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!

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

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.

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.

Annual Report cover page. Two young dancers oustide.

Spring Registration is Open!

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.

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.
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.

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.


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 


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…

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.

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 


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.


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!!!”

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.

Berkshire Pulse