Betty Gundersen Studio of Dance

04/10/2026

One of our own needs us.

Avree Gundersen - beloved teacher, choreographer, and professional dancer - has suffered a torn ACL and is scheduled for surgery on April 17. Her recovery will be long, and with limited insurance coverage and time away from teaching and performing, the financial impact on Avree will be significant.

If you’re able, please consider supporting Avree during this time. Any amount helps and will be deeply appreciated.

Donate here: https://bit.ly/4c3g5Af

Thank you for keeping Avree in your thoughts and prayers as she focuses on healing and getting back to doing what she loves.

Avree Gundersen is one of those rare people who leaves a lasting impact on everyone she meets. As a professional dancer with Nova Linea, she has poured her h...

01/21/2026

Tickets are on sale now for “some wounds never heal,” coming to The Center at Eagle Hill in Hardwick, MA. Performed by Nova Linea Contemporary Dance, this powerful evening of dance offers emotionally provocative and deeply relatable storytelling through movement.
Choreographed by Artistic Director Jared Baker, “some wounds never heal” explores the emotional landscape of loss—examining what it means to feel frozen in grief and how resilience can emerge through connection and community. Through physically expressive movement, the work invites audiences to reflect on their own experiences, emphasizing empathy, shared understanding, and the importance of not facing pain alone.

Tickets are available now. Visit the link in our bio to reserve your seats and join us for this moving evening of dance.
🗓 Saturday, February 7th, 7:00 PM
📍 The Center at Eagle Hill
📍 Hardwick, MA

10/15/2025

FACULTY SPOTLIGHT: "Miss Barbara" Ostromecky began dancing at age 2 and trained under Mindy Kay McGovern in Worcester before earning a BFA in Dance from the Boston Conservatory, studying Cecchetti and Vaganova ballet, and Limon modern. She has trained with renowned instructors such as Luigi, Mia Michaels, and Joe Tremaine, and performed in TV, commercials, theme parks, and with dance companies in Boston and Dallas. She’s choreographed musicals for local theater groups and led her “Jazz It Up” team in performances at Walt Disney World.

With over 20 years of teaching and choreographing in the Worcester area, Barbara is a certified member of Dance Masters of America and a regular at professional seminars, most recently Rhee Gold’s Dance Life Conference. Her students have gone on to professional careers on stage, screen, and beyond. A proud mom and Disney enthusiast, Barbara brings passion and positivity to every class and is thrilled to return to BGSD.

10/11/2025

FACULTY SPOTLIGHT: Danielle Benkert teaches acro, 5s/6s/ combo, and tap, including adult tap, and is also the studio’s office manager. Danielle’s entire family gets involved. Her daughter, Lily is a dancer, her son, Adam, is a ‘prop brother,’ and her husband, Andy, runs the music for rehearsals and recitals.

Danielle’s love of dance began at age 2, training for 16 years under Carol-Ann Boardway in Springfield, MA. While trained in many dance styles, her heart has always been with Tap. She continued training as an adult at Turning Pointe Dance Academy in CT and with Donna Lindgren at Miss Betty’s. Danielle is thrilled to blend her passion for Tap and teaching, encouraging her students to find joy in rhythm and make music with their feet.

You’re welcome to sample one of Danielle’s classes between October 6 -11. Just call the office at (508) 867-8925 and schedule your free class!

10/01/2025

09/28/2025

FACULTY SPOTLIGHT: Danielle Benkert teaches acro, 5s/6s/ combo, and tap, including adult tap, and is also the studio's office manager. Danielle's entire family gets involved. Her daughter, Lily is a dancer, her son, Adam, is a 'prop brother,' and her husband, Andy, runs the music for rehearsals and recitals.

Danielle’s love of dance began at age 2, training for 16 years under Carol-Ann Boardway in Springfield, MA. While trained in many dance styles, her heart has always been with Tap. She continued training as an adult at Turning Pointe Dance Academy in CT and with Donna Lindgren at Miss Betty’s. Danielle is thrilled to blend her passion for Tap and teaching, encouraging her students to find joy in rhythm and make music with their feet.

You're welcome to sample one of Danielle's classes between October 6 -11. Just call the office at (508) 867-8925 and schedule your free class!

09/23/2025

We are pleased to announce that this year’s “Bring a Friend Week” is happening from 0ctober 6 - October 11. Do you have a friend who you think might like to try out a dance class at the studio? Drop by the front desk on your next visit and let us know your friend’s name and the class you think they might enjoy. We’ll give you a parent permission slip for them to fill out, or they can download a copy from our website, where they can also find a complete schedule of fall classes. Best of all, your friend will get to try out a class completely free of charge. What a good friend you are!!

09/21/2025

We are pleased to announce that this year's "Bring a Friend Week" is happening from 0ctober 6 - October 11. Do you have a friend who you think might like to try out a dance class at the studio? Drop by the front desk on your next visit and let us know your friend's name and the class you think they might enjoy. We'll give you a parent permission slip for them to fill out, or they can download a copy from our website, where they can also find a complete schedule of fall classes. Best of all, your friend will get to try out a class completely free of charge. What a good friend you are!!

09/19/2025

FACULTY SPOTLIGHT: Jonathan Richmond, also known as “Mr. J,” teaches tap classes at the studio. Widely recognized in the Tap community for his rhythmic precision and masterful technique, Jonathan began Tap at age 3 and, nearly three decades later, his passion remains strong. Jonathan trained at Diane Kelley Dance Studios and under Joan Sheary and Kellie Shea at Burncoat High School’s Dance Department. He earned numerous accolades, including American Dance Awards Regional Teen Male Dancer of the Year (2001–2003), Regional Male Dancer of the Year (2005), and Mr. Dance Xplosion (2003), with a runner-up finish in 2004. In 2012, he advanced to the second round of So You Think You Can Dance auditions in New York.
Jonathan has spent the past 15 years teaching throughout the Worcester area, where his choreography has garnered national championships and multiple special awards. He is thrilled to bring his love of Tap and extensive experience to the students at Betty Gundersen Studio of Dance.
Would you like to take a tap class with Mr. J.? There’s still time to register for fall classes! Call (508) 867-8925 for more information.

09/17/2025

FACULTY SPOTLIGHT: Destiny Washington teaches jazz, and contemporary classes and coaches our competition team.

Destiny began dancing at age two in Macomb, MI, training at Dancer’s Edge Studio and Spotlight Dance Works. She earned a B.A. in Dance and a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Western Michigan University, where she trained in jazz, ballet, and modern dance. A 5x USASF Dance Worlds Champion, Destiny has performed in works by renowned choreographers including Shauna Zambelli Oliverio, Jay Jay Dixonbey, and Monique Haley. At WMU, she was featured in Soul Remedy at the 2020 ACDA East Central Conference and performed works by guest artists and faculty.

Destiny began teaching at Dancer’s Edge Studio, earning Student Teacher of the Year in 2017. Now an Associate Engineer at AbbVie Bioresearch Center in Worcester, MA, she continues to share her passion for dance, storytelling, and movement in and out of the studio.

Would you like to take a class with Destiny? Registration is still open for fall classes! Call (508) 867-8925 for more info.

09/16/2025

FACULTY SPOTLIGHT: Jonathan Richmond, also known as "Mr. J," teaches tap classes at the studio. Widely recognized in the Tap community for his rhythmic precision and masterful technique, Jonathan began Tap at age 3 and, nearly three decades later, his passion remains strong. Jonathan trained at Diane Kelley Dance Studios and under Joan Sheary and Kellie Shea at Burncoat High School's Dance Department. He earned numerous accolades, including American Dance Awards Regional Teen Male Dancer of the Year (2001–2003), Regional Male Dancer of the Year (2005), and Mr. Dance Xplosion (2003), with a runner-up finish in 2004. In 2012, he advanced to the second round of So You Think You Can Dance auditions in New York.
Jonathan has spent the past 15 years teaching throughout the Worcester area, where his choreography has garnered national championships and multiple special awards. He is thrilled to bring his love of Tap and extensive experience to the students at Betty Gundersen Studio of Dance.
Would you like to take a tap class with Mr. J.? There's still time to register for fall classes! Call (508) 867-8925 for more information.