OUR FOUNDER

Meet Kate Truesdell

Having grown up in Riverside, and graduating from Greenwich High School in 1997, Kate Truesdell’s first summer job teaching dance classes at local schools and camps soon led to choreographing for small groups and audition coaching.

Teaching dance came naturally as Kate’s innate ability to connect and put people at ease in any setting, allowed even her most novice students to feel confident and encouraged. Kate received her BFA in dance from Emerson College in 2001 and quickly moved into New York City. While in the Big Apple, Kate immersed herself in dance, taking weekly classes at Broadway Dance Center, and seeing as many professional performances as her entry level corporate job would allow. One highlight includes seeing New York City Ballet’s evening performance on Balanchine’s 100th birthday, where the entire audience received a shot of vodka to toast the late ballet master, complete with Baryshnikov himself on stage.

In September 2004 (at just 23 years old), Kate founded Greenwich Dance Studio with leased space at the local YWCA. Kate taught every class herself inspiring a passion for dance and nurturing a love of the arts amongst her dancers.

Kate measured her studio’s success not by growth, but by how many students returned from one year to the next. Demand for Kate’s sold-out classes continued to grow as did the need for more studio space and additional instructors. After a decade of searching for space and endless rounds of meetings with planning and zoning, Kate’s vision for a state-of-the-art facility came to life. In 2014, Greenwich Dance Studio found its permanent home in a 5,000 square foot warehouse with 30-foot ceilings, centrally located in Cos Cob. While the space needed major renovation (including running water!), Kate knew this new location would elevate the Studio to new heights and further the sense of community amongst her student body.

“A parent once said to me that I had created a Village, and that really resonated with me. A village. A place where people take care of each other. I love that image, and that’s kind of how I see the Studio.“

Now in its 20th season, GDS has become a cornerstone of the community with nearly 500 students and over a dozen of the country’s best dancers & choreographers as instructors.

Kate lives in Old Greenwich with her husband (and high-school sweetheart!) Frank Carpenteri, and their five beautiful children.