Neighborhood School of Dance

In 2013, Brittany Thierman received a call that changed her life. It was Sue Chohan, then owner of Olean’s Neighborhood School of Dance, where Brittany, then a recent college grad, had honed her dance skills and passions since she was just 5 years old. Returning home from lunch and seeing the call, Brittany feared Sue was calling about recent absences from tap lessons. She answered the call. But it wasn’t about tap — rather it was a business proposition. Sue wondered if Brittany would like to take over the Neighborhood School of Dance.

“I was shaking,” she said, still in disbelief at the call that would change her life. “That was the day that changed my life.” Nearly a decade, one pandemic and the deed to a new Olean dance studio later, Brittany Thierman has successfully evolved the business to not only provide state-of-the-art dance instruction, but also to become a 21^st-century multimedia powerhouse reaching new audiences thirsting for a creative outlet.

A lifelong local resident, Brittany attended Archbishop Walsh Academy, where her mother first compelled her as a young child to attend Neighborhood School of Dance, planting the seeds of her passion for dance. That passion blossomed throughout her childhood and adolescence, inspiring her to continue pursuing dance at the collegiate level. She attended Elmira College, renowned for its dance club and tap ensemble. After earning a double major in accounting and business administration with a specialization in management, she returned home to St. Bonaventure University for her Master’s in Business Administration.

While attending St. Bonaventure, Brittany rejoined the Neighborhood School of Dance. Shortly after graduation, she began working in human resources for Dresser-Rand. Her stay there was short-lived, however, as at 26 she received the call that would change her life. She had no doubt it was her calling take over the Neighborhood School of Dance.

Brittany’s lifelong dance journey has taken her to training institutes in Buffalo, New York City and even Italy. She has trained with Dance Masters of America and the Shelly Strain Dance Masters of America. Back at NSD, Brittany has nurtured a culture that emphasizes the simple love and awe that comes with the joy of dancing —  a feeling that arose from her formative early years. 

“I live and breathe dance. I love dance,” she said. “It’s been such a huge part of my life, and I love sharing it with others, and it’s kind of turned into this love of teaching”

This secondary love of teaching goes beyond dance. Brittany also teaches business classes at Alfred State and St. Bonaventure. Brittany teaches with a passionate love for dance and always looks to give her students new opportunities to experience dance and maybe even learn something herself to benefit the studio. Recently, this has included live streaming classes, constant hand sanitation and maintaining safe distancing. 

“When you’re learning sports it’s about technique,” she said. “It’s being a part of a team, but the thing that makes dance different is the music element.” 

When asked what makes dance special for her, Brittany outlined how dance creates a sense of muscle and body awareness that melds with the flow of music. Dance stimulates the mind and body while nurturing the soul. She has seen many students who came to dance class having a bad day but left with smiles on their faces and warmth in their hearts.