The Bronx Dance Theatre is celebrating 40 years of teaching classical dance to young Bronx residents, and building a very big family.

Neil Goldstein and Barbra Klein began with 40 students back in 1974, and have grown to nearly 1,800 students today.

Leah Revi started at BDT at 3 years old. She is now teaching classes, and bringing her own daughter to class there. 

Shari Fingal, 19, got involved with Bronx Dance Theatre through one of the many programs it holds in Bronx schools. Now she's on staff there through an apprenticeship program, which many kids go through to take on more responsibility and stay involved in the theatre.

So four decades later, the layers of students, teachers and parents have all merged - something BDT Director Neil Goldstein says makes the borough a better place.

"We want to grow with the borough and represent that opportunity and accomplishment can happen here in the borough," says Goldstein.