Staff Archives - Berkshire Pulse

Zurie Adams

Zurie Adams has had a passion for the performing arts ever since childhood, participating in school theatre programs, dance lessons and Berkshire Children’s Chorus. In 2019 Zurie graduated from St. Vincent and the Grenadines Community College with an Associates Degree in Fine Art, Design and Cultural Communication and in 2023 graduated from MCLA with a BA in Performing Arts (Major in Theatre, Minor in Music Production). Recent shows include Release (2023), What The Constitution Means To Me (2023) and Urinetown: The Musical (2023).

Zurie has a wide variety of interests but aims to always work in an environment where art of some kind is being created.

Max Chase

Max Chase was born and raised in New Marlborough, MA. Max has most of their associate’s degree in Biology, which, if you read between the lines, means marketing was never on their ten-year plan. They have always had a passion for music and art; they participated in multiple musical theater productions in middle and high school and was a part of the Massachusetts Youth Honors Choir. They have worked on and off at Berkshire Pulse since 2021, starting as a member of the front desk staff (the front desk being a camp chair in the middle of a field at Chesterwood due to COVID) and are so excited to continue growing with this community.

Allegra Chin

Allegra was born and raised in the Berkshires and has spent the past 6 years working with cultural organizations that they loved as a child. After earning their engineering degree at the University of Hartford, they decided to take some time to explore a few alternate life paths. This brought them to their first development job with the Berkshire Museum and they’ve since spent time at Hancock Shaker Village and Barrington Stage Company. As a musician themself, they are invested in supporting the thriving arts community here in Berkshire County.

Jaimee Christiant

For over 25 years, Jaimee—a proud Litchfield County native—has worn many hats at Pulse: from dancer, front desk team member, and translator, to now our dedicated Community & School Programs Manager, she has been deeply involved in the rhythm of Berkshire Pulse since its early beginnings.
She holds a Master’s degree in Hispanic Languages and Literature and has spent her adult life engaged in grassroots organizing and arts advocacy within the local Hispanic community. Passionate about cultural connection and community empowerment, she is thrilled to bring her experiences back to Pulse and looks forward to engaging with the rich and diverse Berkshire County population. In her spare time at home, Jaimee takes on more gardening projects than she could ever possibly finish.

Madeline Despres-Chen

Madeline teaches Shake Your Soul®—a soulful, somatic dance practice that helps people connect with their bodies, awaken joy, and experience greater freedom of expression and self-awareness through movement.

She is a certified Registered Somatic Movement Therapist and Educator (RSMT/E) who combines her expertise in trauma-informed care with a deep passion for supporting others in healing through the mind-body connection. Madeline is registered with ISMETA (the International Somatic Movement Education and Therapy Association) and is currently completing the required hours toward Master-level certification as a Somatic Movement Therapist (MSMT). She is also pursuing her M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a trauma concentration at Antioch University New England. Her approach draws from Polyvagal Theory, Body-Centered Gestalt Psychotherapy, and expressive arts modalities.

Between her undergraduate and graduate studies, Madeline spent four years in Shanghai, China, teaching children English, dance, and drama performance. During that time, she also had the opportunity to share Shake Your Soul® at local studios. This international experience broadened her perspective on movement and performance, deepening her calling to somatic healing work.

In her practice, Madeline uses tools such as body scanning, mindful movement, journaling, and nervous system education to help clients and students reconnect with their body’s wisdom and create new pathways for healing. Whether in group classes or individual sessions, she strives to create a safe, welcoming space where people can explore their authentic selves through embodiment.

Madeline teaches Shake Your Soul® on Thursdays at Berkshire Pulse and offers remote somatic therapy sessions. She has served as an assistant for LIFE Movement’s SomaSoul® Clinical Training program for two years and will assist with the Shake Your Soul® Level 1 Teacher Training for the second time this summer, sharing her experience with the next generation of somatic practitioners.

View Madeline’s ISMETA Profile

Gillian Ebersole

Born in Portland, Oregon, and raised in Denver, Colorado, Gillian Ebersole (they/them) is a dancer and choreographer, as well as a poet, dance writer, and researcher. Gillian graduated Summa Cum Laude from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles with a dual degree in Dance and English. Performed on stages in Los Angeles, Denver, and Paris, as well as across Berkshire County, their choreographic work merges a love for language and for movement. Gillian trained with Denver contemporary dance company Wonderbound, Los Angeles Contemporary Dance Company, Whyteberg, Gibney, and Bill T. Jones. Most recently, Gillian has performed and presented work at multiple venues in Berkshire County, including Jacob’s Pillow, The Foundry, and Chesterwood. Drawn to the communal embodied experience. Gillian is a certified yoga instructor and has taught both dance and yoga in studios and community spaces. After moving to Western Massachusetts to work for Jacob’s Pillow, Gillian became a Teaching Artist Fellow as part of the Massachusetts Cultural Council Creative Youth Development program. Currently, Gillian works for Berkshire Pulse as the Youth Performing Arts Program Coordinator and is proud to be a member of their Modern Dance Faculty.

Susan Ingersoll

Susan Ingersoll has served as the Finance Director at Berkshire Pulse since 2015. Susan relocated to the Berkshires from California in 1990 and has dedicated her career to working with nonprofit organizations. Over the years, she has been an active board member for the Sheffield Land Trust and Greenagers, all while raising two children in the community. Outside of her professional role, Susan enjoys staying active on the pickleball court and pursuing her passions, which include spending time by the ocean, reading, and thrifting.

Sara Kiesel

Sara Kiesel is a seasoned educator specializing in arts for the young child. She has worked as a dance/movement specialist and Arts administrator, workshop leader, and teacher trainer. Her background in dance, movement therapy, creative arts and performance has given her a breadth of experience while working with hundreds of children, families and teaching professionals. Sara has recently been studying the effects of trauma on children and youth, with the aim of teaching simple techniques for self-care.

Sara is a gifted teacher with an empathetic and perceptive ability to meet the child where he/she is. Sara brings her knowledge of the child’s developmental, social and emotional needs to the table as she guides parents and teachers to better understand the child in their care. An experienced speaker and workshop leader, Sara engages audiences with her enthusiasm, joy for the role of the arts in education, and respect for the journey of the child whose perceptions and abilities are ready to be expressed. Understanding that all children have individual learning styles enables Sara to work effectively with all populations.

Kendra Lassor

Born and raised in the beautiful Berkshires, Kendra has always been inspired by movement, creativity, and exploration. Her passion for dance began at the age of four when she was classically trained in ballet at the Cantarella School of Dance. She later became a soloist with the Albany Berkshire Ballet, performing in productions such as The Nutcracker, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

With a lifelong commitment to artistic and movement education, Kendra continues to perform with Berkshire Pulse and is a proud member of the Qualia Dance Collective and Gypsy Layne Burlesque. Having danced with Berkshire Pulse for over 20 years, she now plays an integral role in its growth and success as a studio manager and teaching artist, helping to support a vibrant and inclusive community.

Beyond the arts, Kendra has a strong entrepreneurial background as the former owner of Nature Works Land Care, an ecological landscape company. She led the business with a focus on sustainability, overseeing operations, financial management, and team development while cultivating a workplace culture where people felt valued and inspired.

Her interests extend beyond dance and business. She is a 200-hour registered yoga and meditation teacher, an advanced open-water scuba diver, and an avid surfski paddler, competing in regional races. She also enjoys traveling and exploring new places.

Above all, Kendra is a devoted mother to her two sons, Gabe, a sophomore at UMass Amherst, and Julian, a high school junior. Their creativity and ambition continue to inspire her and make her proud.

With a deep love for movement and the arts, Kendra remains dedicated to teaching, performing, and making a meaningful impact in her community.

Maria Mendoza

Born in beautiful Colombia, Maria Mendoza is the daughter of two hardworking immigrants. Proud of her background and committed to supporting the Latino community, she aspires to become a bilingual clinical psychologist and is currently pursuing her education. She is passionate about mental health advocacy and hopes to make therapy more accessible to Spanish-speaking communities. Along with her dedication to psychology, she has a deep love for the arts and design, which have been an integral part of her life. Whether through painting, fashion, or creative expression, she finds joy in exploring different artistic mediums. She believes that both psychology and art have the power to heal and connect people, inspiring her to integrate creativity into her future work.