About Us...

Company History

Melissa Nemetz Costa has a B.A. in Dance from Point Park College, one of the foremost programs in the country. She has been Artistic Director of the studio for 15 years overseeing all aspects of the curriculum including all original pieces/dances custom choreographed to fit the skill level of the class/solo. Melissa Nemetz has taught in many settings and many levels. She was hired by Pittsburgh Public School system to conceive an elementary school dance curriculum that is still used today. She taught at West View Elementary School after school program for five years and is current instructor of Bradfordwoods Elementary after School program. Melissa pioneered the “Dance for Daycare Outreach Program,” the concept of integrating dance classes in daycare settings teaching at many local facilities throughout Pittsburgh. She has choreographed high school musicals including ‘Grease’ and ‘Sweet Charity’ and directed majorette and used drill teams at the high school level. Melissa attends continuing education conventions in Florida and New York and performs in front of hundreds at Walt Disney World, Florida.

One goal we set long ago was to expose every student to the art, no matter what the talent, each received his or her fair share of praise and glory. As we did this we have been pleased by the outcome. What talent surfaces if given the chance!!! In this industry it is a difficult balance we have to maintain. The nature of the business is external beauty, because it is “visual art”, but we are dealing with children. We have to preserve the art while bringing out the inner beauty and expression. We do have a show to put on at the end of the year, but we take the conservative approach, a celebration of their talent and achievements.

Dancing will help educate the whole child and stimulate sleeping talents; it will work both physical and mental skills. It will do nothing but enhance their lives and make them fuller, richer. We have stuck to our convictions the past fifteen years, and have turned out some remarkable dancers. We have also turned out some well-rounded, high achieving, self respecting “thinkers” too. We have become a good place in the community. In the next fifteen years, we intend to reach out even more. We will continue to do good things, and use the dance as a tool to do just that.

Teacher Bios

Mellisa Nemetz

Melissa Nemetz Costa obtained a B. A. in Dance from Point Park University, one of the foremost programs in the country. She has been Owner and Artistic Director of the MNSOD for 19 years overseeing all aspects of the curriculum. Melissa has taught in many settings and many levels. She was hired by Pittsburgh Public Schools system to conceive and develop an elementary school program that is still used today. She has taught at West View and Bradfordwoods after school programs. Melissa pioneered the Dance for Daycare
program; the concept of integrating dance classes in daycare settings teaching at many local facilities throughout Pittsburgh. She has choreographed for high school musicals as well as directed high school majorette and drill teams . Melissa was also the first in the area to bring a group of dancers , by audition only, to perform in Walt Disney World. Her performance groups have a selection rate of 100%. Melissa resides in Plum Boro with her husband Joe and four children Abigail (12), Kaitlyn (10), Joseph (7), and Isabella (3).

Miss Theresa

Miss Theresa has danced since the age of seven. She took classes from the studio and student taught with The Melissa Nemetz School of Dance during her high school years. After graduation she studied modern dance at The Dance Alloy of Pittsburgh. Theresa also took college level dance classes during her time at the University of Pittsburgh. Theresa joined the staff of the MNSOD as a dance instructor in 2002. During that time she has taught and managed the classes at the Cranberry Municipal Center including 2 ½ tot, Preschool, Kinder and Dance I classes. Theresa has a special way of making dance class fun yet educational. She truly enjoys teaching the art of dance to young dancers. When she isn't in dance class, she is busy being a mother to her 4 daughters.

Maggie Cann

Maggie Cann is excited to join the faculty at Melissa Nemetz School of Dance this coming year. Originally from Atlanta, Georgia, she graduated Magna Cum Laude from Winthrop University with degrees in both Dance and French. Maggie recently moved to Pittsburgh this past summer after spending two years in Culver, Indiana where she taught dance technique to both experienced and non‐dancers alike at a private boarding school, Culver Academy. While there, she taught technique classes during the day and worked closely with the dance peformance group after school, choreographing a number of different pieces in various styles, as well as choreographing the spring musical both years she was at Culver. Maggie is looking forward to teaching technique classes at the studio as well as dance classes at the Jewish Community Center in Pittsburgh throughout the year. Later this year, she will also begin her year‐long certification program in Pilates.

All instructors have Acts 33 & 34 Clearances.