During her incredible 63 year dance career, our beloved founder, Nancy Langlois Gerace, profoundly influenced the lives of thousands of dancers, teachers, parents and friends. Affectionately known as "Miss Nancy", she played a pivotal role in shaping the  dance community we know today. Nancy earned her diploma from Dance Educators of America in New York City, as well as from  the Arthur Murray School of Dance in Montreal, QC, Canada. She began teaching at our original 49 Elm Street Studio at the age of fifteen. She spent five successful decades there. In 2011 Nancy relocated to our 90 Sharron Avenue studio where she completed her extraordinary career. From the "Hula Babies" to the  "Plattsburgh Rockettes" Miss Nancy's name became synonymous with dancing in our region. Her outstanding reputation as a dance teacher led her to become one of the most well-known and respected figures in our local dance community. NLSD would not exist today if not for Miss Nancy's dedication, inspiration and pure love of teaching dance! We will always remember the famous "shelf" in her studio, as well as her smiles from stage left during recitals. We can still hear her saying  "If you can say it, you can do it" and "Never say I can't... always say I'll try".  She was able to give students both comfort and confidence from their preschool years through adulthood. She will be dearly missed but her legacy will live on within every dancer she has inspired.