MONTAGUE — After 10 years of teaching and living in New York City, Hayley Descavich of Montague decided it was time to begin the next chapter of her dance career by opening a studio of her own.

“I always knew that I was going to open up a dance studio, and it just seemed like the perfect time,” Descavich said.

This new chapter began in January when Descavich opened Catherine Grace Studios — combining her own middle name and that of her mother 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 she 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, having studied at The Hartt School in Connecticut for her undergraduate studies before moving to teach ballet at the Joffrey Ballet School in New York City. These teaching experiences along with a desire to relocate out of the city inspired her to pass down her knowledge of dance to children and adults who want to learn.

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

At Catherine Grace Studios, Descavich explained the classes are smaller in size, and classes are available to accommodate a range of dance experience.

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

She has participants in her studio that range in age from 16 to 65 years old, with different skill levels. Some of her students want to pursue dance more professionally.

According to the Catherine Grace Studios website, children as young as 3 are eligible for dance instruction. The creative movement class for 3- to 4-year-olds teaches “the fundamentals of creative movement and ballet, allowing them to delve into the exploration of movement characteristics, motor skills and socialization abilities,” the class description reads.

“All the attributes that I try to teach in a dance class, no matter what age, I hope that they carry out into the real world,” Descavich said of her teaching style.

Descavich feels she’s 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 being a time in her life where she learned what being an effective dance teacher looks like.

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

In her time working with students of different skill levels and ages, Descavich said she finds it fulfilling to see her pupils find their footing in dance through her classes. She points out how she’s seen adult students rediscover their love for dance while also seeing younger students find that initial interest in dance.

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

The studio began hosting classes in January, but Descavich is looking to the studio’s future already, with plans to host showcases with her students and expand operations as time goes on.

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

An open house for those interested in classes will be held Aug. 31. For open house information and to RSVP, email catherinegracestudios@gmail.com. A full list of classes is available at catherinegracestudios.com.

Erin-Leigh Hoffman can be reached at ehoffman@recorder.com or 413-930-4231.