In 1987, Marilyn, her husband Tom, and daughter Mia purchased Barb Nowlan's dance school in Horseheads, N.Y.  After one year they purchased the building on East Franklin Street where the studio is located now.  The building houses two studios _ one upstairs and one downstairs.  Situated right off Hanover Square, the building is in a very convenient spot.

Marilyn was born and raised in Elmira, N.Y.  She studied dance beginning at age six with Howard Ferguson.  She later studied with Barbara Nowlan who had a dance school in Horseheads.  As a high school student, she served as Barbara Nowlan's assistant.

Marilyn earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Elmira College with a double major in English and theatre.  Southern Illinois University offered her an acting assistantship, and she received a Master of Arts in theatre there.  She was in the acting company for the Cornell University Summer Theatre for two seasons, and she was in the acting company at SIU and New Salem State Park in Illinois for one season.

After graduate school, Marilyn settled down in Watkins Glen where she taught high school English, speech, and drama.  She also started a dance school which she and her family ran from 1967 to 1993. 

 Marilyn has directed and choreographed plays and musical comedies for local communities and schools for many years.  Her latest efforts include A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum and Nunsense II for Elmira Little Theatre, and The King and I for Lake Country Players.

Mia began dancing at age two at her mom's dance studio in Watkins Glen.  She later studied at 74th Street Steps and Broadway Dance Center in New York City.  She was a "Caravan Kid" in Danny Hoctor's Dance Caravan _ touring twelve cities in six week period _ demonstrating for professional dancers and choreographers and performing in nightly shows.

Mia is an Elmira College graduate and presently instructs the dance program there.  She is also the advisor for Orchesis, the popular dance group on campus.

Mia has choreographed shows throughout the Southern Tier _ working with such local favorites as George Cowburn, Kimber Billow, and Chuck Griffith.  For Two-Bit Players, Elmira Little Theatre, Lake Country Players, Elmira College, Southside Festival Players and others, Mia has created dance and movement in shows ranging from Anything Goes to West Side Story.

Both Marilyn and Mia are members of the popular vocal trio, The Boogie Woogie Girls and Co. E, which features music, choreography, and entertainment of the 1940s and 1950s.  Additionally, many former Filippetti dancers have been inspired to go on to their own careers in the performing arts.

 Maria Elston started dancing at the age of five at Barbara Nowlan's Academy of Dance Arts in Horseheads.  She studied there until graduation from high school in 1983.

Maria minored in dance at Geneseo State University.  She studied ballet with Jonette Lanos, musical theatre and Luigi technique with Scott Ray, and modern using the Humphrey - Weidman technique with Jackie McCousland.

While attending Geneseo, Maria danced in the Dance Ensemble with the faculty and with Orchesis, the student productions.  She served as president of Orchesis her senior year and received the Kreuter award for Excellence in Dance.  One summer, she attended the SUNY Festival of Dance in New York City and took classes at many dance studios in Manhattan.

After college, Maria returned to Horseheads and Nowlan's, now Filippetti's.  She studied dance there briefly but soon became teacher, competition coach, and choreographer.

Jennifer Karski began dancing at Filippetti's Academy of Dance Arts at age eight and came up through the ranks of junior, senior and elite teams.  She won many grand champion awards at competitions, honing her performance and choreographic skills.

Jenn received her college degree from Alfred University in June 2008, earning a degree in Communications/Performing Arts (Dance and Theatre).  While at Alfred, Jenn Studied acting with Bill Pullman, dancing with Nicholas Leichter, Lani Fan Weissbach, and the Voloshky Ukranian Dance Ensemble.

Jennifer served as choreographer for plays at Edison High School.  She is choreographer/teacher for the Verchovyna Ukranian Dance Ensemble.