Berkshire Pulse Announces Summer Intensive Programs for All Ages

Berkshire Pulse, South County's dynamic dance and performing arts education center located in the heart of Housatonic, has announced summer dance intensives for ages 4 to 18 running June through August, with morning and evening community classes for teens and adults of all ages and levels.

Berkshire Pulse's summer intensive offerings range in style and genre, from contemporary and choreography, to musical theater, hip hop, and more! Young dancers begin their exciting journey in movement and music through the Dance Adventure (ages 4-7) and Dance Discovery (ages 8-13) programs. Teens and tweens train their skills and expand their artistry through the interdisciplinary Berkshire Pulse Intensive (ages 11+). Advanced teens ages 17+ and pre-professional and professional adult dancers will have the opportunity to deepen and expand their artistic practice with a week-long Contemporary Intensive in August. In addition, Berkshire Pulse is excited to offer Musical Theater (ages 10-18) and Hip Hop (ages 12+) intensives to introduce performers to these forms.

"Summer is always a special time at Pulse, when students of all ages and abilities come together to deepen their skills as dancers and creative artists, or to learn something entirely new," says Artistic Director/Founder Bettina Montano, "This summer, we are more excited than ever to offer inspiring new programs and classes with extraordinarily dedicated teaching artists for an even wider range of ages and experience. "

Tuition assistance is available. For more information and registration, please visit: https://berkshirepulse.org/summer-intensive-programs/

DANCE DISCOVERY

June 26 - July 7 (no classes on July 4) | Beginners and adv beginners ages 8 to 13, half-day option for ages 8-9 (mornings only)

Monday to Friday, 9am-3pm; 9am-12pm half day (full two weeks only)

An exciting journey into the engaging and rewarding world of dance, this two-week program provides an introduction to dance forms including ballet, modern, African, Contradance, and more. Dancers will also have a chance to practice dance-making of their own!

$800 for a two-week program, $450 for 1st week only, $400 (two weeks half day)

BERKSHIRE PULSE INTENSIVE

July 10 - 21 | Ages 11+, two groups: beginner and int/adv

Monday to Friday, 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.

$800 for a two-week program, $500 for 1st week only

DANCE ADVENTURE

July 24 - 28 | Ages 4-7, half day

Monday to Friday, 9am-12pm

This new 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!

$300

HIP HOP AND STREET STYLE

July 31 - August 4 | All levels, two groups: ages 12-14 and 15+

Monday to Friday, 9am-3pm

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.

$400

MUSICAL THEATER

August 7 - 12 | All levels, full-day camp for ages 10-14, evening series for ages 14+

Monday to Saturday, Full-day camp, 9am-3pm

With Tom Masters and Molly Welch

This week-long camp gives students the opportunity to jump right into the world of musical theater with classes in tap, broadway jazz, voice, acting, and improvisation. Students will learn healthy warm-up practices for the voice and body, and work on character development, expression, ensemble, and more. The program directors will work with students to produce an informal performance for the program's final day on Saturday, August 12.

Monday to Saturday Evening Series, 5-7pm

With Wendy Welch

This-week long evening series for students ages 14+ will give the students an opportunity to take a daily two-hour musical theater workshop rotating between singing, acting, and improv and work on developing something for an end-of-the-week informal performance.

$400, $250 for the evening series

CONTEMPORARY INTENSIVE

August 14 - 18 | Advanced teens and undergrad students 17+, adults with advanced contemporary experience

Monday to Friday, 10am-4pm

with Sayer Mansfield and Sydney McManus

Beginning each day with a somatic warmup and contemporary class, this intensive will lead advanced dancers through improvisation, partnering, and workshop spaces. Sayer and Sydney come together to teach and exchange with young, curious minds. As a pair, they hope to deconstruct our habits of what it means to "work" as a dancer and creator. Can we train and create from a place of play and joy? Can we take care while we push our physical and artistic boundaries? These are all questions that are at the core of how they wish to share in this space together. Come to the woods for a week of pleasure, play, and expansive physicality.

$400

JUMPSTART

August 28 - September 1 | New and returning students ages 10-18

This program offers students who are new or returning to Pulse the opportunity to resume training with a week of afternoon classes before the Fall session begins. At least 1 year of previous dance experience is required.

$300

Berkshire Pulse's Performing Arts Program is made possible by funding from Massachusetts Afterschool Partnership, Mass Cultural Council, and Berkshire United Way, as well as the generosity of individual donors and support.

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