founder of DanceFIT, ballet teacher, fitness instructor & mom
From dancing at the L’Ecole de Superiere de Dance de Rosella Hightower in France to teaching at The Washington Ballet, Gina has performed and learned under many of the world’s top dancers and instructors. Gina has excelled in and studied many forms of dance, such as classical ballet, partnering, pointe, jazz, modern, character and kinesthetics. Her knowledge, experience and versatility even earned her the “Certificat de Stage” award from the famed French academy. Gina’s success as a performer also translated into success as a teacher. At The Washington Ballet, Gina served as assistant to the director of education in the ballet’s Outreach Program. Teaching nearly 400 students per week, Gina taught both the in-school and the after school programs. The in-school program maintained a strong focus on music, dance and the visual arts, while her after school programs centered on in-depth classical pre-ballet technique training. Upon completion of her internship, The Washington Ballet hired Gina as a full-time Movement Specialist. Gina went on to graduate Magna Cum Laude with a degree in Art History and Studio Art from Gettysburg College in 2005. During that same year, Gina studied in Florence, Italy and was hired by a renowned Artistic Director to choreograph a dance for the American Opera “Where the Wild Things Are.”
Gina was a faculty member of Brookline Adult Education as a fitness instructor and continued her teaching of classical ballet classes at various Boston studios, where her students performed in spring showcases and won many competitions.
Gina’s passion for dance is reflected in her classes. She focuses on placement and technique, and provides each dancer with personal attention. Gina has developed a dance based fitness program, balletFIT, designed to achieve a dancers body and help people develop specific muscle groups and help prevent and recover from injuries. Gina has been instructing and inspiring an array of levels and ages of dancers, ranging from coaching professionals to helping children with disabilities. Her mission is to share the knowledge of the beauty, joy, and science of her art form.
Being a parent has given Gina a fresh perspective in teaching the little ballerinas in a way that she never dreamed of. She loves to share this insight with fellow parents and prospective new students. Gina’s students have been the inspiration for all of her creative ideas in some way or another. The most important thing she has taken from her experiences is that if you respect children, they will respect you. Her personal goal as a teacher is to have each child finish their ballet class loving their experience, their teachers & the new movements. She tries to look for a balance of structure and fun in the studio. Kids should be having fun in dance class and want to come back every week! In 2008 Gina fulfilled her dream of sharing her love for dance and exercise by starting DanceFIT. Gina and her family reside in Wayland.