Dance for All AGes
From Preschool to high school, adults and seniors
The Old Lyme Dance Center offers a refreshing dance experience for students of all ages and abilities. Whether you dance for fun or fitness, or you are working toward a professional career in the performing arts, our experienced and dedicated faculty provide an excellent dance education in a fun, supportive and noncompetitive environment.
Meet Our Instructors
Bethany Forcucci Haslam
Founder, Former Director (2012-2025)
come dance with us!
Find your next class at Old Lyme Dance Center! No matter what skill level you are or reason you have to want to dance, we have a class for you.
our reviews say it all…
Fantastic! My kids love dancing with Bethany and learn a lot.
- Tamara S. 
Thank you to The Dance Center of Old Lyme and Bethany for her incredible talent, dedication to these dancers and fostering the love of dance within our community!
- Nicole B.
A wonderful, nurturing environment where every student is encouraged and respected. The teachers are top notch.and help their students to challenge themselves to the next level. A very welcoming studio!
- Catherine W.
Thank you [to] The Dance Center of Old Lyme for bringing such light to our Scarlett’s life! You gave your dancers and their families such a gift and we are so grateful!
- Erin S.
Tiffany Oltjenbruns
Director
Tiffany Oltjenbruns is a Georgia native who began her formal dance training at the Atlanta Academy of Ballet and Dance in Woodstock. She went on to graduate Summa Cum Laude from Brenau University with a B.A. in Dance and a concentration in Pre-Physical Therapy. During her time at Brenau, she had the opportunity to work with renowned guest artists such as Jennifer Archibald, Joshua Blake Carter, Autumn Eckman, Nicholas Palmquist, Allyne Gartrell, and Jesse Zarritt. Her excellence in both academics and performance earned her the titles of Provost Scholar and Outstanding Senior Dance Major.
While pursuing her degree, Tiffany danced with the Gainesville Ballet Company, where she performed notable roles including the Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker and Tinker Bell in Peter Pan. Upon graduation, she launched her professional career in New England, performing with Ekklesia Contemporary Ballet and Dimensional Dance. She currently dances with Garet&Co, a Connecticut-based contemporary company, where she is a proud Pro Member.
Tiffany’s passion for dance extends beyond the stage into the studio. She began teaching in high school and quickly discovered a deep love for educating young dancers. Her teaching philosophy centers on building meaningful connections with students and fostering a positive, supportive environment where creativity and confidence can thrive. She believes every dancer deserves a space where they feel safe, valued, and free to explore their artistry.
Fulfilling a lifelong dream, Tiffany now serves as Director of Old Lyme Dance Center, after teaching alongside the studio’s founder, Bethany Haslam, for two years. She is honored to carry forward the studio’s legacy while bringing her own fresh and nurturing approach to its next chapter.
When she’s not dancing or teaching, Tiffany enjoys discovering new coffee shops around Connecticut, honing her dance photography skills, and diving deeper into her love of music.
Syd Champagne
jazz, tap, & Dance Company
Sydney Champagne is a Connecticut-based dancer, choreographer, and dance educator originally from New Hartford, CT. As a teen, she served as captain of the competitive dance team at D.A.N.C.E. by Kristin, training extensively in ballet, lyrical, tap, and jazz. She continued her dance journey at Central Connecticut State University, where she majored in Dance Education with a specialization in Entrepreneurship and served as president of the university’s contemporary dance company, Dancentral, for two semesters. She graduated summa cum laude in May 2025 with a Bachelor of Science. Sydney is currently in her third season dancing as a principal member of Garet&Co; a CT-based contemporary dance company, where she trains, performs, teaches, and choreographs. Since 2021, Sydney has taught students of all ages—from preschoolers to adults—in a variety of styles at both recreational and competitive studios throughout the CT area. Her teaching philosophy goes beyond dance technique, aiming to foster resilience, empathy, self-awareness, and creativity in every class. Across all of her dance communities, Sydney is passionate about building meaningful connections—with audiences, peers, and students alike—and is committed to cultivating spaces rooted in joy, self-expression, and mutual respect.
Tori Mattie
HIp hop, musical theater, & tap
Tori Mattie is from North Haven, CT and has been dancing since the age of five. She grew up dancing at Wendy’s School of Dance where she trained in ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, hip hop, and musical theater. In 2017, she toured with DanZa Competition and Intensive as a member of the Z-Crew, assisting classes in various styles with faculty members such as Jaclyn Walsh, Bill DeRicco, Sarah Jo Fazio, and Angie Sellers. Tori then attended Wheaton College in Massachusetts where she earned her BA in Theater and Dance Studies as well as a BA in English. There, Tori joined the Wheaton College Dance Company under the direction of Cheryl Mrozowski and instruction of Andy Taylor-Blenis and Leticia Guerrero. During her senior year, Tori danced in Wheaton’s revival of “The Game,” originally choreographed by Diane Arvanites and reset by Andy Taylor-Blenis. Tori was also a member of Wheaton’s tap dance group, Tap Out Loud, and served as Co-Captain of both Tap Out Loud and the Dance Company. Throughout her college dance career, Tori had many opportunities to choreograph in different styles of dance, and since graduating in 2022 she has been invited back several times as a guest choreographer. Tori has danced professionally with Garet&Co, a contemporary dance company based in the Hartford area.
Grace McAdams
Pre-Ballet & Ballet 3B
Grace McAdams began dancing at the age of 4. She trained in pre-professional ballet throughout middle school and high school as well as dancing at Old Lyme Dance center during her junior and senior year. She performed with Dancentral at CCSU for a semester her freshman year of college before transferring to intern with Ballet Hartford. She is now entering her third season as a trainee with Ballet Hartford and is looking forward to coming back to Old Lyme to teach.