So you think you can dance? Well, there’ll soon be a new place in town where you can find out whether that’s true or not!
The Dance Center of Old Lyme hosts its Grand Opening and Fall Registration events today, Saturday, Aug. 17, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at The Dance Center of Old Lyme, located in the Old Lyme Shopping Center, 19 Halls Road #106, in Old Lyme (next to Pizzeria DaVinci).
The Dance Center of Old Lyme offers fun, high-energy dance classes for children, teens and adults in Tap, Ballet, Jazz, Hip Hop, Contemporary and Musical Theatre, along with Mommy & Me classes for toddlers, and much more. Fall classes begin Tuesday, Sept. 3.
The owner, Bethany Haslam, is an Old Lyme resident with extensive dance training and teaching experience with dancers of all ages. Before opening The Dance Center of Old Lyme, Haslam worked as an instructor and choreographer at A Dance Class of Cheshire, where she taught tap, jazz, ballet, contemporary, lyrical and hip hop dance to beginner, intermediate and advanced students, and choreographed several works for their annual recital performances.
In addition, Haslam served as lead choreographer for Cheshire Youth Theater’s productions of The Wizard of Oz, Oliver!, Babes in Arms and Oklahoma!, and Cheshire Academy’s production of The King & I – opportunities which allowed her to create and teach her original choreography to hundreds of children and teens.
Her experience also includes an internship with Boston Ballet, service as a Certified Judge for the Miss Connecticut Scholarship Program and attendance at the Teacher Training School of Dance Masters of America.
While Haslam’s focus in recent years has been on teaching and choreographing, she has a strong foundation in dance technique and performance, stemming from years of dancing competitively and performing with a select company under the instruction of Doreen Cran, whose countless dance accomplishments include the Capezio Award of Excellence and the Del Keiffner Lifetime Achievement Award.
Further, Haslam was fortunate to study tap for a brief period under the instruction of the late Louise Neistat, and to serve as a performer, choreographer and assistant director of the Boston College Dance Ensemble.
The Dance Center of Old Lyme appreciates the importance of small class sizes and one-on-one attention between instructors and students, which allows even the youngest dancers to feel comfortable in the classroom. Our newly renovated studio offers a bright, beautiful large dance space with expansive mirrors and modern ballet barres, along with a comfortable waiting area for parents and opportunities to view their children’s progress in class.
Dance classes are held weekly during the months of September through May, and culminate in a spring recital performance, which offers students an opportunity to showcase choreography and techniques developed throughout the year.
The Dance Center of Old Lyme is excited to offer this new opportunity to the residents of Old Lyme and our surrounding communities. All are welcome to join the festivities for the Grand Opening and Fall Registration next week, which offer an opportunity to meet the Director, register for fall classes and visit the new studio.
For more information, contact Bethany Haslam at (860) 460-5473 or DanceCenterOldLyme