I would like to personally welcome you to Noreen’s School of Dance! I am excited to share the joy of creative expression through dance with students of every age, encouraging them to develop a healthy self-esteem, a strong body, a disciplined mind, and a vibrant spirit!
We are celebrating our 29th season and I am thrilled to share this journey with you! I want to begin by telling you a little about myself and what my vision is.
I have lived in Hillsboro since 1995. I studied dance from the age of 5 at Lorraine Roger’s School of Dance, In-Step School of Dance, and the Julia F. Buhl Girl’s Club in Pennsylvania. When I was 12, I began student teaching with my tap instructor. Over the years I studied Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Tap, Acrobatics, Lyrical and Modern. After graduating from the United States Naval Academy in 1989 with degrees in Oceanography, Meteorology, and Engineering, I served at various commands around the world as a commissioned officer in the United States Navy. I quickly noticed that I was able to find great dance classes in every city to jump into and it was apparent to me that the love of dance is universal, and folks are always dancing, all around the world!
I transitioned from active duty to the reserves and entered the Troops to Teachers program, which brought me to Ohio. I received my Master’s Degree in Education from Xavier University in 1998 and taught Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Anatomy & Physiology at Eastern Brown, Bright Local, and Lynchburg school districts. During my first-year teaching, I opened Noreen’s School of Dance which was a goal since I was a little girl. I have studied dance in New York City and Las Vegas, and I have advanced certification in ballet, jazz, tap, modern and acrobatics through Dance Educators of America.
When I founded Noreen’s School of Dance in Hillsboro in 1996, I began with my first 4 students and watching our studio grow has been an AMAZING journey.
It’s been said there are 3 things you can train, your mind, your body and your craft. It may seem obvious that a dance class is built to train your craft, but it is so much more than that, especially for developing children. The strength of your body & craft is linked back to the mind, our awareness and perspectives. A dance class can help a student do the “invisible work” of taking care of themselves. The creative outlet a dance class provides and the sense of belonging to a studio, fosters a feeling of community. Motivation increases when you know where & how you belong.
I am confident that as long as I am true to my vision and purpose, my studio, my students and families will thrive.
It’s quite true that not all studios are created equal, and that’s a good thing. We are unique because we can service the majority of parent/student goals. Simply put, our clear communication combined with our quality instruction and curriculum sets up the student to have the kind of success they’re striving for. Not everyone is in the same boat, but with today’s challenges, we are all in the same water. We change and adapt to remain consistent in providing for our student’s goals, development and well-being. Whether in person, virtual or a combination of both, we will continue to progress in any way we can, professionally and with care.
