Lindsay Almquist /Owner and Studio Director
Lindsay Almquist is the current and proud owner and director of Caffery's Dance & Gymnastics Studio. Her passion for both dance and gymnastics has led her to share her knowledge and expertise through teaching for the past 25 years with her students in the Middlesex community and surrounding areas. Lindsay started dance and gymnastics of 3 right here, under the direction and guidance of her very own godmother, Maureen Aresco, the original owner and founder of Caffery's. From an early age it was apparent that Lindsay possessed a natural talent for movement which was matched by her instinctual drive to strive for excellence. Once her passion took hold, there was no stopping what she could achieve! She competed in both dance and gymnastics for many years through her childhood. Her competitive dance and gymnastics career then took her to NYC where she trained with some of the best professional dancers and choreographers and decided that she too had the desire to teach and create! At just 19, Lindsay launched her teaching and choreography career, showcasing her innovative methods and commitment to dance and gymnastics. Over the years, she has earned 7 national titles, been recognized as Choreographer of the Year twice, and received numerous choreography awards consistently within the industry. Lindsay instructs all dance genres and creates between 30 to 40 routines annually. Additionally, she has produced large national-winning production routines featuring over 60 students on stage each year. Throughout her career, she has trained hundreds of students, many of whom have pursued careers built on their love for dance and gymnastics. Lindsay is dedicated to refining her craft while fostering a safe, family-oriented environment for her students and their families. Caffery's began as a family-run business, maintaining a warm, familial atmosphere. As the director, Lindsay's primary goal has been to preserve that vision while encouraging her students to excel in an activity that brings joy to their lives!
instructors
Erica Rivera
Erica has been a part of the Caffery's family for the past 20 years. She began her dance journey at Caffery's when she was 3 years old and continued to dance there for the next 15 years under the education of Maureen Aresco and Lindsay Almquist. In those 15 years, Erica taught as a junior teacher and teacher's assistant and developed a passion for tap! After her time spent at Caffery's in her formative years, Erica moved on to dance for two semi-professional sports teams in Connecticut and train with master tap dancers Nicole Billow and Chloe Arnold of the Syncopated Ladies. When she wasn't dancing, Erica went on to become a case manager for a nonprofit organization for the state of Connecticut. Just a few short years later, Caffery's was lucky to have Erica return to us as a lead teacher and choreographer! She currently specializes in teaching her students tap, acro, gymnastics, and jazz and Erica's tap choreography has earned special judges awards along with showdown invitations at national competitions. Teaching her love of dance has allowed Erica to realize how much she enjoys watching the Caffery's dancers and gymnasts reach their individual goals and guide them in the importance of teamwork all while instilling hard work and life lessons along the way. When Erica is not helping others in her work as a case manager or teaching her students at the studio, she is spending her time with her beautiful family.
Ava LaBella
Ava cannot remember a time she wasn’t a part of the Caffery’s family! She began as a student, and after 16 years of dancing and assisting, she realized how much she loved teaching and for the past five years, has been sharing her love for dance with her students as a teacher at Caffery’s. Ava graduated from Central Connecticut State University with a B.A. in Psychological Science and a minor in Sociology. In 2022, Ava initiated and began to coach the Mercy High School, as well as began to choreograph the Mercy and Xavier High School Musicals. She recently joined Mercy High School’s Faculty full-time and is extremely happy to be working with such amazing students every day! In any extra spare time Ava has, you can find her teaching dance in elementary schools through the YMCA after-school programs or running hip-hop classes Park and Rec Programs throughout the county. She feels very blessed to be able to share her love and passion for dance with her incredible Caffery’s family!
Jordyn McNichols
Jordyn began dancing at the age of 2, receiving training from The Eastern Connecticut ballet, and later training in the Cecchetti method under Jacqueline Anderson, former president of the Cecchetti society of America. At the age of 14, Jordyn began her professional career dancing with the Albano Ballet Company of America, and spent the next 5 years performing soloist roles under the direction of Joseph Albano and Julia Frederick. During this time, she was also trained in Albano’s "Law of Centers and Theory of Rotors", a more scientific understanding of ballet and how the body works through each movement. In 2009, Jordyn moved to Philadelphia to attend the University of the Arts where she earned a BFA in Ballet. She trained in ballet under the direction of Eva Szabo, Anastasia Babayeva, Denis Gronostayskiy, Christine Cox, Scott Jovovich, Andrew Pap, and Karen Brown, and also received extensive training in modern and jazz techniques with Zane Booker, Kim Bears-Bailey, and Roni Koresh, to name a few. Since graduating from college, Jordyn has continued to study, perform, and teach both in person and virtually. She has enjoyed the opportunity to become certified in Progressing Ballet Technique by founder Marie Walton-Mahon, and most recently is focused on how PBT technique can work in combination with ballet technique and physical therapy exercises to refine a dancer’s technical foundation. Jordyn has over 14 years teaching experience, specializing in ballet, PBT, conditioning, and technique, and enjoys sharing that knowledge and her ballet passion with students wishing to take their talents to the next level.
Kaitlyn Tomer
Kaitlyn has been a part of the Caffery's family for the past 23 years. She spent her first 17 years at the school as a student, and then began teaching her skills for the next six years! Currently, she enjoys teaching our preschool dance and gymnastics students and specializes in teaching our littlest students new skills while having the most fun! When she isn't at Caffery's, Kaitlyn is a certified second grade teacher in Middletown, CT. She graduated in 2020 with a degree in Elementary and Special Education and will earn her Masters Degree in 2025. Getting to see her students in both the classroom and studio environments brings her so much joy! Kaitlyn is very proud to be sharing her love of dance with every student she is lucky enough to teach!
Maddie Tanasi
Maddie is incredibly excited to start teaching at Caffery’s this year! She began dancing 16 years ago and has been competing for the past 12. She began teaching five years ago at her previous studio with her focus work in lyrical/contemporary, jazz, and tap along with strength and conditioning. When Maddie isn’t teaching, she spends her free time furthering her dance training by taking classes at The Lab so she can provide her best possible self for her students. She is excited to work with Caffery’s amazing students and help guide their love for dance!
Gabby Dominguez
Born and raised in Connecticut, Gabby has always been a lover of movement. Her passion for codified techniques and composition grew during her time at Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts High School. After graduating, Gabby went on to attend AMDA College + Conservatory of the Arts in Los Angeles for two years. She later moved on to train at professional studios around LA including EDGE Performing Arts Center, Millenium Dance Complex, and TMilly Studios. Gabby began to train and perform with Geometry Contemporary Dance Company, and later began working with Chehon Wespi-Tschopp as the Mentorship Program Coordinator for IAF Studios, assisting on several dance film and photo projects. Her music video credits include Donovan Woods, Duomo Musik, and Red Jesus. Gabby has also had the pleasure of taking part in several live performances and dance films around LA including Capezio ACE Awards, Choreographer’s Carnival, Club Jete, and more. Since moving back to the East Coast, Gabby has continued to train at professional workshops with companies such as Boston Dance Theater and SALT, as well as at New York’s Broadway Dance Center. She teaches throughout Connecticut and Massachusetts, and has a passion for encouraging students to find authenticity and freedom in their movement. Gabby is a dancer with Hartford-based company The Dance Collective, and is excited to be performing again in her home state! Gabby has taught and choreographed the competitive lyrical/contemporary classes at Caffery’s for the past two years. This year she will be teaching weekend tech classes and choreographing competitive solos, duet and trios as she continues her own dance career.
Alyssa Barone
Alyssa has trained for over 15 years at Caffery’s in gymnastics and competitive dance and started teaching when she was 16 years old! She enjoys teaching acro dance and tumbling classes and feels like Caffery’s is her home away from home. Alyssa plans to graduate in 2025 with a B.S in Elementary Education from CCSU. Her favorite part about teaching is seeing the improvements that each child makes and loves how rewarding it is to see their progress and achievements from the beginning to the end of the season, driven by hard work and dedication!
Nichelle Amenta
Nichelle came to Caffery’s with over 15 years of recreational and competitive dance and gymnastics experience with a focus and passion for acro and tumbling! She began assistant teaching at a young age working under her acro teacher at her hometown studio in Thomaston, Connecticut. Early on, Nichelle began working with students of a variety of ages and differing experience levels which helped her learn how to assist each of her students achieve their individual skill goals. After life led her away from teaching for a while, Nichelle never lost her love for dance and tumbling and stayed active in her practice whenever she could! A few years later, Nichelle married and became a mom to three amazing girls. As soon as her two youngest were old enough, Nichelle was on the hunt for a studio that would assist her in being able to share her love and passion for dance and gymnastics with her daughters. Caffery’s Dance and Gymnastics came highly recommended, and she fell in love with the family oriented and supportive atmosphere of the studio. After her first year being a “dance mom” to her own family, she was thrilled when the opportunity came from Caffery’s to begin teaching gymnastics again. For Nichelle, teaching at Caffery’s and watching the hard work and dedication of each of her students reach their goals is a dream come true! As a teacher, Nichelle has reconnected with her passion and continues to educate herself in different drills and new methods to benefit her students. Dance and gymnastics are ever learning sports and she enjoys updating her skills whenever she can! Nichelle wants everyone to know that Caffery’s has become a second home and family to her and her daughters and is so happy having found this studio.
Juliana Girgenti
Juliana has been a part of the Caffery’s family since she was two years old. For as long as she can remember Juliana has loved assisting in various dance and gymnastics classes so when the opportunity came five years ago for her to teach, she was thrilled! When she is not at Caffery's teaching, she is working hard towards getting her Bachelor’s degree from Central Connecticut State University. Juliana feels grateful every day to not only be a part of a team of talented, passionate, and loving teachers but a family, that truly cares about every student that walks through Caffery's doors.
Ashley Rodriguez
Ashley is thrilled to be joining Caffery’s as a first-year instructor! Her journey started as a dancer and gymnast at two years old and continued as a competitive gymnast for eight years. Ashley gained experience coaching gymnastics at the YMCA, which gave her a solid foundation in teaching. She then used her gymnastics background to transition into cheerleading during high school and continued her passion at the collegiate level with the UConn cheerleading team. Ashley graduated from UConn with a B.A. in Psychology and a minor in Human Development and Family Studies, and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Public Administration at UConn. She is excited to be a part of the Caffery’s family and work with all of you!
Katie Pelletier
Katie started dancing at Caffery’s 15 years ago at age three! She has been on a competitive team for the past 11 years which has filled her with amazing moments and memories including dancing in FOUR national title-winning routines! She is currently a senior at Mercy High School and the captain of the Mercy High School Dance Team. When she isn’t studying or teaching at Caffery’s she is training in college dance team prep classes and plans to continue her dance career for years to come! Katie loves working with kids, whether it’s in the classroom or the studio, and is thrilled to share her passion for dance with young students.
Natalie Jones
Natalie brings her excitement and passion for gymnastics to our Caffery’s teaching team! She has seven years of competitive gymnastics experience and is excited to share her many flips and tricks with her students. She is currently a senior at Mercy High School, and when she isn’t hitting the books, she will be focused on passing on her gymnastics experiences and expertise to the students of Caffery’s!
Hannah Blakeslee
Hannah has been a part of the Caffery's family for 14 years! Her goal while teaching Caffery's students is to make sure everyone learns their skills in a fun and safe environment. She currently attends Middletown High School and plans to further her education specializing in Forensic Psychology when she attends College. When Hannah isn't studying or teaching at Caffery's, she spends her free time at the studio perfecting her dance skills and attending dance competitions! She also enjoys being an assistant teacher at Lawrence Elementary School and working with Parks and Recreation and their various sports activities.
Assistant Teachers
Dylan Russell
Dylan is a senior at Middletown High School and has been dancing for 15 years. Caffery’s has been an integral part of her life, and she views the teachers and students as family. Dylan’s dance journey includes 11 years of competing which included being a part of national title winning routines! She loves working with and assisting the studio students in their classes and has an extra special love for teaching tap classes. Beyond the studio, Dylan manages her high school’s football team which has aided and further developed her leadership and teamwork abilities.
Kayla Carey
Kayla is a junior at Middletown High School and has been a part of the Caffery’s family for 14 years! Kayla has shined on Caffery's competitive team for the past 10 years and has experienced the thrill of dancing in TWO national title-winning routines! She currently trains in college dance team prep classes and has made a point to study early childhood development at school. This background helps Kayla connect and work effectively with young kids in the classroom and at the studio!