Kathy Hansen School of Dance, a premier dance studio in Tioga County for 40 years, will be moving into a brand new facility in September. Located at 963 Glenmary Dr. in Owego, N.Y, the new property features two dance rooms, a comfortable waiting area, plenty of parking and various amenities, as well as the return of the Center Stage dance store on the premises. Registration for classes begins Sept. 1. For more information, visit kathyhansendance.com, find them on Facebook or call (607) 687-5684. (Provided photos)
Pictured on the left is John Hansen, husband of Kathy Hansen, who completed the entire inside finishing work of the new building, along with good friend, Dick Taylor, who added his special skills most every day of the building process. Kathy Hansen School of Dance will be moving into a brand new facility in September, located at 963 Glenmary Dr. in Owego, N.Y.
Pictured, left, left is Kathy Hansen, along with students and instructors, at the Owego Strawberry Festival. Kathy Hansen School of Dance will be moving into a brand new facility in September, located at 963 Glenmary Dr. in Owego, N.Y.
Kathy Hansen School of Dance (KHSOD) will be moving into a brand new facility in September. The new property, located at 963 Glenmary Dr. in Owego, N.Y., is taking registrations beginning Sept. 1 and will be open for fall classes beginning the week of Sept. 14. KHSOD has been temporarily located in Apalachin, N.Y. for four years following the flood of 2011.
Owner, director, instructor, and choreographer Kathy Hansen stated, “I am excited to get back to Owego.”
The new facility features two large dance rooms equipped with state of the art flooring, ballet bars and full wall mirrors, two bathrooms, a comfortable waiting area with television, Wi-Fi, and a dance store, “Center Stage,” on the premises.
The facility will also be equipped with air-conditioning and central heating, and will have plenty of available parking and other amenities. Future plans include a banquet area that will offer special events and birthday parties.
Hansen’s husband, John, completed the entire inside finishing work of the new building along with good friend, Dick Taylor, who added his special skills most every day of the building process.
Kathy Hansen is an area native that began her dance training at age seven and studied with several renowned dance artists. Established in Owego in 1975, KHSOD first opened their doors at 56 North Ave. in Owego, in the upstairs building of the former Langdon’s Army Navy Store, and where Shear Paradise is now located.
In 1978, KHSOD moved to 14 George St., assuming the property from Hansen’s grandfather, Selover Kies, who owned a manufacturing business, Kies Bottling Works, where Dad’s Root Beer and South Seas were just two of many memorable soda products produced during the 1929-1977 run of Kies’ business. Selover Kies had previously worked for Thomas and Snyder Bottling Works established in the late 1800’s, and then purchased the building and business around 1929.
Like many businesses and homeowners in Owego, the September 2011 flood impacted KHSOD significantly, yet the dance studio continued operations, temporarily relocating to Apalachin.
Now teaching former students children and grandchildren, a third generation of young people will walk through the doors of the new KHSOD facility in September.
Part of Hansen’s return on her investment is the satisfaction of witnessing the success of her former students, one of which she shared went on to become a professional show dancer, entertaining audiences in Las Vegas, and also performing with the legendary Bette Midler. Hansen shared as many as six or more former students have opened their own dance studios throughout the country, and many others have become teachers with other dance instructors.
A special treat for Hansen is seeing her own grandchildren walking through the KHSOD doors, where her daughter is also an instructor. Student’s start as early as preschool, and many continue classes for as long as five to 15 years.
Hansen is pleased that KHSOD students have won multiple national competitions throughout the years, a reflection of hard work and dedication to the art of dance, which still thrives in the community some 40 years later.
For information about the variety of dance classes offered at KHSOD, including ballet, tap, jazz, hip-hop, contemporary and others, visit their website, www.kathyhansendance.com, find them on Facebook, or call (607) 687-5684.
