Our Story
We opened in 2014 as CrossFit Big Dane. The founders, Barrett and Sam Danz, moved to our current facility in 2019, survived a global pandemic, and grew the community.
In 2025, the gym entered a new chapter with new ownership, and a new name: Allegro.
Why “Allegro”?
Allegro is a musical term that means “lively” and “cheerful.”
It describes movement that’s fast, challenging, and fun, just like our training!
At Allegro, we embrace the “both/and” of fitness:
We work hard and have fun.
We hate it and love it.
We push ourselves and cheer each other on.
What sets us apart?
Quality: our coaching staff is focused on continuous improvement so we can offer great group experiences with personalized guidance.
Value: with our monthly billing cycle, our prices are highly competitive even before you consider our variety of training programs, membership tiers, coaching quality, expansive daily Open Gym hours, and space.
Variety: CrossFit is constantly varied by definition, and if you want to change things up further with Hyrox and Yoga, we’ve got that too. You’ll get fit without ever getting bored.
Facility: our huge gym ensures you’re never jockeying for space, and the clean, bright lobby, recovery space, and bathrooms help you feel welcome and rested. (And if you have a dog, they’ll love being able to run around our back yard while you train.)
Inclusivity: we proudly support all athletes and strive to create a space for all to feel safe, seen, and welcome.
Community: we know your name (and miss you when you’re gone). And as our name “Allegro” suggests, we know how to take fitness seriously without taking ourselves too seriously. We are in this game for the long haul and don’t want to lose sight of what it’s all for: living a more joyful, fulfilled life thanks to fitness.
Meet the Owner
It’s not often that you hear a CrossFit gym owner say “I didn’t think CrossFit would be for me.”
When I first heard about CrossFit, it sounded like something impressive that other people did. I wished I was the kind of person who trained like that…but instead, I was losing strength and seeing declining health markers through my 20s and 30s.
But I gave it a try. Even though I couldn’t do a push-up to save my life, I found I could participate fully, and belong fully, in every single class, thanks to our scaling options and friendly members. And I found myself getting into the best shape of my life - with improved health markers to show for it - in my 40s.
I started coaching in 2024, earned my L2 in 2025, and stepped into ownership in late 2025 as our founder was looking for a buyer. As I establish our Hyrox program, recovery resources, structured accountability coaching, and more, my hope is to inspire everyone who wants to prioritize their health to find their place here.
-Julie Godshall
Owner, CF-L1 + CF-L2, Coach
Our Team
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Andy Dolejs, Head Coach
CF – L1 & L2
Deep End Fitness Level 1 Instructor
Burgener Strength Level 1
Catalyst Athletics Online Level 1
I started Crossfit at 34 and have worked to keep up with my two boys. Eight years later, I am still able to run, hike, snowboard, and enjoy any activity they throw at me. My favorite movements are the Olympic lifts and other functional work with odd objects.
Fun fact: I teach art outside the gym and love how my fitness helps me have the strength to move pottery wheels, 50 pound bags of clay, and other heavier projects.
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Joey Stoner
CF-L1 & L2
I was introduced into the CrossFit community shortly after joining the Air National Guard in 2011. No matter where I was in the world, the CrossFit community has brought me a close connection to friends and a sense of belonging. In 2017 I moved to Madison WI for a full time position with the 115th Fighter Wing. As I continued my commitment to CrossFit, I finally decided to get my CF-L1 in July 2021. Shortly after that I started coaching here with Big Dane Collective. I love bringing my charismatic personality to class as a coach and member. Watching members commit to a healthy lifestyle and achieve their goals is one the best feelings for me as a coaching professional.
Fun fact: I also instruct snowboarding lessons and have a Rottweiler Sansa who takes up most of my time.
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Amy Ninneman
CF-L1
I discovered CrossFit while mobilized with my Army Reserve unit in 2012 and have been hooked ever since. As a life-long distance runner, I appreciate the strength and mobility CrossFit adds to my overall fitness. As an extrovert, I appreciate the friendliness and community that CrossFit cultivates! After ten years of WODs I decided I wanted to share my love of CrossFit with others; I earned my CF-L1 in December of 2022 and began coaching in early 2023. As an older athlete, my goal is to encourage and inspire our athletes to remain active and healthy as they age.
Fun Fact: I am a mother of four and grandmother of two!
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New List Item
CF-L1 & L2
BPFA Inclusive FitPro
Growing up, I competed in gymnastics and played soccer, eventually finding my way to triathlons and then Crossfit. I love to help others figure out their favorite ways to move their body. In the past several years, I have discovered a love for handstands and hand balancing which I train at the gym and also at Madison Circus Space. Outside of the gym, you can find me on the trails and on the sidelines of my 8 year old’s sporting events. -
Grace Belson, Coach
CF-L1
I was on the rowing team at UW-Madison for 5 years. After graduating, I tried CrossFit and loved it right away! I love being a part of the community and having an outlet to push myself and find my limits.
I am a police officer and a dog mom. My dog, Delilah often makes appearances at the gym 🙂
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Jason Lopez, Coach
CF-L1
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John Francis, Coach
CF-L1
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Anna Ardito, Hyrox Coach
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Pam Fox, Hyrox Coach
Pam is a HYROX coach, athlete, and Head Judge with 28 races completed across five seasons. She has qualified for and competed in four HYROX World Championships and is preparing to compete in her fifth in Stockholm, Sweden. With over eight years of group fitness coaching experience and more than a dozen HYROX events judged as Head Judge, she brings real race-day knowledge into every class.
Her coaching focuses on smart race preparation, efficient movement, and building confidence under fatigue. Pam believes athletes don’t need a traditional fitness background to succeed in HYROX—just consistency, intentional training, and the willingness to show up. Her classes are designed to meet athletes where they’re at, whether they’re just looking to get a good workout, training for their first HYROX, or chasing podium goals.
Outside the gym, Pam is a full-time cosmetologist and entrepreneur, owning and operating a salon with 14 independent tenants. A Madison-area local with a love for travel (especially warm destinations), she credits HYROX with opening the door to racing—and exploring—cities around the world.
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Beata Pogodzinski, Yoga Instructor
Beata has been helping others find peace and strength on the mat since 2009. After discovering how yoga transformed her own body awareness and flexibility in her 20s, she made it her mission to share that joy with others.
Now part of the Allegro Fitness family, she’s here every Sunday to help our community breathe deeper and move better. Whether you’re looking to increase your range of motion or just find a moment of calm, Beata’s class is the perfect addition to your training routine.