05 · About · 25+ years in Middlesex County

Family-founded. Family-run.

Caffery’s Dance & Gymnastics is a family-owned dance and gymnastics studio in Middletown, CT — founded by Maureen Aresco and now run by her goddaughter Lindsay Almquist, who started here as a 3-year-old student. Twenty-five-plus years later, the same warm, family-oriented atmosphere is still the heart of the studio.

What we believe.

VALUES

Family first.

Caffery’s started as a family-run business and we run it that way still — warm, familial, and built on the relationships between our teachers, our students, and their families.

Real teaching, every age.

Our 3-year-olds learn real movement vocabulary. Our teens train at the level of any pre-pro program. Recreational and competitive dancers get the same teachers, the same standards.

Both sides of the room.

Dance and gymnastics. Recreational and competitive. Whatever your dancer wants — one class a week or a national-title-winning company piece — we’ve got space for them.

Hard work brings joy.

The goal is excellence, but the point is joy. Lindsay’s primary mission as director is to encourage every student to excel in an activity that lights them up.

The story, briefly.

FOUNDING → TODAY

The founding

Maureen Aresco opens Caffery’s

Caffery’s is founded in Middletown, CT by Maureen Aresco — the studio’s original owner and the heart of its family-oriented atmosphere.

Age 3

A young student named Lindsay

A 3-year-old Lindsay Almquist starts dance and gymnastics at Caffery’s under the direction of her godmother Maureen. Her natural talent is matched by an instinctual drive for excellence.

Childhood

Competition years

Lindsay competes in both dance and gymnastics throughout her childhood, then heads to NYC to train with some of the best professional dancers and choreographers in the field.

Age 19

Lindsay starts teaching

At 19, Lindsay launches her teaching and choreography career — bringing back what she learned in NYC. She begins a 25-year run that earns 7 national titles, two Choreographer of the Year recognitions, and dozens of choreography awards.

The handoff

Lindsay becomes owner & director

Lindsay takes over from Maureen as the proud owner and director of Caffery’s — with one primary goal: preserve the warm, family-run atmosphere her godmother built.

Tap class — teaching the next generation

Today

25+ years of Caffery’s

An award-winning studio (Best of Middletown, ADCC Studio of Excellence) serving Middlesex County families with both recreational and competitive dance, gymnastics, tumbling, adult classes, and pilates — still family-owned, still warm, still serious about the work.

A note from Lindsay.

OWNER & STUDIO DIRECTOR

I started dancing here when I was three years old — my godmother Maureen Aresco was the original owner of Caffery’s, and she put me in my first class before I could pronounce “plié.” Twenty-five years later, I get to run the studio she built.

I’m the proud owner and director now. I make the schedule, hire the teachers, pick the costumes, sign your contract, and wave at you in the parking lot. I still teach. I still choreograph 30 to 40 routines a year. I still get nervous every June when the curtain goes up at the recital.

What hasn’t changed since Maureen’s day is the family feel. Caffery’s started as a family-run business, and my primary goal as director is to preserve that — while encouraging every student to excel in an activity that brings them joy.

If you’re thinking about coming in — come in. We’ll figure the rest out together.

— Lindsay Almquist, owner & studio director

Questions families ask.

QUICK FAQ · full FAQ →

My kid has never danced — is that okay?

Yes. Many of every preschool and youth class are brand new. Our teachers meet dancers exactly where they are.

What if we miss a class?

Up to 3 make-up classes per dancer per season, by email request. Snow-day closures don’t count against the 3.

Is there financial aid?

Always. Email info@cafferys.net with “scholarship” in the subject line. Confidential and no application form.

Do you offer both dance and gymnastics?

Yes — both, all under one roof. Many of our students do both. See programs →

What’s the competitive team commitment?

Weekly company rehearsal plus a technique class, four regional competitions, and a summer intensive. Auditions in May and September. More →

Do you offer summer programs?

Yes — 4-week dance & gym intensives, a 3-day dance intensive, and weekly summer camp for ages 4–12. Summer programs →