Welcome to the Academy of Dance Arts

General Information & Philosophy
Founded in 1995, the Academy has been a major contributor to the arts in Central Florida for over fifteen years. We strive to maintain dance as a serious art form while providing a well-balanced education and a safe environment for our dancers. 

Dance is often a child’s first introduction to culture and the arts. We believe that dance should be fun and educational. It builds discipline, self-esteem, and strong bodies. And while we recognize that only a small percentage of students may go on to pursue a career in dance, we also know that good training in the beginning years is essential for success if a student later proves to possess the talent and determination to pursue a career in dance. Good training lasts a lifetime. 

Our dance classes are strongly rooted in classical ballet, based on the Cecchetti (Italian) method, and we incorporate aspects of the Russian method, Vaganova, into our training. This ensures that our dancers have a versatility and a thorough knowledge to prepare them to audition for any college dance program or dance company they may later want to enter. Because classical ballet is the internationally recognized standard upon which these auditions are based, it is essential that students have a strong background in it, no matter what form of dance they may later decide to approach. 

Dance is an art form - not a sport. Serious schools prefer to teach, not "compete." We give our students the opportunity to perform publicly several times throughout the year, as both a learning experience and a community service.