Berkshire Busk! is proud to host its second annual Dance Night, featuring a free community salsa class, on Friday, August 9. Friday’s programming comes in partnership with Jacob’s Pillow as part of their “Jacob’s Pillow on the Road” series. Then, on Saturday, August 10, the festival will have more modern dance, circus performers, and live music.
Friday Highlights: Do-it-Yourself Salsa for Dance Night
On Friday, Jacob’s Pillow on the Road will host Querencia Dance Company on the Berkshire Busk! main stage nearest to SoCo Creamery. The evening will begin with a short DJ set courtesy of Berkshire Busk! newcomer DJ Bongohead.
Then, Querencia and other Jacob’s Pillow dancers will present a short salsa showcase before leading attendees in a free, open-air salsa class. The company then invites festival goers to proceed back towards the Upper Railroad Street stage for a dance party during a second set by DJ Bongohead.
Elsewhere downtown, Berkshire Busk! will present a returning dancing busker in Joanna Magdalena. Musical acts such as Dav!d Reed and Abby Lappen, along with balloon twister Skeeter Green, will also be showcasing their talents.
Saturday Highlights: Circus, More Dancers, and Local Duo
Flamenco dancer Joanna Magdalena will enjoy an encore performance on Saturday. The evening’s programming will also feature juggler Timbalanced and aerialists Chalk Gremlin Circus.
On the Railroad Street stage nearby Baba Louie’s, Katherine Winston and Michael Aaron will perform a set of folk, rock, and pop. The two singer-songwriters have both been solo performers at Berkshire Busk! since 2021, but Saturday marks the first time they will co-headline at the festival.
On the other side of Railroad Street, Berkshire Busk! has recently announced the addition of Opal Raven. The fire dancer, who performed during the opening weekend’s Pride Night festivities, is also known for hosting “hissing booths” at other arts markets around Berkshire County.
Attendees can also see poet Kevin Devaney, henna artist Poppy, hip-hop artist H2GO, and folk singer Kristoffer Andrew Ross while walking downtown.
Extended Schedule on Saturdays
Natalie Lewis will begin the morning at the Great Barrington Farmers’ Market. Lewis is a local singer and guitarist who is currently studying to be a music educator at the University of Vermont. Afterwards, poetry and henna art will begin outside Robin’s Candy from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. Warren Sieme will perform his original compositions, inspired by the great acoustic artists of the 1960s and ’70s, at Berkshire Mountain Distillers for Berkshire Busk! Roadside later on in the afternoon.
Berkshire Busk! is free to attend and takes place in downtown Great Barrington every Friday and Saturday evening, from June 28 through August 31. Primary festival programming begins at 6:30 p.m. Visit the Berkshire Busk! website for the full schedule of events.
