Diane married in the Bronx in 1966. actor/singer James Giattino, and dancer/choreographer Diane Graviano met while sharing the stage in a summer stock production of “West Side Story” playing Big Deal and Anita. Little did they know that the history of Stage Door School of Dance was well under-way.
As two theater lovers, art supporters, dancers, and all-around inspiring people, James and Diane moved to Long Island to start a family in 1975 and opened Stage Door School of Dance in 1976. Housed in the basement of Christ Episcopal Church at 64 South Country Road in Bellport, SDSD came to life for the very first time. They’re love for their growing family and passion for the Arts never weaned throughout the years. From initially from Diane’s home studio then Christ Episcopal Church studio and now a studio in a new building on Sunrise Highway in Patchogue, New York.
After years of classes, students, recitals, and a million memories, including marching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, it was time for James and Diane Giattino to hang up their dancing shoes, and retire as of 2012.
With a now immediate need for new studio leadership, what better way to continue providing the magical experiences Stage Door School of Dance has always offered then by passing ownership to daughter, SDSD alumnus, Broadway veteran, and former Radio City Rockette Mary Giattino and her late husband, the beloved and greatly missed, Broadway Technician Ricky Styles.
Second Generation owner, Mary Giattino has appeared on Broadway in White Christmas, and has since become the
Associate Choreographer for such Broadway productions as Billy Elliott: The Musical, White Christmas, Fun Home, Dear Evan Hansen, as well as for television NBC’s Rise, and Apple TV’s Dickenson. Mary continues to nurture, direct and challenge the (SDSD) family business to greater heights in training to inspire their students on how to reach their personal goal. In 2016, Mary and Ricky had a vision and dream to move Stage Door School of Dance into a customized, performing arts education facility. After tireless searching for the perfect location, meetings with brilliant designers, contractors, artists, and lots of dreaming, that location was secured.
With 5 studios, a completely customized building just for Stage Door School of Dance, was born. We are beyond #SDSDproud to now call 127 Sunrise Highway North Service Road, East Patchogue, NY our brand-new Stage Door School of Dance home as March 2, 2020 when we opened our doors for classes for the very first time.
STAGE DOOR SCHOOL OF DANCE STATISTICS
Number of Dancers Trained Since Studio Inception: over 26,000 dancers
Combined Teaching Experience of our current faculty: 175 years
Classes held weekly as of September 2021: 133
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