MONTAGUE – After teaching and living in New York City for ten years, Montague resident Hayley Descavich decided it was time to begin the next chapter of her dance career by opening her own studio.

“I always knew I would open a dance studio, and it just seemed like the perfect time,” Descavich said.

That new chapter began in January when Descavich opened Catherine Grace Studios — she combined her own middle name and her mother’s to bring family ties to the dance studio — in the old Masonic Lodge built in 1872 at 20 Masonic Ave. She worked with her parents to secure the space and returned to Montague in the fall of 2022 to prepare the building for the dance studio’s opening.

Descavich has taught dance and was a ballerina herself. She studied at the Hartt School in Connecticut before moving to teach ballet at the Joffrey Ballet School in New York City. These teaching experiences and a desire to move out of the city inspired her to share her dance knowledge with children and adults who want to learn.

An old classroom on the top floor of the building has been converted into the main dance studio. Hardwood floors, ballet barres and a large dance mirror occupy the space where school desks used to be bolted to the floor. Some remnants of the Masons and the school remain, like an old desk for decoration and light fixtures, but Descavich and her family have redesigned the space for dance students and families.

At Catherine Grace Studios, class sizes are smaller, Descavich explained, and courses are offered for different dance experiences.

“My classes are small and personal. I teach pre-professionally, but anyone can join. I teach the curriculum at age level and teach a Russian curriculum,” Descavich said.

In her studio she has participants aged 16 to 65 with varying abilities. Some of her students want to dance more professionally.

According to the Catherine Grace Studios website, children as young as 3 can take dance classes. The creative movement class for 3- to 4-year-olds teaches “the fundamentals of creative movement and ballet and allows them to engage in the exploration of movement characteristics, motor skills and socialization skills,” the course description states.

“I hope that all the qualities I try to teach in a dance class will translate to the real world, regardless of age,” Descavich said of her teaching style.

Descavich feels she has been mentored by others who have helped her develop her teaching skills. She points to her experience as a student of dance instructor Ann Sorvino at Stoneleigh-Burnham School in Greenfield as a time in her life when she learned what makes a successful dance teacher.

“She was a great example of a kind and loving dance teacher,” Descavich recalled.

Descavich said that in her time working with students of varying ability levels and ages, she finds it fulfilling to see her students gain traction in dance through her classes. She points out that she has witnessed adult students rediscover their love of dance while younger students discover their initial interest in dancing.

Although Descavich teaches the dance classes, she does not work full-time at the studio. While she teaches dance, manages marketing, and handles student enrollment for her studio, she is also the dance director at Stoneleigh-Burnham School. She balances her full-time work with the studio by teaching classes on Mondays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

The studio began holding classes in January, but Descavich is already looking to the future of the studio and plans to host showcases with her students and expand the operation over time.

“We just started in January, but the goal is an intimate dance performance and then maybe plans to expand in the future,” Descavich explained. “I’m all about educating and enriching the community through the arts.”

There will be an open day for those interested in taking the course on August 31st. For information about the open day and to register, email [email protected]. For a full list of courses, visit catherinegracestudios.com.

Reach Erin-Leigh Hoffman at [email protected] or 413-930-4231.