I'm Deb from Mississippi and my studio has been in business since 1962, when my Mother started it. I went to college for awhile in the 70's and finally figured out that Party 101 was NOT a degree choice! I had been helping Mom and doing her books since junior high school and it had grown so that she needed more help, and things just evolved from there. So in a way I think IT chose ME although I must have always known on some level that this is what I would be doing. I can't imagine doing anything else and don't want to; have been at it (teaching) for 33 years and dancing since age 4. I don't remember my first teacher; that was so long ago and we were stationed in England at the time. Our studio teaches ages 3 and up: ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, cheer, acro/tumbling,baton, and pointe and plan to add some adult/senior classes later this fall. Tap is my real love and I let the young ones teach the hip hop. We have 2 main associate teachers who are great, a baton teacher, and a couple of student assistants and this year so far have enrolled about 125 students. Also for the first time this year we have a full-time office manager/bookkeeper. I don't have the desire to grow the business any larger really, as like to keep a personal relationship with everyone and my household is not dependent on my income as it was in the early years when my husband was in school. The studio has been such a mjor part of my life and it's definitely in the blood, or genes or whatever. I think about retiring every year (at recital time...don't we all?!) but just can't seem to turn it loose and will probably continue until there is a compelling reason not to, such as when my full-time associate instrctor graduates from college and decides she is ready to take over. Oh, MsJoy, I LOVE the T-I-Ts, TOOTs and TAT's!