Now entering its 27th season serving South Florida, Dance Theatre remains the top choice for dancers of all ages to train. With four Broward locations, including both Southwest Ranches and their recent addition at Plantation Promenade, Dance Theatre has become an integral part of our community one fabulous dancer at a time.
Accolades? Of course. Dance Theatre has been awarded the prestigious “Reader’s Choice” and “Best in the West” awards multiple times. Trophies? Thousands. Dance Theatre’s elite team of competitive dancers, DTX, consistently receives top awards at virtually every competition they enter. Testimonials? You bet. Just ask any mother in the carpool line and they’ll tell you that Dance Theatre has been like a home away from home for their children.
So, what is it that makes this place so special? “Our formula is simple” says owner and Director Michelle Gerlick, “We build beautiful, safe, clean facilities, hire the best teachers in the business, and treat each child that walks through our doors as if they were our very own.”
“Awards are nice, and our trophies are beautiful,” Michelle continues, “but that’s not what we strive for. We shoulder an enormous responsibility with our promise to educate. It is incumbent upon us to do it effectively. We train exceptional dancers, but we also help to raise exceptional young women (and a few men). Our staff is teeming with strong, positive, intelligent role models who help to guide our students as they mature. We work hard, we have passion, and we care deeply about the impact we have on their lives. When a parent tells me that their child has flourished since enrolling, I melt. When past graduates return to say we helped them find success in life, as with dance, nothing can compare. That is why we do this.”
Michelle certainly has the pedigree to run one of the nation’s most successful dance programs. Her mother Joan was a Rockette, June Taylor Dancer, and half of a performance duo, along with her father Bob, which thrilled audiences the world over working with the likes of Sammy Davis, Jr. and Tony Bennett. Michelle spent nearly every day of her youth inside her parents’ dance school, the Academy of Ballet Arts, perfecting her craft, and then earned both a degree in Dance from Ohio State University, and a degree in Elementary Education from Nova Southeastern. Her professional credits include performing as a Miami Heat Dancer for the NBA, a “Fly Girl” on Fox Television’s In Living Color, and an NFL Super Bowl Choreographer. Michelle has since led her students at Dance Theatre to The Summer Olympics, The Super Bowl, and The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, among countless other extraordinary venues.
Still not convinced that Dance Theatre is THE place for your young dancer to train? Consider this…they offer a truly comprehensive program where dancers ages 3 through adult, beginner through advanced, can take classes in every possible discipline. These include the basics, like ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, hip hop, contemporary, acrobatics, and pointe, as well as specialty classes like strength and flexibility, leaps and turns, and the newest arrival, aerial silks and lyra.
In addition, Dance Theatre offers two options for dancers who wish to expand their dance education beyond the walls of the studio. Some join their performance company, DTC, which specializes in providing entertainment at amazing venues like Universal Studios, Royal Caribbean Cruises, and Florida Marlin, Miami Heat, and Miami Dolphins games. Look for them on TV as they take the field at this season’s Jets game. Go Fins! Other students, those who aspire to become dance professionals someday, join their elite competitive group, DTX. These girls travel to local, regional and national conventions and hone their skills against the best from other schools. DTX recently returned from the Believe National Dance Competition Finals, where they won multiple national titles. They also walked off with both The Premier Cup and The Victory Cup, special awards reserved for the overall highest scoring dances of the entire competition. Way to go girls!
For those interested in joining the Dance Theatre family, there are several ways. First, you may call the Southwest Ranches location (Publix Center on Griffin Rd. near Davie Outback) at 954-434-4443, or the new Plantation Promenade studio (Publix Center on Cleary Blvd. & Nob Hill Rd.) at 954-423-4500, and speak to someone today. Second, you can visit their web-site, www.dancetheatre.net, view the Fall Schedule for each location, and register online at any time by filling out the registration form. Finally, if you prefer to register in person, the studios will be open for registration on Friday August 16th from 4:00pm – 7:00pm, and Saturday August 17th from 9:00am – Noon. Better hurry though, classes fill quickly!