Lydia Gazzo, founder of Northshore Academy of Dance (NAD), graduated from University of Southern Mississippi with a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a degree in dance. During her career at USM, she was captain of the USM Dixie Darlings and achieved an extraordinary resume – including working with dance companies all over the globe and multiple NFL Super Bowl productions. She could have taken her talents anywhere in the world and she chose to follow her dream of teaching dance to the community where she got her start.

Northshore Academy of Dance is celebrating 25 years and has become the premier dance studio on the Northshore being voted “Northshore’s Best” for the last six years. NAD’s beautiful state of the art facility has three large studio spaces with all marly floors and viewing windows, several restrooms with a changing area in the girls bathroom, and a large lobby where parents can wait and dancers can do their homework.  With a passionate following of many dancers and over 20 dedicated instructors and guest artists, NAD creates an atmosphere of family.  Not to mention a long list of over 60 alumni who have gone on to dance professionally and in college that always come home to give back to their NAD family and community.