dance Class. They are moving and a drummer plays while looking on.

Starting next Monday, June 26, join Nkoula Badila and Angel Lau for back-to-back community classes.

World Percussion 
Open Level and Intergenerational, for ages 8-adult
📅 Mondays, June 26-July 17
🕓 4-4:45pm

The world of percussion is so vast and exciting! In this course, you will learn the basics of how to play any percussion instrument, learning different rhythms from all over the globe with a focus on Afro-Cuban and Brazilian percussion.

African Dance 

Open Level, for ages 14-adult
📅 Mondays, June 26-July 17
🕓 5-6pm

This class will focus on a combination of Central West African + Contemporary dances, getting in touch with your own rhythm and flexibility, and finding a strong foundation in the relationship between the drum and the dance.


Save the Date: Spirits of Chesterwood

Spirits of Chesterwood is an intergenerational dance project created by 6 local choreographers in the Pulse community. This will be performed as a part of Chesterwoods’ Arts Alive series on Thursday, July 27, with shows at 4pm and 6pm.


Upcoming Performance This Week

Two dancers lay on their stomachs behind a row of assorted stuffed animals and toys. A third person holding a guitar kneels next to them.

why are you all still here

📅 Friday, June 23
🕢 7:30pm
📍 The Foundry, 2 Harris St, West Stockbridge

Pulse Teaching Artists Gillian Ebersole, Shannon Nulf, and Benjamin Court perform this Friday at The Foundry in West Stockbridge! Set to a soundscape of ambient blues music, their show why are you all still here explores the connection between knick knacks and nostalgia through movement and poetry, inspired by the items that stick with us, persisting even after every iteration of spring cleaning.

Thank YOU for making our Spring Celebration a success!

Thank you to all of our community members, teaching artists, families, and dancers who made our 2023 Spring Celebration a huge success! 

On May 27 & 28, our dancers performed in two sold-out shows at the Daniel Arts Center at Simon’s Rock. 100% of the proceeds from these performances will benefit our Tuition Assistance program.

We are so grateful to our generous sponsors for making this year’s performance celebration possible:

Alander Construction
Berkshire Mountain Bakery
Indian Mountain School
Jacob’s Pillow
Nature Works Organic Land Care Inc
Gail Belmuth
Joan & Peter Coombs
Alan & Benès Glackman
Claudia & Joe Gold
Bruce Humes/Tall Tree Productions
Diane Pearlman & Jeff Diamond


Join us this Saturday at the upcoming Housatonic Party in the Park! Come learn more about Pulse’s summer programming and join an African Dance and Drumming class. 


Music & Storytelling (ages 4-6)

with Jeffrey Howard

📅 Mondays, July 3 to Aug 21
🕞 3:45-4:45pm

Using basic percussion instruments like shaky eggs, djembes, and the ukulele, this class will engage young children in music! Activities include: using rhythm to say your name in syllables; using the sounds of the instruments to cook a recipe; and acting out animals using sound and motions.

Plus, the class incorporates books like “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” and “How Things Work in Busytown,” teaching young musicians to augment the stories and scenes using the sound from their instruments and the motion of their bodies.


Pride Ballet Workshop

📅 Saturday, June 17
🕤 9:30 to 11:30am

Set to pop tunes of queer greats, this workshop gives beginning and experienced dancers a chance to take up space, play with weight and momentum, and reframe their experience with ballet as one of joy.

This class centers queer folks but all are welcome! Dress in whatever way supports your identity and range of motion; rainbows encouraged. 🌈

*All proceeds from this class will be donated to the Elizabeth Freeman Center, an organization that offers hope, help, and healing to all experiencing or affected by domestic and sexual violence through free, accessible, and confidential services in Berkshire County.


Summer Intensive Highlight

👟HIP HOP & STREET STYLE INTENSIVE (Ages 12 to adult)

Introducing our Teaching Artists: Isaiah (Critical) Artis, Ben Court, Dashawn Davis, Miriam Piilonen, Andres Ramirez, and Peter (P-Boogie) Reynolds Jr. Read their bios here.

📅 Monday to Friday, July 31 – August 4
🕘 9am – 3pm

All levels, two groups: ages 12-14 and 15 to adult

Join these teaching artists to 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.


Berkshire Pulse