ABOUT US
Armour Dance Theatre provides dance training to over 850 students annually, with nearly 600 on scholarship in five locations. Through our programs, we work to remove obstacles and use dance as a vehicle to success. Over the last three decades, our programs have grown in scope and impact. To see where our alums are today click here.
We believe dance is merely the vehicle that transports children through doors that maximize their options in life. We are thrilled when one of our graduates is accepted into a major dance company; however, our ultimate goal is to give children choices beyond their present limitations.
administration for over 47 years. Mr. Pike received his dance training at the Chicago Conservatory of Music and Ballet, and later at the Ballet Theater school in New York with William Dollar and Anatole Vilzak. For several seasons, he performed with New York City Opera Ballet as a soloist and with the touring companies of ”The Student Prince” and “Bells are Ringing”. In 1953 Mr. Pike returned to Miami to study with Mr. Armour, and joined the faculty of the Miami Conservatory and the Miami Ballet Company as a dancer and choreographer. He danced in many ‘summer stock ‘ productions in Miami and in such musicals as “Red Head” and “Pal Joey”. For several years Mr. Pike performed on cruise ships sailing in the Caribbean. Mr. Pike retired from the Thomas Armour Youth Ballet in 2006.
Born in Bogota Colombia, Camila holds a Masters in Global Governance from Florida International University and a Bachelors of Arts in International Studies & Political Science from the University of Miami. Ms. Gil trained at Armour Dance Theatre from the time she was 13 years old under the artistic leadership of Ruth Wiesen. Even though she no longer dances, she believes in the importance of dance education, having benefited from it firsthand. During her High School years, Camila became a volunteer for the organization and upon graduating began working as a Student Assistant. She has dedicated her professional career to Armour Dance Theatre holding multiple roles including Student Assistant, Executive Assistant, Director of Community programs, and more recently Associate Director. Ms. Gil has supported and led the growth of the scope and reach of Armour Dance Theatre for the past decade and is passionate about making arts education accessible to all children in the Miami Dade Community. To contact Camila click 
Born in Bethesda, Maryland, received her BFA in Dance from the University of Florida/New World School of the Arts. Ms. Wiesen trained at the Miami Conservatory with Thomas Armour and Robert Pike and with Judith Newman and Gerard Ebitz at New World School of the Arts. She performed as a soloist with the Miami Ballet and New World School of the Arts. Ms. Wiesen joined the faculty of the Miami Conservatory in 1984. She progressed from instructor to Ballet Mistress of the Junior Company and assumed the Directorship of the Thomas Armour Youth Ballet in 2003. In 1989, Ms. Wiesen founded the Thomas Armour Youth Ballet Scholarship Program which under her direction has grown from 20 students to over 500 students at five locations. In addition to her directorship of the TAYB, Ms. Wiesen is a member of the dance faculty of the New World School of the Arts. Ms. Wiesen has been honored by the Arts and Business Council for her contribution to encouraging diversity in the world of dance in Miami-Dade County and for the impact she has had on the lives of so many talented, underprivileged students. Dance is Ms. Wiesen’s second career. Prior to returning to her first love, dance, Ms. Wiesen held a variety of positions as a Registered Nurse, including Director of the Medical Intensive Care Unit at Duke University Medical Center.
Born in Miami, Florida is a former Thomas Armour Youth Ballet student and attended New World School of the Arts and Miami-Dade Community College. Ms. Fonte joined the Armour Dance Theatre faculty in 2008 as a student assistant and has since held various positions within the organization. To contact Addyson click 
Born in Bronx, New York raised in Miami, Florida Kelly Robotham is an alumni of New World School of the Arts and holds a Bachelor in Fine Arts from The Juilliard School. Ms. Robotham danced with Ailey II for one year and was promoted to the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater where she danced from 2011-2014. During her time dancing with Ailey, Ms. Robotham was an administrative intern with Ballet Austin and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater specializing in outreach projects, arts development and financing, as well as stage management. In 2014 Ms. Robotham returned to her city Miami and worked at Miami City Ballet as Executive Assistant, Development Coordinator, and Special Events Coordinator. In 2015, Ms. Robotham joined the Armour Dance Theatre as Outreach & Arts Education Coordinator. Ms. Robotham has been working closely with ADT’s Community Programs for the past 8 years. She is thrilled to take on the role of Director of Community Programs. To contact Kelly click 
Born in Syracuse, NY, Mrs. Sarah Donate earned her Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science from Le Moyne College. Upon completing her degree, Sarah worked on the front lines of wildlife conservation both in the U.S. and in South Africa for 7 years. In time, Mrs. Donate felt she could affect greater change, championing this cause outside of the fieldwork and into the non-profit and fundraising sector. She has spent the last four years building her professional experience as a Development Officer at the local institution of Zoo Miami, and she understands the importance of these cornerstone cultural facilities within our diverse South Florida community. At Zoo Miami, Mrs. Donate worked to ensure that meaningful programs were funded to include education and allow all children, no matter their socio-economic background, access to the knowledge and educational opportunities at the zoo.
Scarlett G. Quinto (Miami, FL) started dancing at the age of 4 and is educated in the styles of Jazz, Modern, Ballet, Hip-Hop, Tap, and Flamenco, as well as being trained in Modeling and Acting. She has been to multiple dance intensives such as American Dance Festival, Joffrey Ballet School in New York, and Ailey Camp Miami. She attended South Miami K-8 and South Miami Middle Community School in the dance program. Graduated high school at New World School of The Arts and has her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance from the University of Florida and New World School of the Arts. She’s a current dance teacher at Armour Dance Theatre in the Outreach Program. Scarlett has numerous repertory work under her belt; pieces by the Batsheva Dance Company, Robert Battle, Peter London, Yara Travieso, Rebbeca Cannan, Jennifer Archibald, Paul Taylor, Ron K.Brown and Mark Morris.
Micheline Cacciatore moved to Miami in 2010 from Massachusetts where she was the owner and founder of The Ballet Space. After much success and over 300 students, she sold her school to be able to spend more time with her husband and two young children. Micheline was a well-respected teacher in the Boston area for over 20 years. Before opening her studio, her teaching credits included Walnut Hill School for the Arts, Brookline Academy of Dance and the Acton School of Ballet. After graduating from Walnut Hill School for the Arts in 1991, Micheline continued her training at The Rock School, Ballet West, and the University of Utah’s BFA program. She has performed many classical and contemporary ballets under the direction of Willam Christensen, Conrad Ludlow, and many other world-renowned teachers. Micheline began teaching for Alison Hesh/Soul Purpose Studio in Miami in 2011, to whom she loaned the name The Ballet Space until June of 2021. With ballet and teaching as her passion, Micheline is thrilled to join the faculty of Armour Dance Theatre.
Lara began her training with Martha Mahr and Thomas Armour and is a graduate of New World School of the Arts High School. She holds a BA from New York University and an MA from the University of Miami. She is a full-time faculty member and choreographer at New World School of the Arts. She has performed with several professional companies, most recently with Maximum Dance Company and Miami Contemporary Dance Company, and choreographed the Nestor Torres’ Concert for a New Renaissance.
Originally from Nagoya, Japan. Her professional career has started at age 15. She trained under Ms.Yoko Tsukamoto and The Royal Ballet school Antwerpen with full scholarship from Prix de Lausanne. Ms.Sakakibara-Sliva has received numerous awards including Scholarship prize at Prix de Lausanne International Ballet Competition in 1989, Gold medal at Paris International Dance Competition in 1990. She joined The Royal Ballet of Flanders in 1991 and danced her first full length Ballet Don Quixote at age 17. She was promoted to Soloist in the end of the first season, performed many more rolls and traveled worldwide. Ms.Sakakibara-Sliva moved in Miami and joined Maximum Dance Company year 2000. She has danced for over 8 years in Miami and left to Complexions Contemporary Ballet where she had her final bow as a dancer. She is now adjunct ballet faculty at New World School of the Arts and owner of B Concepts where she focused on private coaching and training.
is from Miami, FL, and received her early training from Mencia-Pikieris School of Dance and New World School of the Arts where she graduated summa cum laude in 2008. In 2012, Melissa went on to earn her BFA in dance from The Juilliard School under the direction of Larry Rhodes. While attending The Juilliard School Melissa performed works by Sidra Bell, Alex Ekman, Nacho Duato, and Jerome Robbins among others. In 2008, Melissa was selected as a modern dance Finalist in the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts (NFAA) YoungARTS competition. She was also featured in the HBO series “Master Class.” In 2012 Melissa joined Ballet Hispanico of New York City and had the joy of being presented along with her Ballet Hispanico colleagues in Lincoln Center at the Movies Great American Dance Series in 2016 where she performed lead roles in works by Gustavo Ramirez Sansano and Pedro Ruiz. During her 9 seasons with Ballet Hispánico she toured nationally and internationally performing works by Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, Eduardo Vilaro, and Michelle Manzanales among others. Melissa has also choreographed several works for the Peter London Global Dance Company in Miami, FL, and Dimensions Dance Theater of Miami. Currently, Melissa has returned to her hometown of Miami and is excited to be an educator in the community as well as a new mom to her son.
Natasha Williams is a professional tap dancer and teacher born and raised in Miami of Cuban descent. She is a graduate of New World School of the Arts High School Dance Division and holds a Masters in Business Management from Florida International University. Natasha is also an alumni of Jacob’s Pillow. Natasha has performed at various venues in Miami including Ball and Chain, El Tucán, The Wynwood Yard, the Miami Herald, Art Basel, and more. She has also performed in New York City, Los Angeles, Wisconsin, and Washington DC. In 2012 Natasha presented at TEDx Youth Miami at the Adrienne Arsht Center. In 2015 Natasha had the pleasure of tapping alongside Billy Stritch, accompanist of Liza Minnelli, at The Cabaret South Beach’s CAST Party. Natasha has been teaching for Armour Dance Theatre since 2007 and is the director of the Tap Team. The Tap Team has been producing their own shows and performing at locations such as Faena Miami Beach, the Biltmore Hotel, the Adrienne Arsht Center and more.
The Thomas Armour Youth Ballet, now known as Armour Dance Theatre was founded in 1951 as a school of classical ballet named The Miami Conservatory, and a non-profit performing company called The Miami Ballet.
Armour Dance Theatre formerly known as Thomas Armour Youth Ballet began to send advanced students to intensive summer programs with professional companies in New York City. Armour Dance Theatre covers all expenses.
Armour Dance Theatre is formerly known as Thomas Armour Youth Ballet purchased the historic South Miami building in which it was housed. This main site serves over 800 children and holds administrative offices.
August- The fourth outreach site was opened in Miami Gardens at the Betty T. Ferguson Recreational Center.
