Our History
The Beginning
Thomas Armour founded The Miami Conservatory, establishing what would become Miami’s oldest continuously operating dance conservatory.
A Professional Comapny is Born
Thomas Armour became the founding Artistic Director of the Miami Ballet (the organizations once separate performing arm), staging full-length performances with dance luminaries of the time.
A miami Tradition Begins
The Miami Ballet presented its first production of The Nutcracker, beginning one of South Florida’s longest-running holiday traditions.
Access Through Scholarships
Ruth Wiesen launches a scholarship initiative to provide talented students from underserved communities with access to exceptional dance training, opening pathways to magnet schools and future opportunities.
Summer in New York City
The Summer in NYC program was established, giving students access to world-renowned dance intensives and professional training experience on scholarship.
Honoring Our Founder
The organization was renamed The Thomas Armour Youth Ballet, reflecting both its founder’s legacy and an expanding commitment to youth development.
Community Programs Launch
The first free after-school Community Program opened at Morningside Elementary in Little Haiti, laying the foundation for what would become a countywide initiative serving Miami-Dade youth. Between 2000 and 2011, three more sites would open in the neighborhoods of Homestead, West Grove, and Miami Gardens.
A Permanent Home
Through an extraordinary gift, the organization purchased its historic South Miami Building, creating a permanent home for its academy and administrative offices.
Supporting Students Beyond Graduation
College readiness and post-secondary support services were added to help students continue their educational journeys.
Community Recognition
The Children’s Trust honored the organization with its Excellence Award in Youth Programming for School & Life Success.
Expanding Student Support
The Community Programs evolved beyond dance to include literacy, academic support, nutrition, physical wellness, social-emotional learning, and family engagement.
40 Years of The Nutcracker
The organization celebrated the 40th anniversary of its beloved Nutcracker production with newly commissioned backdrops.
National Accreditations
Armour Dance Theatre earned national accreditation through the Accrediting Commission for Community and Precollegiate Arts Schools (ACCPAS), recognizing the exceptional quality of its dance education. It became one of only 16 institutions in the nation to hold this distinction.
Growing Through Challenge
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the South Miami building was renovated, programs successfully transitioned online, and the programs expanded to include mental health programming to support students and families.
Armour Dance Theatre
The organization officially rebranded to become Armour Dance Theatre, reflecting its expanded mission and impact throughout Miami-Dade County.
Serving More Communities
A fifth Community Program site opened, expanding ADT’s holistic youth development programs across Miami-Dade County and bringing the organization to six operating locations.
A Vision for the Future
Armour Dance Theatre celebrated the 25th Anniversary of its Community Programs, now serving over 400 youth annually. Additionally, it launched an ambitious 15-Year Strategic Vision to expand its reach and serve 2,500 students annually by 2040.
A New Artistic Chapter
Kelly Robotham became only the third Artistic Director in Armour Dance Theatre’s history, ushering in the organization’s next era of artistic excellence.
A Golden Anniversary
Armour Dance Theatre celebrates the 50th Anniversary of its production of The Nutcracker, South Florida’s longest-running Nutcracker production and one of Miami’s most cherished holiday traditions.
