Muriel Faxon was born in 1935 and has lived her life in Chatham, New York.  She graduated from Chatham High School in 1952. After graduating, she took classes at the Hallenbeck School of Dance in Albany, New York.  It was at this point the Muriel Scott Faxon School of Dance began.
Muriel went door to door with her record player and dance shoes to teach private lessons while she continued to educate herself by taking lessons and attending courses in New York City.  She then began teaching dance lessons at The Morris Memorial with a piano player.  When records became more obtainable, she switched to records which allowed a free range of songs for dancing. Muriel’s dance recitals were small, and were outfitted with mothers making costumes along with local dress makers. She eventually moved on to renting a space in the Chatham Bowl. 

Muriel’s daughter, Jamie Faxon Baksa, grew up dancing in the Muriel Scott Faxon School of Dance, took additional classes at other studios in the Capital Region, and was featured in shows at the Mac-Haydn Theatre, The Theater Barn and at Chatham High School.  In the 1970’s she followed in her mother’s footsteps and began instructing at the Faxon School of Dance.  Jamie initially taught jazz, but as time went on, she acquired some of the older classes: the Time Steppers, the Town Tappers, and the well-known Faxon Dancers.  Jamie’s background includes Assistant Choreographer at Mac-Haydn Threatre in Chatham, New York, Chorographer at The Theater Barn in New Lebanon, New York and Choreographer for several schools, including the East Greenbush Central School District, Chatham Central School District, and Brunswick/Brittonkill Central School District.

In the early 2000’s, The Muriel Scott Faxon School of Dance relocated to their current location at the United Methodist church located at 13 Kinderhook Street in Chatham, New York. Jamie’s daughters (and Muriel’s granddaughters) Rebecca, Hailey, and Courtney started teaching at the Faxon School of Dance, where they had began dancing at the age of four.  Courtney began teaching the younger classes in the late 2000’s.  She has taken lessons at other capital region dance studios as well as tap classes in New York City.  She also directed and choreographed shows for Columbia County Youth Theatre, formerly known as Mac-HaydnChildren’s Theatre Workshop.  Courtney currently teaches hip-hop and the younger tap and jazz classes.  Jamie teaches the older tap and jazz classes.

We are a family owned and operated dancing school.  We are grateful for the opportunity to teach dancers of all skill and experience levels.  We sincerely appreciate each and every one of you for choosing to take lessons with us.  Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!  It has enabled us to remain an integral part of the Chatham community for all these years.

We look forward to dancing with you,
Jamie & Courtney