The Academy of Dance Arts   was   opened in September of 1972 by Owner/Director/Teacher, Phyllis G. DeWeese.  The location was, at that time, a small vacant church at 2711 N. Verity Parkway, Middletown.   The Academy continued at that same location until early in 2008, when former student, and current staff teacher, Julie Cranford Gibson, became the new Owner/Director, (with Mrs. “De’s” encouragement &  blessing)  and relocated the entire staff and students to 3530 Central Avenue, Middletown, OH.

Although Mrs. DeWeese had already been teaching in Middletown for many years, in 1972, she moved to Middletown from Cincinnati, to open her own dance Academy.  She brought with her a vast amount of  experience in teaching classical ballet……….having been the Ballet Mistress of the Cincinnati Civic Ballet for 4 years……and  studying in major ballet schools  in Toronto, Copenhagen, Chicago, and New York City, as well as teaching for local dance schools (Lubbers & Laurence).  She also taught at Stone-Camryn School of Ballet in Chicago for 7 summers.

As the years went by, and the enrollment increased, Mrs. DeWeese felt a strong need to broaden the range of dance styles for the students. Tap, Jazz, Modern, Hip Hop, Pilates were added to the classical ballet & national dance curriculum.

She took great pride in providing the students and community with highly qualified, experienced, compassionate, and professional dance teachers.  Three of the current teachers have degrees in dance…..and all have had professional performing experience.

(Mrs. “De” always says:  “You won’t find a better staff in the tri-county area!!   So very proud of them!!”)

The Middletown area has presented many opportunities to the Academy for which we are most grateful.

Credits include:  Seven children’s concerts with the Middletown Symphony; Moscow Ballet Co.’ (Mrs. De was the local Dance Coordinator) ; Sorg Opera Co; ODC San Francisco, (“Velveteen Rabbit”) ; Middfest International; “Some Sunny Night” opera (U.S. premiere); and many civic organizations.  Liturgical dances for churches have been significant.

In recitals (held every other year), we have done full length productions and/or divertissements of “Peter & the Wolf”, “Hansel & Gretel”, “Sleeping Beauty”, “Coppelia”, “Nutcracker”, “Les Sylphides”, “Alice in Wonderland”, “Pas de Quatre”, “The Seasons”, “Les Patineurs”, “Invitation to the Dance”, “Raymonda”.

              In 1976, we filled Dave Finkelman Auditorium to capacity 5 times for a children’s concert in collaboration with Middletown Symphony.

The past 15 + years, the recitals have also included a significant amount of Advanced jazz, tap, & modern.

            Many students have gone on to dance professionally both nationally and internationally, on Broadway, in movies, professional ballet & modern dance companies, cruise ships, & Theme parks.  Many continue dancing in college companies as they continue their education in other fields. 

The Academy has always been dedicated to teaching dance as an art form and also, nurturing the students in a positive, self disciplined, and character building manner.           The Academy has been honored with a “MIRA” award for Middfest performances over the years, and has been Voted “Best Instructional School” in the Greater Middletown Area.

Copyright 2007, All rights reserved.

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