Danielle Benkert
Danielle’s love of dance started at the age of 2 when she began her 16 years of training under Carol-Ann Boardway in Springfield, MA (now Shooting Star Dance Center). After graduating high school, she studied psychology and child development at Utica College of Syracuse University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology. This lead her to pursue a career in Child Life, a traditionally hospital-based profession that focuses on supporting children and families through hospitalization and illness. As a practicing Certified Child Life Specialist for eight years at UMass Memorial Children’s Medical Center, her creativity extended to fostering creative movement and activities to normalize the hospital environment and support normal growth and development. After leaving the field of Child Life, she danced her way through staying home to raise her two fantastic children. Most recently, she started a new professional adventure in the Preschool classroom at St. Aloysius Catholic School in Gilbertville, MA.
Although trained in all types of dance, Danielle has always had a heart for the art of Tap and pursued further instruction as an adult at Turning Pointe Dance Academy in CT then was blessed in finding Miss Betty’s dance family, where she trained further under Donna Lindgren. Danielle is beyond excited to be given the opportunity to merge her love of Tap together with her long-standing passion for working with children. Her students will tell you that she drills rhythm and clarity throughout her classes and teaches everyone they can make amazing music with their feet.
Betty Gundersen
Founder and Director of Betty Gundersen Studio of Dance, Betty has shared her love of dance with thousands of children over the past 40-plus years. Betty received her early training in the Boston area under the direction of Adrienne Parker, Al Pesso, and Tatiana Barbuceana and was a member of The Youth Ballet Guild. She has trained with many masters throughout her career. She studied intensively with the New York School of Ballet Repertory, Finis Jung, David De Marie, and Robert Christopher, to name a few. Betty is highly regarded for her work with children, guiding and instilling the love of dance and the importance of good technique to all young students. As a member of Dance Masters of America, The Cecchetti Council of America, and The Dance Teachers Club of Boston, Betty can offer her students the opportunity to attend workshops and train with many outstanding choreographers.
Avree Gundersen
Avree Gundersen originates from West Brookfield, Massachusetts. She graduated from Western Michigan University with a bachelor’s degree in fine arts in Dance with a minor in Integrative Holistic Health and Wellness and certification in Dance Studio Management. Under the WMU Department of Dance, she studied ballet, jazz, and modern technique and was selected to be a part of the department’s 2019-2020 touring ensemble Western Dance Project where she had the opportunity to perform work by faculty member Seyong Kim and Dong-Won Lee in both Goyang International Dance Festival and Deagu International Dance Festival in South Korea in fall of 2019. She was also part of the original cast of Yin Yue’s work set on both WMU students and Peridance Contemporary Dance Company together. Additionally, she has performed works by guest artists Aszure Barton, Yin Yue, Tsai-Hsi Hung, Jennifer Archibald, Jackie Nowicki, and Cat Manturuk, as well as faculty members Kelsey Paschich, David Curwen, and Seyong Kim. At WMU, Avree represented her class as the President of the Orchesis Dance Society.
Annette Mucci Hebard
Annette began dance lessons at the age of 12 in her hometown of Derby, CT. She was also a student at the Muriel Grossfield School of Gymnastics in the mid 70’s in Connecticut. She graduated from Bennett College in Millbrook, NY, in 1977 with an associate’s degree in Applied Science in Dance. From 1978 to 1983, she was a member of the Jeannette Neill Dancers and the Beverly Richards Dancers in Boston, MA. In 1982 Annette was a member of the Heartbreakers, the first-ever professional cheerleading squad for the Boston Breakers of the USFL. She has also performed in industrial shows for Thom McAn and Kendell Pharmaceuticals. Annette enjoys attending dance seminars and workshops to further her dance education and to learn more fun and effective ways to teach and engage her students. She is certified in Acrobatic Arts Module 1 and is a member of Dance Masters of America (DMNE), Chapter 5. Annette is the proud mother of Veronica Fish, an illustrator for Marvel and Archie Comics; Audra Schaffer, a dance teacher in Leland, NC; and Alexa McDonough, an executive assistant at Legendary Entertainment in Los Angeles, CA. Annette lives in Auburn, MA, with her husband of 42 years, Verne. Annette has owned her own dance studio for 25 years in Putnam, CT.
Idrissa McCallum
Idrissa is a native of Worcester, Massachusetts, with many years of dance experience, including having studied at the Alvin Ailey School, JoAnn Warren Studio, and with the Boston Youth Moves (Jeannette Neill). She was fortunate to attend Point Park University for three years, where she was a dance major with a concentration in jazz. Idrissa is an experienced dance teacher who has taught at several dance studios in Central Massachusetts. Additionally, Idrissa has assisted some of the industry’s most talented dancers from the television series, So You Think You Can Dance.
Barbara Ostromecky
Barbara Barry Ostromecky has been dancing since the age of 2. Growing up, she studied dance under Mindy Kay McGovern in Worcester and went on to earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance from the Boston Conservatory, where she trained in Cecchetti & Vaganova ballet styles and Limon modern. She has studied under many famous instructors, including Luigi, Edward DeSoto, Clyde Nantais, Ruth Ambrose, Joe Tremaine, Rhee & Rennie Gold, Mia Michaels, etc.
Barbara has performed on TV, commercials, theme parks, and with dance companies in Boston and Dallas. She has recently taught and performed at the Majestic Theatre in Boston for the TD Bank Wow Awards, and choreographed several musicals for Worcester County Light Opera and other area theater companies. Her “Jazz It Up” dance team performed in Walt Disney World for Magic Music Days. Barbara has been teaching & choreographing in the Worcester area for more than 20 years.
Her students have gone on to become dance educators and also perform in various dance companies, Walt Disney World, Disneyland, cruise ships, Nickelodeon, Miss Massachusetts & Miss America pageants, Patriots Cheerleaders, and in Broadway musicals.
Barbara is a certified member of Dance Masters of America and continues to further her dance education by attending dance seminars and conventions. She most recently attended Rhee Gold’s Dance Life Conference summer 2021.
She is an award-winning choreographer at both the regional and national level but her main goal as a dance educator is to make every dancer believe in themselves!
She is a proud mom of three wonderful grown-up kids and two rescue dogs, loves Walt Disney World and photography. She teaches fun and inspiring classes and is excited to be rejoining the faculty at Betty Gundersen’s.
Jennifer Paquette
Jennifer is an alumna of the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, PA. She graduated with a BFA in Dance with a concentration in Jazz Dance Performance. She studied Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Pointe, Hip Hop, Lyrical, Contemporary, Modern, and African. She received the Dance Program’s performance scholarship for three years. Jennifer has participated in numerous classes and conventions with world renowned teachers such as Joe Lanteri, Joe Tramaine, Denise Wall, Sonya Tayah, Frank Hatchett, Mia Micheals, Gus Giordano, and Luigi. After returning from New York, where she studied at the Broadway Dance Center and Steps on Broadway, she continued training at the Jeanette Neill Dance Studio in Boston. Jennifer has choreographed and modeled for Paul Mitchell Professional Haircare Systems and choreographed the winning routines for Teen Miss Dance of New England and second runner-up to Teen Miss Dance of America. Her choreography has earned her 1st and 2nd Overall High Scores and the Sherry Gold Memorial Award for outstanding choreography. Jenn recently performed for the Red Sox World Series Kick-Off Party at Fenway and the New York Jazz Choreography Project. She has appeared on HGTV and is a dance company member of Jazz Inc. from Boston. She is very excited to be a part of the BGSD Family!
Jonathan Richmond
Jonathan Richmond is known in the Tap world for his rhythmic and masterful Tap technique. He started Tap dance at the age of 3 and 29 years later he continues to have a fierce passion for Tap. He grew up studying at Diane Kelley Dance Studios under the direction of the great Diane Kelley. He also studied under the direction of Joan Sheary and Kellie Shea at The Burncoat High School Dance Department. He was the American Dance Awards (ADA) Regional Teen Male Dancer of the Year for 2001, 2002, and 2003. He was Regional Male Dancer of the Year in 2005, was awarded Mr. Dance Xplosion in 2003, and finished as runner up in 2004. In 2012, Jonathan auditioned in Manhattan for So You Think You Can Dance and made it into the second round. Jonathan has been teaching in and around Worcester for the past 15 years and is excited to be a part of the Betty Gundersen Studio of Dance family. His
choreography has earned him a number of national championships and numerous special awards.
Ana Luisa Thompson-Konopka
A native of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Ms. Thompson-Konopka graduated from the Maria Olenewa School of Dance, the official School of the Theatro Municipal of Rio de Janeiro, where she studied with Jacy Jambay, Consuelo Rios, Regina Bertelli, Marcelo Coelho, Silvana Andrade, Paulo Melgaço, Sergio Lobato, and under the direction of Maria Luisa Noronha. Also among her teachers, Ms. Valeria Moreira, Mr. Eric Valdo, and Mr. Antonio Vasconcellos. The Olenewa School is internationally recognized, with graduates performing in major Ballet Companies in the US and Europe. While a student there, Ms. Thompson-Konopka was chosen to perform in Coppelia and La Sylphide with the Company of Theatro Municipal of Rio de Janeiro. She also danced with the Brazilian Modern Dance Company, Companhia de Danca Rio, under the direction of Angela Ferreira and with choreographies from Diana Tomasetig. Ms. Thompson-Konopka completed the David Howard Teacher’s Seminar in 2000. She served on the faculty at the Performing Arts School of Worcester from 1998 until 2004, where she was a former Ballet Mistress, Assistant Director and Director of Curriculum. She served as Ballet mistress for Ballet Arts Worcester (BAW) from 2005 to 2017. She choreographed ballet, modern and contemporary pieces for the Worcester Youth Ballet Company and PASOW’s The Nutcracker. Ms. Thompson-Konopka has performed in numerous productions of The Nutcracker; she was guest artist with the Melrose Youth Ballet, Dance It Up, and PASOW’s since 1997 dancing the roles of Sugar Plum Fairy, Snow Queen, Arabian Princess and Spanish Soloist. She is now a full-time faculty member and Ballet Mistress at The Hanover Conservatory for The Performing Arts. Besides teaching every level of classical ballet technique, her expertise includes coaching in Classical Ballet variations and stretching & strengthening exercises geared towards dancers. Ms. Thompson-Konopka continues to add to her knowledge and experience in dance. She was licensed as a Zumba instructor in July, 2019, and certified as a Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT) teacher in January, 2020.