Our History
1951
The Thomas Armour Youth Ballet was founded as a school of classical ballet named The Miami Conservatory, and a non-profit performing company called The Miami Ballet.
A scholarship program was created, to help talented children from low income neighborhoods to access placement in MDCPS Dance Magnets.
TAYB began to send advacned students to intensive summer programs with professional companies in New York City. TAYB covers all living expenses.
The performing Company was re-named The Thomas Armour Youth Ballet in honor of the organization’s founder, and addedd to its mission an emphasis on community outreach, thus increasing ballet accessibolity to under privileged youth.
The first outreach site was opened in Little Haiti at Morningside Elementary School.
The Thomas Armour Youth Ballet absorbed The Miami Conservatory ballet shcool, and purchased the historic South Miami building in which it was housed. This main site serves over 800 children and holds the administrative offices.
The second outreach site was opened within the Redland Christian Migrant Association campsite and Homestead Housing Authority in South Miami Dade County.
The third outreach site was opened in the West Grove at Elizabeth Virrick Park.
A college assistance program was added to aid our high school graduates in their quest for higher education.
The fourth outreach site was opened at Homestead Middle School. The middle school program was moved to the HHA site in June of 2011.
TAYB received the Arts & Education Impact Award from the Arts & Business Council.
TAYB received an award from Miami Dade County’s “In the Company of Women” in Arts and Entertainment.
TAYB received the prestigious “Excellence Award in Youth Programming for School & Life Success” from the Children’s Trust of Miami-Dade County.
The fifth outreach site was opened in Miami Gardens at the Betty T Ferguson Recreational Center.
Full afterschool program.
Armour Dance Theatre received national accreditation from The Accrediting Commission for Community and Precollegiate Arts Schools (ACCPAS)
Group Talk
Was added to adress the added trauma of the pandemic.
New Site Opening- August: South Miami Heights Elementary.
CMP began using IXL Math & RazPlus reading.
We began working with Healthy Connections to launch Group Talk across all five sites.
ADT had both Clara’s for our Nutcracker production were CMP graduates.