Ann Johnston Sullivan founded the Johnston School of Irish Dance in 1993 with only four students. The students practiced above the garage behind Ann’s home. The same studio space was where Ann practiced her steps as a child.
As people became more aware of Ann as a talented dancer and instructor, the student population soon outgrew the tiny dance studio. Ann had been asked by many to teach in the surrounding suburbs of Syracuse. To accommodate students traveling from the north, Ann purchased the Butler School of Irish Dance in Watertown, from Patrick Butler.
As the popularity of Irish dancing grew with the advent of Riverdance, school enrollment was multipling. In January of 1997, Ann was successful in contacting long time friend and dance colleague, Patty Wilsch to join her in teaching students to love Irish dance at her school. The following year Ann and Patty opened a school in Utica in addition to those established in Syracuse and Watertown.
Today, the Johnston school is proud to have nearly 200 dancers of all levels. Ann accepts beginner students as young as four years old and has many champion dancers of all ages who compete at National and International events.