Dance Bochette
Downtown Fort Myers dance studio with 75 years of family legacy and professio…
Dance Bochette was founded in 1951 by Norma Jeanne Bochette, who transformed a disused machine shop beside a railroad station into Fort Myers' first dance school.
Photo: Dance Bochette via Google
Before your first class
Creative movement classes welcome the youngest dancers, and entry-level classes in ballet, tap, and acrobatics are designed for beginners; the studio serves generations of families and emphasises a su
About this studio
Dance Bochette was founded in 1951 by Norma Jeanne Bochette, who transformed a disused machine shop beside a railroad station into Fort Myers' first dance school. From that modest start, she built it into a pillar of the area's cultural scene, serving as a founding member of The Community Concert Series and establishing Gulfcoast Dance Inc., a nonprofit that brought dance opportunities to students regardless of which studio they attended. Today, 75 years later, Dance Bochette remains family-owned and operated by Alyce Bochette, Jeanne's daughter, who trained under her mother and went on to perform and teach internationally with major companies including the May O'Donnell Concert Dance Company and the world-renowned Mark Morris Dance Group before returning to Fort Myers to lead the studio.
The studio's training philosophy places equal emphasis on technical development and character formation. Faculty members uphold exacting standards delivered with compassion and encouragement, focusing on students' holistic growth and well-being. The studio welcomes dancers of all ages and levels—from creative movement for young children through to advanced pointe work for seasoned performers. Whether a dancer is discovering a love of movement or preparing for a professional career, you'll find structured, progressive training across multiple disciplines.
Classes follow the respected Cecchetti method for ballet, progressing from pre-ballet through Senior levels. Beyond ballet, Dance Bochette teaches tap, jazz, modern, hip-hop, acrobatics, lyrical, and contemporary dance. Specialised offerings include Alignment & Conditioning (incorporating Pilates, yoga, Laban/Bartenieff fundamentals, stretch and release technique, HIIT, and therapeutic barre) and Modern/Acro classes that explore principles like torso use, contract and release, fall and recovery, and improvisation.
Year-end performances are carefully curated with well-defined themes and frequent guest artists and choreographers. The studio also offers supplemental experiences including Florida Dance Masters workshops and dance competitions, all carefully screened to align with the studio's training philosophy. The faculty includes professionals with substantial performing backgrounds: Jill Guenther, who has taught at Dance Bochette for over 40 years and performed with the Bolshoi Ballet; Jennifer Reed, faculty since 2003, who emphasises artistry and develops choreography for teen dancers; Eddy Borges, who danced with Ballet de Camaguey and other companies across Latin America and joined the faculty in 2022; Samantha Vos, a Cypress Lake Center for the Arts dance major graduate who joined in 2021; and Dina Tigeleiro, trained in Horton Technique and Lehrer Technique, who joined in 2020.
The studio is located in downtown Fort Myers at 2265 Widman Way. Dance Bochette cultivates a welcoming environment for all dancers, whether pursuing performance careers or seeking dance as a form of self-expression and personal growth.
What to expect
Your first visit
Classes emphasise proper technique, anatomical awareness, and the joy of movement. From your first class, expect structured progression matched to your level, with instructors providing careful attention to alignment and fundamentals. Classes fill quickly, so register in advance to secure your spot.
Instructors
Who teaches here
Faculty includes Alyce Bochette (Director, formerly of Mark Morris Dance Group), Jill Guenther (Associate Ballet/Tap/Jazz, 40+ years at the studio, performed with Bolshoi Ballet), Jennifer Reed (Associate Ballet, faculty since 2003), Eddy Borges (Contemporary Ballet, formerly Principal Dancer with Ballet Centro de Artes of Guayaquil and Ballet Nacional of Ecuador, joined 2022), Samantha Vos (Lyrical/Tap/Jazz/Ballet, Cypress Lake Center for the Arts graduate, joined 2021), Gloria Hanneken (Creative Dance/Modern Assistant, featured at Florida Dance Masters and competitions), and Dina Tigeleiro (Performance Group Choreographer, trained in Horton and Lehrer Technique, joined 2020).
New to dancing?
What beginners can expect
Creative movement classes welcome the youngest dancers, and entry-level classes in ballet, tap, and acrobatics are designed for beginners; the studio serves generations of families and emphasises a supportive, nurturing environment.
Studio history
Dance Bochette was established in 1951 by Norma Jeanne Bochette. Jeanne began her childhood dancing barefoot along Fort Myers dirt roads in the 1930s, became drum major of Fort Myers High School (the first girl in Florida history to hold the position), won a scholarship to Rollins College, and later performed with the Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall in New York. She founded the studio without bank financing by trading classes for goods, transforming a former machine shop beside a railroad station into the region's first dance school. She earned lifetime achievement awards from Florida Dance Masters, Florida Dance Association, and Rollins College, and was named a Grand Dame in 2010. Her daughter Alyce Bochette, who performed internationally with major modern companies, has led the studio for the past 75 years, continuing her mother's legacy of excellence and family-centred values.
Styles offered
11 dance styles taught here
Gallery
The people, the parties and the dancing here
Class schedule
Weekly classes and workshops
Dance Bochettehasn't set up a public class schedule yet.
If you own Dance Bochette, claiming the studio lets you add a public schedule in about 2 minutes. A free Google Calendar is the easiest path — visitors see your class times inline + can add events to their own calendar.
Frequently asked about Dance Bochette
Quick answers to the most common questions
What dance styles does Dance Bochette teach?
Dance Bochette teaches General, Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Modern, Contemporary and 5 more. The full list of styles is shown above on this page along with each genre's classes and lesson options.
Where is Dance Bochette located?
Dance Bochette is located in Fort Myers, FL. See the map above for the exact address and one-tap directions.
Does Dance Bochette offer private lessons?
Contact Dance Bochette directly to ask about private lessons and current class options — their website has the latest details.
Does Dance Bochette teach kids and adults?
Dance Bochette welcomes students of varied ages and experience levels. Contact the studio to learn which classes fit your age group and level.
How do I sign up for classes at Dance Bochette?
The fastest path is to visit Dance Bochette via their website or check the class schedule above. Many studios offer a free or discounted intro lesson — contact them directly to ask.