In the early 1900s Janette Emerson opened a school offering classes in ballet, tap, jazz, and acrobatic dancing. In 1920, one of Emerson's former students, Dorothy Mason returned from New York to Portland to become her partner. Soon after the school changed names to Emerson-Mason School of the dance. Emerson retired in 1933 and the name of the school was changed to Dorothy Mason School of the Dance and remained so for 60 years. Often remembered for teaching ballroom dance to Portland families, Mason later served as the concierge at the Eastland Hotel.

In 1965 Miss Mason retired and sold the business to Polly L. Thomas. Polly and her husband directed the school for 10 years. Seven of Polly Thomas' students became Radio City Rockettes in the late 1960s. In May of 1975, Jonathan and Linda Miele took over the school. Jonathan grew up in Windham. Trained in tap by Dorothy Mason, he went on to a successful career on Broadway. Linda grew up in New York, was trained at the School of American Ballet, and danced with the New York City Ballet for a decade.