CoursesExplore our selection of classes
Tiny Tot — Ages 3 & 4
This class is designed to provide a positive atmosphere in which your child will develop concentration, explore musical forms, discover joy of movement, and develop imagination.
Pre-Dance — Ages 5 & 6
This class is designed for the dancer who is 5 years old and has one or two years of experience in the Tiny Tots dance class, or is 6 years of age.
Basic — Ages 6 & 7
This class is designed for the dancer who is 6 years old and has 3 years of experience, or is 7 years of age.
Beginner – Ages 8 & up
This class is designed for the child who is 7 years of age with 2 years of experience or, 8 to 9 years of age.
Advanced Beginner – Ages 9 & up
This class is designed for the child who is 9 with 2 years of experience or 10 years of age.
Beginner/Intermediate – Ages 10 & up
This class is designed for the child who is 10 years of age with 2 years of experience or is 11 or 12 years of age.
Intermediate I & II, Beg/Advanced & Advanced
These classes are designed to further develop technique in each of the respective areas. Dancers will move to these levels upon teacher recommendation.
Acrobatics
A class dedicated to various acrobatics and tricks within the realm of competitive dance.
Summer Camp
Our summer camp is usually offered in June and July for students who would like to continue their training after our annual showcase.
Birthday Party
Having a birthday? Our birthday parties allow your child and their friends to learn a dance in a variety of different themes.
Adult Classes
Feeling left out? We offer classes in tap, jazz, and flexibility for adult learners.
InstructorsMeet Our Teachers
Teresa Gambardella
Miss Terry has taught and choreographed for over 30 years. She has performed in New York City and in the National Tour of the Broadway musical “Song & Dance” choregraphed by Robert Longbottom (well-known choreographer of the show “Pageant,” the New York City “Rockettes” and the Broadway Musical “Side Show,” and “West Side Story"). In addition, she danced in “ A Chorus Line,” and “42nd street” aboard the Norwegian cruise lines. Having performed in many shows, Terry felt it was important for the end of the year showcase to be more like musicals and less like recitals. This allows the audience to feel a connection to the performers as the students portray characters and explain the stories through dance. Miss Terry has been honored over the years with awards for choreography and entertainment awards. Many of her students have appeared in Broadway musicals such as: Fosse, Mama Mia, Swing, and Michael Jackson, The IMMORTAL World Tour. Her students have been honored as title winners in regional and national competitions.
Natalie Bonito
Natalie has been teaching ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop classes, competitions teams and solos at all levels at The Academy of Dance (formerly Dancer’s Gallery) since 1999. She began dancing at the age of 2 in her home town taking classes at Gloria Jean’s Studio and Dance Studio West. Over the years she studied with the New England Ballet where she performed in ”The Nutcracker”, “Swan Lake” & “Sleeping Beauty”. Shortly after she joined Dancers Gallery where she trained under the direction of Theresa Gambardella and Joyce Listro. As a Student of Dancers Gallery now The Academy of Dance Natalie has had extensive training in all genres of dance and has performed in Showcases, Benefits, Regional and National competitions all over New England. In 1999 she won the, “Teen Dancer of the Year” award at the American Dance Awards competition and represented Connecticut as a title holder in the Boston Nationals. She was also part of the National title winners for the jazz routine “Sing, Sing, Sing. In 2001 Natalie graduated from Dancer’s Gallery and continued her passion for dance while attending SCSU where she had performed as a singer/dancer in “Fame”. As part of her continued training she also attended master classes with Lilian Heitzmann and Phil LaDuca of New York City and other widely known instructors in Boston and at The Broadway Dance Center in NYC.
Kristin Bengivengo
Kristin is a 2001 graduate of Dancer’s Gallery. She danced with Dancer’s Gallery from the age of 3, performing in dance Showcases, Regional and National Competitions, and Benefits. She was part of the National Title winners for the jazz routine, “Sing, Sing, Sing.” Kristin studied extensively with a variety of teachers including Judith Rumsey, Joyce Listro, Terry Gambardella, and Suzanne Stack. She has taken master classes with Phil LaDuca and Lillian Heitzmann of New York City. Kristin has been teaching at Academy of Dance (formerly Dancer’s Gallery) since 1999. She has taught ballet, tap, and jazz at all levels, as well as competition teams. In 2012 her Petite Tap Competition Team won the National Title for their routine, “Choo Choo Boogie.” Kristin graduated from Quinnipiac University in 2005 with a bachelor degree in Psychology, and in 2006 with a masters degree in Elementary Education. She has been teaching at Montowese Elementary School in North Haven since 2006.
Competition Resultsfrom the 2024-2025 season
Routine: “Hit the Road Jack”
Age Group: Senior Small Group Jazz
Choreography: Miss Terry
Teacher: Miss Kristin and Miss Terry
Awards: High platinum, Judges award: Intriguing Intensity; Platinum Plus First Place; Elite
Routine: “Working Day and Night”
Age Group: Senior Duo Jazz
Choreography: Miss Terry
Teacher: Miss Terry and Miss Natalie
Awards: Judges Award: Clean Class Act, High Platinum, 4th Runner up; Platinum Plus, First in Category; First in Category, 4th Place Overall, Judges Award: Iconic Isolations
Routine: “At Last”
Age Group: Senior Solo Jazz
Choreography: Miss Terry
Teacher: Miss Terry
Awards: High Platinum, On Stage America V.I.P.; Platinum, Elite, Judges award: Owning the Stage
Routine: “Sing Sing Sing”
Age Group: Teen Large Group Tap
Choreography: Miss Terry
Teacher: Miss Kristin
Awards: High Platinum, 4th runner up; Platinum, 8th Place Overall; Elite, Judges Award: Phenomenal Footwork
Routine: “Sing Sing Sing”
Age Group: Teen Large Group Jazz
Choreography: Miss Terry
Teacher: Miss Terry and Miss Natalie
Awards: High Platinum, First Place overall; Platinum Plus, First Place in Category, 3rd Place Overall, Scholarship to Battle on the Seas; Prestige Elite, 13 and over Entertainment Award
Routine: “Spanish Guitar”
Age Group: Teen Large Group Tap
Choreography: Miss Terry
Teacher: Miss Terry
Awards: Platinum, 7th runner up, Overall Entertainment Award; platinum, First Place in Category, 7th Place Overall, Excellence in Entertainment, Elite
Routine: “Lose Control”
Age Group: Teen Trio Hip Hop
Choreography: Miss Natalie
Teacher: Miss Natalie
Awards: High Gold, First Place Overall; Platinum, 7th Place Overall; High Gold
Routine: “It’s OK”
Age Group: Teen Trio Contemporary
Choreography: Miss Terry
Teacher: Miss Terry
Awards: High Platinum; Platinum Plus, Excellence in choreography award to Miss Terry; Elite, 2nd Place Overall
Routine: “Some Days”
Age Group: Teen Duo Tap
Choreography: Miss Terry
Teacher: Miss Emma
Awards: Platinum, 5th runner up; Platinum Plus, First Place in Category, 3rd Place Overall; Elite
Routine: “Crazy Little Thing Called Love”
Age Group: Teen Solo Tap
Choreography: Miss Kristin
Teacher: Miss Kristin
Awards: High Gold, 5th Runner up; Platinum; High Gold
Routine: “Sweet Georgia Brown”
Age Group: Teen Solo Tap
Choreography: Miss Terry and Miss Kristin
Teacher: Miss Kristin
Awards: Platinum, Judges award, First Place Overall; Platinum plus, 8th Place Overall; Elite, 7th Place Overal
Routine: “Flowers”
Age Group: Teen Solo Contemporary
Choreography: Miss Maria
Teacher: Miss Maria
Awards: 2nd Runner Up Overall, Diamond, OSA VIP, 2nd Runner Up Title; Platinum Plus; AMDA Scholarship, Prestige Elite, 4th Place Overall
Routine: “Dracula”
Age Group: Teen Solo Contemporary
Choreography: Miss Maria
Teacher: Miss Maria
Awards: Diamond, 3rd runner up overall, OSA VIP, 3rd place title; Platinum Plus, First Place in Category; Elite
Routine: “If My Friends Could See Me Now”
Age Group: Teen Solo Jazz
Choreography: Miss Natalie and Miss Terry
Teacher: Miss Natalie and Miss Terry
Awards: High Gold, 4th Runner Up; High Gold; High Gold
Routine: “Shine it On”
Age Group: Teen Solo Jazz
Choreography: Miss Terry
Teacher: Miss Terry
Awards: High Platinum, OSA V.I.P; Platinum Plus, Power Pak Invitation; Prestige Elite, 6th Place Overall
Routine: “Love Fool”
Age Group: Teen Solo Jazz
Choreography: Miss Terry
Teacher: Miss Emma
Awards: High Gold, Judges Award; Platinum; Elite
Routine: “Mambo Italiano”
Age Group: Junior Solo Acro
Choreography: Miss Emma
Teacher: Miss Emma
Awards: Platinum, 5th runner up, Judges award: Radiant Joy; Judges award: Sparkling Smile, Platinum Plus, First Place in Category; Elite, First place in Category
Routine: “We Share Everything”
Age Group: Junior Duo Tap
Choreography: Miss Terry
Teacher: Miss Kristin
Awards: High Gold, 7th Runner up; Platinum, First Place in category, 7th Place Overall; High Gold
Routine: “Stuck Like Glue”
Age Group: Junior Duo Tap
Choreography: Miss Terry
Teacher: Miss Emma
Awards: Platinum, First Runner up Overall; Judges award: Tip Top Tapper, Platinum Plus, First Place in Category, Second Place Overall; Elite, First in Category, 2nd Place Overall
Routine: “Taboo”
Age Group: Junior Small Group Jazz
Choreography: Miss Natalie
Teacher: Miss Natalie
Awards: Platinum, First runner up Overall, Judges award: Electric Energy; Platinum, 10th Place Overall; Elite, 3rd Place Overall
Routine: “Dr. Jazz”
Age Group: Junior Small Group Tap
Choreography: Miss Kristin
Teacher: Miss Kristin
Awards: High Gold, 4th Runner up, Excellence in entertainment award, Platinum, 9th place Overall; High Gold
Routine: “Shake Your Tail Feather”
Age Group: Petite Small Group Jazz
Choreography: Miss Kristin
Teacher: Miss Natalie
Awards: High Gold, 5th runner up; Judges award: Shimmy Shakes, Platinum, First in Category; High Gold
Routine: “Shake Your Tail Feather”
Age Group: Petite Small Group Tap
Choreography: Miss Kristin
Teacher: Miss Emma
Awards: High Gold, 4th Runner up, Judges award; Platinum, 5th place overall, Invitation to Wild Dance Intensive; High Gold
Forms A list of forms that may be helpful
