Neighborhood School of Dance

The Neighborhood School of Dance was founded in 1976 by Michelle Marks. Mrs. Marks’ goal was to offer dance lessons to local residents, specializing in jazz, tap, and ballet. It started by offering classes on Mondays and Tuesdays to children, and even one class for adults. The total number of classes NSD offered in the beginning was nine. Each year NSD has grown, offering a recital every spring. The NSD recital showcases what the students have learned over the course of the year, along with student pieces being submitted through the annual choreography contest. The Recital has been held every year at the Olean High School Auditorium.

Today, Sue Chohan runs NSD, being the predecessor of Mrs. Marks and calling it her own starting in 2001. The number of classes offered at NSD has tripled since its beginning days; the academic year of 2011-2012 having 29 classes offered each week. These classes range by age and type of dance. From the “Twinkle Twos” class, offered to children ages 2-3, a hip hop class offered to all ages and an adult ballroom class, NSD has a wide range of classes to suit the needs of any type of dancer. The various classes offered each year include: ballroom, tap, ballet, pointe, jazz, hip-hop, tumbling, and aerobic.