Meet our Artistic Director, Libby Strand (Nord)!
Libby began her dance journey training with Shirely Kopp’s Academy of Dance in Jamestown, NY. She was accepted into and attended the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, majoring in ballet. She also trained at Chautauqua’s Summer Dance program, Ruth Page School of Dance in Chicago, Steps on Broadway in NYC, Stanley Holden Dance Center in LA and West Side Academy of Dance in Santa Monica, CA.
She has danced professionally with the Jamestown Civic Ballet, Buffalo Ballet Theater and freelanced in commercial dance in Chicago, NYC, LA and Japan for a 30-year career. Freelance clients included Marshall Field’s, Clairol, AT&T, Ford Motor Company, Limelight (Chicago), Clubland, Consumer Electronics Show (Chicago), Redkin (NYC) and many more.
Libby has been on faculty with the West Side Academy of Dance and Stanley Holden Dance Center, in charge of the ballet advanced youth division. She was also on faculty for Chautauqua Regional Youth Ballet before opening Studio Dance Conservatory (SDC) in 2006.
Dance has been a way of life for Miss Libby as long as she can remember. There was never any other career choice for her besides dance, which has brought many exciting opportunities and challenges along the way. The discipline involved in dance has followed her in whatever she has accomplished personally. Also, the comradery of other dancers and instructors has always been supportive and nurturing throughout her dance journey. Her goal with SDC has been to pay forward the joy and blessings dance has given her, in a nurturing and caring environment. She is extremely proud of her faculty and students and feels like they are a part of her family.
Meet our Studio Manager, Grace Gibbons!
Grace began her formal training in 2013 with Studio Dance Conservatory (SDC). She has studied numerous styles of dance. She currently teaches Ballet, Adult Ballet, Pre-Pro, Contemporary, Jazz/Tap, Adaptive Dance, and Creative Movement.
Grace has trained with esteemed companies including Cincinnati Ballet, Ballet Magnificat! and Jamestown’s own Sukanya Burman Dance. She has trained under top instructors including Susan Jaffe, Dawn Kelly, Sabir Yapparov, and many others. Grace has also danced professionally both as a freelancer and as a company member of Sukanya Burman Dance (SBD) where she will continue dancing this season. Most recently, she performed at the inaugural Jamestown Dance Festival. Grace has taught dance in many different studios and in many different settings. In addition to teaching for SDC (2018 – current), she has also taught for Dancing With Victoria, Eclectic Dance Company (E.Da.Co), and Sukanya Burman Dance (SBD).
Grace feels that it is important for instructors to continue their education in dance, so that they can continue to pass new information to their students.
