Transforming a Driveway Into a Theater: Greenwich Dance Studio Adapts to the COVID-19 World

Greenwich Free Press, 2020

“Heartbroken,” is how Kate Truesdell felt in early March when she realized she had to tell her dancers their end-of-the-year performance was canceled due to COVID-19. The Greenwich Dance Studio owner and director especially felt for her 17 seniors, who had waited for their whole dance careers to be honored during their final show. “Our show is a monumental milestone. When you look back on your year it’s such a measurement of collective achievement and fulfillment,” Truesdell said.

Truesdell plans throughout the year so her students can experience a show with a production quality equivalent to a professional dance performance. Both the matinee for the younger students and the evening show featuring the older dancers are held inside the Concert Hall at SUNY Purchase College. Each show draws an audience of 1,200 every year. Truesdell employs a lighting team to customize the mood for each routine, hires a professional videographer to capture on-stage moments, and even outsources the creation of the show’s promotional poster to a local graphic designer. Last year’s show consisted of routines all inspired by famous movies. A crowd favorite involved lightsaber-wielding ballerinas in Storm Trooper tutus.

Center Stage: Kate Truesdell’s Studio Soars to Success

Fairfield County Look, 2018

Kate Truesdell may never have a year quite like 2018.

In addition to celebrating the 15th anniversary of her award-winning business, Greenwich Dance Studio, Kate recently welcomed a baby daughter to her brood.  The Greenwich native admits that juggling a fast-growing company with her fast-growing young family has made for a wild ride.

“I always knew that I wanted a big family, but I never dreamt of having five kids,” says Kate. “And I always knew that I wanted to own a dance studio, but I never thought it would be quite this successful.  Both came as huge surprises.”

From the program’s humble beginnings – with a dozen students in a leased space at the Greenwich YWCA – GDS has expanded to include nearly 500 students, along with 10 instructors who teach 72 classes per week.  Demand is so great that some parents camp out on the premises the night before registration to guarantee their children a spot.  “There was a need for a program with a broad range of high-quality classes,” Kate says.  “I just tried to respond to what the community wanted.

Demand for Greenwich dance classes spurs all-night wait

Greenwich Time, 2017

When Greenwich resident and mother of four Allison Frantz heard years ago that some parents wait hours in line to sign their children up for dance classes, “I said I would never do that,” she said.

That changed last year when Frantz’s daughter asked to join her friends at Greenwich Dance Studio in Cos Cob. “She has a lot of friends in this program and she’s loved what she sees at recitals,” Frantz said, adding the studio is conveniently located between their home and school.

There are other dance classes in town her daughter could take that wouldn’t have required Frantz to spend Memorial Day night camped outside in a sleeping bag, she said, but she opted to wait in line in hopes of getting her daughter moved from the waiting list.

A Day in May

Blog Article, 2015

DESCRIBE WHAT YOU DO FOR A LIVING.

I own a dance studio in Greenwich, CT. We have 350 students, and emphasize versatile training in various dance styles. Like most small business owners I wear lots of different hats – some days I’m a designer (or try to be!), some days I’m an advisor for my students, some days I’m directing my fantastic team of 12 teachers and managers…First and foremost though, I’m a dance teacher.

GIVE US A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF YOUR CAREER PATH.

When I graduated from college I had only ever had two jobs – I’d been a dance teacher and a cocktail waitress, so it was time to amp up my business skills before doing my own thing! I moved to Manhattan and took a job in the corporate world. While I lived in NYC (the world’s official Dance Capital), I went to every dance performance I could afford, took technique classes and kept an inspiration journal of what I hoped my studio would be like.

Greenwich Dance Studio Spring Performance, “Masterpiece,” Fills SUNY Purchase Concert Hall” about 2015 Spring Performance “Masterpiece”

Greenwich Free Press, 2015

Greenwich Dance Studio’s 11th annual spring performance, which featured hundreds of girls dancing a range of styles from ballet to hip-hop, took place on Saturday in SUNY Purchase Performing Arts Center concert hall.

In part a celebration of the completion of Kate Truesdell’s long-in-the-making dance studio, the performance was no small feat. Friends and family filled the entire 1,300+ seat concert hall for an evening of dance with the theme, “Masterpiece.” Each of dozens of dances was named after a work of art. From photos to paintings, the concept resulted in a successful marriage of a diverse dance styles with a range of art.