Do you have a dancer in your life and no idea what to get them? You’ve come to the right place. We are all rushing to get our Christmas shopping done, and we’re here to help you pick the best gift for your dancer to twirl into the new year. Here are five of the best gifts to get a dancer.
The Bullet Pointe Ballet Skirt
The Bullet Pointe Ballet skirt is the best gift for the “bunhead” in your life. Elevate a ballet dancer’s class look with this top-selling item.
You can’t go wrong with warm-ups for a dancer…ever. Knit shorts are the perfect option for a dancer’s gift.
Unique leotards
Leotards are always a great gift and will certainly get put to good use. Ballet Rosa offers unique options to make a beautiful holiday gift.
Another warm-up option
Warm-up booties are trendy and are perfect for the cooler months. Grab a pair of these for your dancer to prepare for class and performances.
During the holiday season, we show our local businesses some love! Dance Plus and Ballet Boutique are the best of Miami’s dance supply stores, with everything in stock to find the perfect gift. Visit their websites and make an order, or visit their storefront in Miami.
Also, note that both stores offer discounts to customers referred by Armour Dance Theatre, and Ballet Boutique has a mailbox to leave letters for Santa. ❤️ 🙃
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We are thrilled to share that Armour Dance Theatre has been named a 2023 CreARTE Grant Recipient, receiving a generous donation of $100,000 from The Jorge M. Pérez Family Foundation at The Miami Foundation. This significant contribution is part of the third edition of the Pérez CreARTE Grants Program (CreARTE), which will distribute a total of $5,000,000 over the next two years to support 39 cultural organizations across Miami-Dade County. The goal is to enrich and invigorate the local arts community, fostering a more vibrant, connected, and stimulating artistic ecosystem.
“The CreARTE program was born of our family’s desire to expand the transformative power of South Florida’s arts community,” as Jorge M. Pérez, a globally recognized philanthropist and the founder of the Pérez Family Foundation, mentioned. “We are dedicated to identifying and supporting organizations that contribute to Miami-Dade County’s unique, vibrant cultural landscape. Every year, we are inspired by the talent and vision of our applicants and look forward to witnessing their professional achievements and contributions to our region in the years ahead.”
Armour Dance Theatre – Empowering Through Dance
At Armour Dance Theatre, we are passionately committed to harnessing the power of exceptional dance training to help every student reach their full potential. We firmly believe that arts education builds crucial life skills and has the potential to transform a child’s future. The grant funds we’ve received will enable us to create a transformative dance experience with powerful choreography that resonates universally with audiences of all backgrounds, cultures, and ages. This will be performed by our diverse troupe of young dancers in new and unexpected venues, making the arts accessible to all.
Since 2019, the CreARTE program has invested a total of $10 million across 45 unique organizations in Miami-Dade County. This investment has empowered these organizations to reach hundreds of thousands of individuals through grant-supported programming, capacity building, and impact assessment.
CreARTE is made possible through a unique partnership between the Pérez Family Foundation and The Miami Foundation, a cornerstone of the local nonprofit community that currently manages close to $445 million in philanthropic funds.
For more information about Armour Dance Theatre, please visit our website at www.armourdance.org. You can find more information about The Jorge M. Pérez Family Foundation, its mission, and previous donations at jmperezfamilyfoundation.org.
https://k0sec8.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/DSC09296-1.jpg?time=171408890222494753Addyson Fontehttps://k0sec8.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/75-Anniversary-Logo-Gray-Circle-276x300.pngAddyson Fonte2023-11-06 16:56:182023-11-06 18:17:19Armour Dance Theatre Awarded a $100,000 Grant from the Jorge M. Pérez Family Foundation.
Each summer, Armour Dance Theatre sends talented high school and college students who have earned placement in professional dance intensives for an enriching experience in New York City for up to eight weeks. This privately funded initiative fully supports expenses, including chaperones, accommodations, and meals. We hope you enjoy reading about their journeys, lessons learned, and exciting adventures in the following pages.
Flip through the book below to read more about our 2023 Summer in New York students.
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Armour Dance Theater has a rich history of blazing new trails.
Our namesake, classical ballet dancer Thomas Armour, knew the thrill of performing on the world’s preeminent stages. However, his performing career was cut short by World War II when he was drafted to serve as a military intelligence officer in Paris. After the war, Mr. Armour returned to Florida and opened the Miami Conservatory in 1949. As the area’s oldest dance academy, it has fostered generations of talent.
Two years later, in 1951, Mr. Armour became founding Artistic Director of the Miami Ballet. The company provided first-class training and stage experience to aspiring dancers through full-scale classical ballets with celebrated guest artists such as Fernando Bujones, Natalia Makarova, Edward Villella, Peter Martins and Violette Verdy, to name a few.
More than 30 years ago, Ruth Wiesen, today’s artistic director, approached Mr. Armour about making quality dance training more accessible to underserved youth by offering scholarships. He agreed, opening the door to children for whom the study of ballet otherwise would have been impossible.
Our programs continue to grow in scope and impact. As we enter our 75th year, we continue to uphold a tradition of exceptional dance instruction. We are very proud that the quality of our program has put us among 18 nationally accredited dance schools recognized by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Precollegiate Arts Schools. In addition, we are excited this year to add a fifth neighborhood program site where we can provide a safe, nurturing, and accepting environment that helps maximize the potential of our students.
The study of dance instills crucial life skills of discipline, attention to detail, tenacity, teamwork, and focus on long-term goals. With an emphasis on exceptional training, our programs work to remove obstacles, open doors, and inspire dreams, using dance as a vehicle to success.
We hope you will join us in celebrating 75 years of transforming lives by sharing this exciting news, attending and bringing friends and family to upcoming events, and, most importantly, learning more about supporting Armour Dance Theatre programs. Explore our website and follow us on Instagram and Facebook @armourdancetheatre
https://k0sec8.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/75-anni-featured-image.png?time=17140889026281200Addyson Fontehttps://k0sec8.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/75-Anniversary-Logo-Gray-Circle-276x300.pngAddyson Fonte2023-08-30 16:15:162023-08-31 14:42:29Armour Dance Theatre is Celebrating its 75th Anniversary
“Battlefield” is an iconic piece choreographed by Alvin Ailey’s Artistic Director Robert Battle. Armour Dance Theatre will perform the finale section on April 1st and 2nd.
ADT has a long history of highlighting our alumni as guests in the annual spring concert. Dancer, choreographer, and now director, Robert Battle began his artistic journey as a child here in Miami. We are thrilled to showcase this excerpt from “Battlefield” the captivating work that was initially choreographed in 2001.
Elisa Clark, freelance repetiteur and former Ailey company member, staged this work over the course of three days at our South Miami Academy. Once the work was staged, Kelly Robotham rehearsed and coached the 19 dancers to display the power, unity, and athleticism that Battlefield is so famous for. Ms. Robotham heads the ADT Contemporary faculty and is a former member of the Ailey company.
Join us on April 1st at 7 PM and April 2nd at 2 PM at New World School of the Arts. Tickets are available to purchase for $20 right now! Use the button below to buy your tickets now.
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For the past 30 years, Armour Dance Theatre (ADT) has created opportunities for the youth of Miami through dance-focused programming.
Our Community Programs serve over 400 children in four diverse, under-resourced neighborhoods. When these students reach middle school age, ADT helps guide families through the magnet-school admission process to ensure all students have access to the best schooling opportunities.
Intermediate level students performing at the annual spring concert.
STOPLIGHTS TO SUCCESS
Obstacles arise when students are accepted into “A-rated” magnet programs too far from their homes, and Miami-Dade County Public Schools (MDCPS) cannot provide suitable transportation. ADT offers support through stipends for private transportation.
Each year, an average of 29 students graduating from our Community Programs require transportation assistance to get to school and ADT’s main site Academy, where they continue receiving advanced dance training. Transportation stipends amount to $1,380 for each student per year.
Community program students at Little Haiti Community Program site.
“YOU’RE IN THE DRIVER’S SEAT!” HELP DRIVE ADT’S MISSION
ADT aims to raise $40,000 annually to ensure we not only support our students in their admission to “A-rated” magnet schools, but we support their ability to attend them.
Will you join us today by helping to support our transportation fund?
Thanks to the generosity of an anonymous donor, the first $20,000 raised will be matched dollar-for-dollar!
Please consider…
A $30 one-time donation provides a student transportation for one week.
A $115 monthly donation supports one student’s transportation to a brighter future for one year.
A $1,380 one-time donation provides a student transportation for one year.
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We are proud to announce the 2022-23 parent ambassadors for Armour Dance Theatre! The goal of the parent ambassadors is to engage dedicated and passionate parents at the South Miami Academy. These parents help spread awareness about how ADT is making a difference in the community. One of the projects they will be working on is fundraising, and they will have the unique privilege of deciding where the funds they raise will be utilized.
We would like to introduce you to the amazing group of women that make up the 2022-23 ADT parent ambassadors.
VANESSA CAAMANO-GONZALEZ
Why did you want to be Armour Dance Theatre parent ambassador, and what does it mean to you?
“I became a parent ambassador because I believe in what this institution’s mission is and how it changes the lives of many young people, my daughter included. “
Share a fun fact about yourself!
“Dance has played a big role in my life as an artist. I’m a trained dancer, and I spent many years teaching dance. Now I continue to spend my time illustrating and creating digital art and mixed media while enjoying my daughter’s interest in the arts.”
ANNA DECARLO
Why did you want to be Armour Dance Theatre parent ambassador, and what does it mean to you?
“I love being a parent ambassador because of the history, classical training, family environment, and community-minded culture, which makes Armour Dance Theatre unique. My children are third-generation dancers at ADT, making this experience of representing the organization very special to me.”
Share a fun fact about yourself!
“My time is spent homeschooling my two children, and my love of nature and the ocean is incorporated in the curriculum as I believe in a holistic approach to learning. When we are not “in School” we are growing vegetables, baking bread, and of course attending classes which could include ballet, flamenco, musical theatre, scuba diving, piano, and tennis.
Lastly, we received our Italian citizenship this year, and we have all been studying the Italian language as another way of embracing our culture!!”
CECILIA GONZALEZ
Why did you want to be Armour Dance Theatre parent ambassador, and what does it mean to you?
I am a parent ambassador because, aside from being an alum of this amazing school, I believe deeply in the mission to serve our youth and reflect the beautiful diversity of Miami.
Share a fun fact about yourself!
I am a Theatre educator and Arts advocate. In addition to stage acting (when I can), I am a voiceover actor and storyteller.
SORRAYA GUILLAUME
Why did you wantto beArmour Dance Theatre parent ambassador, and what does it mean to you?
“I became a parent ambassador because of my passion for ensuring that all children have an opportunity to experience the arts and nurture their talents.”
Share a fun fact about yourself!
“I have two daughters dancing at Armour Dance Theatre. I am an alum of New World School of the Arts High School, where I studied theatre during my time there.”
MARISSA GRAY
Why did you want to be Armour Dance Theatre parent ambassador, and what does it mean to you?
“I am honored and excited to be a parent ambassador again for this wonderful organization. Armour Dance Theatre is so much more than a premier training academy. It holds a special place in my heart, as I have come to fully appreciate the importance of a safe, creative space where diversity, equity, and inclusion are not only valued but celebrated.”
Share a fun fact about yourself!
“I recently started The Slotted Spoon, an allergy-friendly baking business inspired by personal experience as an allergy mom and filling a need in our community.”
BLAINE LOUNSBURY
Why did you want to be Armour Dance Theatre parent ambassador, and what does it mean to you?
“I am a parent ambassador because I feel Armour Dance Theatre has been such an amazing experience for me. I want other families to be able to have that same experience.”
Share a fun fact about yourself!
“Fun Fact I am a ballerina turned building contractor.”
ALEJANDRA MOLINA
Why did you want to be Armour Dance Theatre parent ambassador, and what does it mean to you?
“Ballet was a huge part of my life when I was growing up. Armour Dance Theater has provided a nurturing, loving, and experienced environment for our two daughters to dance and learn. Armour Dance has become a special place in their lives, not just as dancers but as girls growing up. They feel safe, encouraged, and at home at ADT.”
Share a fun fact about yourself!
“I have lived in three countries, I love doing yoga, and I am always reading more than two books at the same time.”
SHEA RODRIGUEZ
Why did you want to be Armour Dance Theatre parent ambassador, and what does it mean to you?
“I am thrilled to be a Parent Ambassador because ADT is a true gem in our community. Their dedication to equality in dance is paramount and should be recognized and supported by all of us who understand the importance of equal access and exposure to the arts. “
Share a fun fact about yourself!
“I am both a performer and music teacher! I toured in the 10th anniversary international tour of RENT, have done numerous off-broadway and regional theatrical productions, and currently serve as the band leader and vocalist for the South Florida outpost of New York City-based events band,The Band Method.”
MARIA SOSA
Why did you want to be Armour Dance Theatre parent ambassador, and what does it mean to you?
“To see all colors, shapes, and sizes represented on that stage and knowing how much ballet had impacted my child was inspiring. I am honored to be able to help other kids experience what my daughter has been fortunate enough to be a part of.”
If you would like to be a part of the Armour Dance Theatre’s parent ambassadors, don’t hesitate to get in touch with Sarah Donate at Sarah@armourdance.org
If you would like to contribute to the parent ambassador’s fundraising efforts, use the button below.
As one of our oldest programs, Summer in NYC continues to change lives and create opportunities for high school students. After a two-year COVID hiatus, we were ready to continue with this important summer tradition.
Thanks to the support of a generous donor, sixteen ADT students traveled to NYC to attend some of the most prestigious dance intensives in the US. We believe this is one of the most rewarding opportunities we offer our students. Not only are they able to experience firsthand the “real dance world,” but they also gain skills that help them grow as individuals. Every one of them came back with unique experiences to share and lessons learned. They all describe the summer as “life-changing”.
We would like to share these reflections from our students and have you hear from them directly. Below is a collection of the student’s reflections on their NYC experience this summer. We hope you enjoy them!
Use the button below to read the reflections our students wrote.
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Armour Dance Theatre (ADT), a well-respected, 70-year-old dance institution and one of the 18 ACPASS accredited institutions in the country, has revised its mission and vision to fully capture the wide scope of programming it offers. Regardless, if you are training at the nationally recognized South Miami Academy or through the philanthropic free after-school or summer camp Community Programs, the goal is the same, to provide exceptional dance training to ensure every child reaches their full potential.
Historical Photos from The Armour Dance Theatre Archive.
What is the new mission and vision?
Mission:Armour Dance Theatre uses the power of exceptional dance training to ensure every student reaches their full potential.
Vision:Arts education builds crucial life skills and has the power to transform a child’s future. Armour Dance Theatre will continue its legacy of making dance accessible to all children in our community regardless of income, race, ethnicity, gender identity, ability, or body type.
How do we accomplish this mission and vision?
Armour Dance Theatre embodies its mission and vision — through two distinct programs, the South Miami Academy and Pointes of Impact programs.
Armour Dance Theatre’s Ballet and Contemporary South Miami Academy Students.
What is the South Miami Academy?
The South Miami Academy is Miami’s oldest dance conservatory with a rich and prestigious 70-year history. Through nationally recognized and elite training, the South Miami Academy has produced numerous professional dancers who have had careers at companies such as Martha Graham Dance Company, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, American Ballet Theatre, and Dance Theatre of Harlem, to name a few. Although the South Miami Academy began with just ballet classes, it has since expanded its class offering to include tap, musical theater, hip hop, contemporary, and Flamenco.
Students at Armour Dance Theatre’s Free After School Community Program.
What are the Pointes of Impact Programs?
As a leading dance institution, Armour Dance Theatre felt it was its responsibility to ensure the power of dance is accessible and provides a pathway to success for all youth in our community. This vision is brought to life through the obstacle-eliminating Pointes of Impact Programming, which encompasses numerous philanthropic programs, including after-school and summer camp Community Programs, Next Steps, Summer in NYC, and Beyond the Classroom.
Why a new mission and vision?
This revision of the new mission and vision hopes to illustrate more clearly to the public the breadth of Armour Dance Theatre’s work and its dedication to paying it forward so that every child in our community can choreograph a brighter future.
To learn more about training at our South Miami Academy, please click here, or to learn more about how you can support our Pointes of Impact, click here.
To support Armour Dance Theatre’s Pointes of Impact Programming, use the button below.
ANNA DECARLO
CECILIA GONZALEZ
SORRAYA GUILLAUME
MARISSA GRAY 
ALEJANDRA MOLINA 
SHEA RODRIGUEZ
MARIA SOSA
