Welcome to Rhythmic Force Dance at the Y. At Y dance programs, kids and teens can explore rhythm, movement and a variety of dance styles while engaging in fun, physical activity.
Dates
Spring Recital Session: February 21 - June 6, 2026
Tiny Gems
This class is for dancers ages 3-5 years old. Dancers will be learning the fundamentals of each style at a beginner level. Black Tap shoes and pink Ballet shoes will be required for class.
- Class: Tiny Gems Tap/Ballet/Hip Hop (all three offered in one class)
- Day/Time: Saturdays 9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Emerald
This class is for dancers ages 6-8. Dancers will be learning the fundamentals of each style at a beginner level. Emerald dancers will be potentially competing in competitions in the spring. Black tap shoes, pink ballet shoes, and black hip hop shoes will be required.
- Class: Emerald Tap/Ballet/Hip Hop (all three offered in one class)
- Day/Time: Saturdays 10:45 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.
Ruby
This class is for dancers ages 8 – 12 years old. Dancers will be learning the fundamentals of each style at a beginner/intermediate level. Dancers will be potentially competing in competitions in the spring. Black tap shoes, pink ballet shoes, black hip hop shoes will be required.
- Class: Ruby Tap/Ballet/Hip Hop (all three offered in one class)
- Day/Time: Saturdays 12:30 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Fees
- Full Member Fee: $92 per month for four months
- Program Member Fee: $104 per month for four months
- Monthly payments begin February 21, 2026
Meet Our Dance Teachers
Miss Amber
Amber Ganaros started her dancing career at a young age, training in Tap, Jazz, Ballet, and Contemporary. She has performed at many dance competitions throughout the New England area, and was invited to International Dance Competition’s national competition. Amber received a performing arts scholarship upon attending Dean College in Franklin Massachusetts as a dance major. She graduated cum laude receiving her degree in the performing arts in the year 2013. At Dean, Amber perfected her technique in Ballet, Tap, Jazz, and Modern. She also took extensive classes focused on working with and teaching children such as creative movement, and pedagogue for dancers. Amber also took a dance composition class, focusing on different styles of choreographing, dance history classes, and rhythmic analysis classes.
After college, Amber continued to share her passion for dance, teaching at many different schools across the New England area. She has taught Ballet, Tap, Contemporary, Modern, Acro, Jazz, and Technique classes to children of all ages. She has also choreographed many competition pieces, ten of which have received first place titles in their divisions. Amber has also received multiple choreography awards in contemporary and hip hop at multiple different dance competitions.
Amber has attended the Pulse Annual Teacher Convention in New York City Twice. There she took classes perfecting her skills in dance and sat in on lectures with other instructors, learning different methods of teaching for all different styles of dance. She believes “as a dance teacher, you should never stop learning, and improving your art”. She has also attended several classes at Broadway Dance Center in New York City for all styles of dance.
In 2016 Amber opened her own dance studio in Middletown Connecticut where she taught students of all ages Tap, Jazz, Ballet, Hip Hop, Contemporary, Acro, Creative Movement, and technique classes. She has taken her students to multiple competitions around the New England area winning high scores at every competition. She has also invited other talented instructors to run workshops at her studio to help her students branch out and learn from other instructors and perfect their skills in every area of dance.
In 2020 Amber came back to the YMCA as the program coordinator for the dance program and has continued to teach and grow her staff to create a fun and welcoming environment for dancers to learn and perfect their skills.
Amber continues to strengthen her technical skills by attending classes and workshops as much as possible. She is a well practiced teacher devoted to sharing her passion with her students.
Miss Jaci
Jaci started dancing at a young age quickly accelerating to the competitive level in hip-hop. Falling in love with dance itself she also incorporated jazz, contemporary, lyrical, tap, and ballet. At the age of 18 she became a professional dancer for the United Football League's Hartford Colonials as well as a New Haven team for the American Basketball Association. Jaci went on to study as a Dance Major at Dean College where she furthered her dance education at the collegiate level with performance and academic courses such as dance composition, dance history, rhythmic analysis and more. She was selected to be a member of Dean College's Elite Hip-Hop Dance Company studying under Ricardo Foster Jr., a professional dancer who has performed and choreographed for celebrities such as Jay-Z, Usher, NSYNC and more. During her training with the Elite Hip-Hop Dance Company she learned the foundation of various styles within hip-hop to further her extensive training.
Amidst graduating with her Dance Degree in 2014 Jaci moved to the Boston area where she was selected to be a Professional Dancer for The Expressive Movement Dance Company. During this experience Jaci participated in several elite hip-hop competitions and performances such as World of Dance, Prelude Urban Dance, and the IT Factor, travelling throughout New England and Canada for such performances. She has been a Dance Instructor for over 10 years in multiple states including Connecticut, Massachusetts and Colorado. Her choreography in Hip-hop and Contemporary has won numerous choreography awards at competitions. Jaci is passionate about teaching and strives to ensure that her students feel safe and comfortable to grow as dancers and individuals in her classes!
Miss Maddy
Madalyn has been dancing at the Y since she was little and has trained in a wide variety of styles including ballet, contemporary, jazz, tap, acro, lyrical, and hip hop. She now shares her passion for dance as both a performer and teacher and enjoys working with dancers of all ages. Madalyn continues to train at Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts, focusing on ballet and modern technique.
Miss Makayla
Makayla started dancing at a very young age here at the Y. She has been with Ms. Amber through every step. Makayla grew up taking tap, ballet, hip-hop, and acro. As she grew older her classes expanded to tap, lyrical, contemporary, jazz, hip-hop, and acro. Makayla takes competitive level classes in contemporary, lyrical, hip-hop, and jazz. She has also competed and won 1st in her division for multiple open category solos. Makayla teaches dancers ages 3-15 years old. She always looks forward to teaching to watch all of her students grow and find there love for dance. When she is not teaching, she is participating in the Wilcox Tech volleyball and cheer teams.
Miss Morgan
Morgan has been teaching dance at the Y since 2018 and continues to explore and learn various styles of dance such as tap, ballet, pointe, jazz, hip-hop, musical theatre, contemporary, modern, pom, kickline, and more! During college, Morgan continued her dance journey and performed in various showcases and was part of Springfield College Pride Dance Team, SC dancers, and Best Of Broadway club. Morgan continues to strengthen her technical skills by attending classes and workshops as much as possible. She is excited to share her passion with her students!
Miss Sydney
Sydney found her passion for dance in 2016. She studied tap, jazz, ballet, contemporary and hip hop. Sydney has attended many technique classes and workshops to strengthen her technical skills. Sydney is always in the studio any chance she has to improve her skills.
For the past 9 years she has taught all ages in tap, jazz, ballet, contemporary, hip hop and acro classes. In her classes, Sydney is passionate about empowering students to try new things in an environment that is comforting and uplifting and making memories while learning new skills.
When Sydney is not at the dance studio she works as an assistant director in a child care center.
How To Register for Programs:
1. If you already have an up-to-date membership you can register online, by phone at 860.229.3787, or in-person at the New Britain YMCA at 50 High Street.
2. If you do not have a membership yet or need to update your membership, register in-person at the New Britain YMCA at 50 High Street.