Janet Dunstan lived a life dedicated to her craft of dance, choreography, and the arts.  A graduate of Niagara Wheatfield High School, and Niagara County Community College, she was a wife, mom, grandmother, and beloved dance teacher to the city of Niagara Falls, and its surrounding communities.  

Janet was introduced to dance being an active child, and from that point never stopped.  She grew up dancing at Miss Bev’s dance studio, where she then taught classes, and became a part of Am Dance Play, the pre-professional company.  Janet was an integral part of the Niagara Falls Drama program, with Marva Frails and John Ecklor, and she was also a founding lifelong member of the Niagara Experience Players. 

John Ecklor believed in Janet and encouraged her to start her own studio.  He picked her up when she had no car to teach, and gave her her first space in the old Niagara Falls High School to start her studio.  Thus, Niagara Falls Dance Academy was born.  

Niagara Falls Dance Academy then moved years later (1983) to 2601 Pine Avenue, at the grace of her father-in-law, Vito Alongi.  Vito helped her start her space in one room, which then grew to two rooms.  In the years following, Janet opened a Lewiston location at the Lew-Port Community Ed building, where she stayed there for 14 years.  That is when the name changed to Janet Dunstan’s Dance Academy.  

Miss Janet is known for her epic sets and commitment to the art of dance and teaching.  She always represented the highest quality of dance and possessed a belief that ALL kids can achieve personal excellence.  It didn’t matter if she was choreographing a play, a competitive dance, or a recital piece, everything was treated with the same importance. You could have zero dance experience, and you could be someone who trained for 10 hours a week, but everything she choreographed, turned out with everyone doing the same thing, everyone going the same way, everyone completely confident on the stage, and everyone exuding PRIDE.  Miss Janet demanded one hundred percent on and off the stage.  She taught you “good things come to those who work hard.”  She challenged you to be a better person and give the most of yourself.  Exceptional people become exceptional performers, and if you want it, go get it.  Make your own way and be the best YOU can be.  You can spot a “Janet’s dancer” a mile away, because they know how to be professional, carry themselves, and adapt, in any situation.  They were and are trained professionals.   That is why many of her students have been both on and off Broadway, in professional dance companies, in college dance programs, dance teachers, and professionals at what they chose to do.