A Little About Our Studio
About Linn McDonald
Born in Scranton, Linn began her dance training at the age of four under the tutelage of the late Constance Reynolds. As a principal dancer with Ballet Theatre of Scranton from 1979 to 1984, she danced lead roles in classical ballets such as Cinderella, The Nutcracker, Giselle, Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, Coppélia, and La Fille Mal Gardée.
In 1979, Linn began teaching dance classes in the basement of the Dunmore United Methodist Church and this is where the Linn McDonald School of Dance was born!
Graduating from Marywood University in 1982 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication, Linn was awarded the St. Genesius Medal for Excellence in the Theatre. After graduation, she performed with the National Touring Group, Broadway after Dark and made her acting debut in 1994 as Gwendolyn Pidgeon in THE ODD COUPLE. She continued her dance education with London’s Royal Academy of Dance in Toronto, Canada, Gus Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago and David Howard School of Dance in New York City. In 1996 Linn enrolled as a graduate student and in 2001 she received a Master's Degree in Dance Education from Temple University, where she was also an adjunct faculty member teaching ballet to
undergraduate students.
Linn has directed and choreographed over 50 musical theatre productions for such venues as Pocono Playhouse, Marywood University, Bucks County Playhouse, Woodloch Pines in the Poconos, and Rollins College in Winterpark, Florida.
Linn has been an adjunct faculty member with University of Scranton, Temple University, Rollins College and Marywood University, where she co-founded and directed the Dance Minor Program for ten years. She was also on the faculty of Pennsylvania Youth Theatre in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, Coupe Dance in Nanuet, New York, and Ballet of Upstate New York in Syracuse, New York.
Linn was resident choreographer at Helen Hayes Youth Theatre in Nyack, New York from 2006 to 2017. It was here that she had the pleasure of teaching Anna Baryshnikov, the daughter of the one of the greatest male dancers in history, Michael Baryshnikov.
In 2008, Linn founded Green Ridge Youth Theatre, the first youth theatre of its kind in this area. She ran the theatre for ten years, directing and choreographing over 25 shows and working with hundreds of area actors, singers and dancers under the age of 19.
In 2013, during her time as director of the Dance Minor Program at Marywood, Linn was invited by the China Cultural and Educational Foundation to be a guest teacher in China at several universities. She spent 5 weeks teaching at Yunnan University in Kunming, China, Sichuan University of Music in Chengdu, China and Southwest University in Chongqing, China.
In addition to running the Linn McDonald School of Dance, Linn received a certification to teach dance to people with Parkinson's Disease in 2019. She currently teaches Dance for PD at the Jewish Community Centers in Scranton and Kingston.
Our Philosophy
At Linn McDonald School of Dance, we believe dance is more than movement—it is a powerful way to inspire creativity, build confidence, develop discipline, and create lifelong connections.
Our programs welcome students of all ages and skill levels, from beginners taking their first steps to dancers pursuing advanced technical training. Through thoughtful instruction and a supportive environment, we encourage every student to develop technical excellence while discovering their own unique artistic voice.
We are dedicated to helping our dancers grow both on and off the stage. Dance teaches perseverance, focus, self-expression, and the value of working together toward a common goal. Most importantly, we believe every student should have the opportunity to experience the joy and transformative power of dance.
Linn McDonald School of Dance is proud to be a place where dancers learn, grow, create, and become part of a community that celebrates their individuality and accomplishments.
Our History
Linn McDonald School of Dance upholds a tradition of exceptional dance training. Under the guidance of Artistic Director Linn McDonald, we seek to encourage and assist ambitious young dancers to help prepare them for a professional career or simply have the opportunity to experience the joy of dance.
LMSD is housed in a beautiful turn-of-the-century church in
the green ridge section of Scranton. Formally, the Green Ridge
Alliance Church, the building was bought by Linn McDonald in
1988 after a devastating fire burned down the studio she was
renting in Dunmore. The building is situated on the corner of
Wyoming Avenue and Marion Street in a lovely residential area. It boasts two studios, one with cathedral ceilings and four large chandeliers. This room is surrounded by huge stained glass windows and a choir balcony. There is an ample sized waiting area complete with preserved church pews from the original church. The downstairs studio is decorated in pink and purple and is primarily used for our younger students. There is parking available on the street as well as at St. Paul’s church parking lot at the bottom of Marion Street. The studio has been a second home to thousands of aspiring young dancers over the past 40 years!