Thomas Dance Studio Celebrates 80th Anniversary Season
In the 1920s, a young woman named Grace Arbogast visited relatives in South Florida. Fortunately for the Palm Beach County dance community, she fell in love with the area and decided to stay. With this decision, a family tradition was born which has lasted for 80 years.
A brief history
Grace studied dance throughout her childhood in Indiana, and began teaching at a young age. She not only joined a ballet company, but taught ballet to the Notre Dame "Fighting Irish" football team coached by Knute Rockne. Once in Florida, Grace settled in Lake Worth and began teaching local children. She held her first recital in the spring in 1926. That same year, she was named the first "Miss Lake Worth."
Grace met and married Englishman Frederick J. Thomas, and they had a son, Fred S. Thomas. The dance studio thrived and had many locations in the local area, including the Raidle Building and Oddfellows Building in the 30s, the Empress Eugenie Building in West Palm Beach in the 40s, and the former Shalfont Roller Rink, which is now the Bamboo Room on J Street in downtown Lake Worth. The current studio, located at 924 N. Dixie Hwy. was built in 1952 by son (and builder) Fred Thomas.
Students at the Grace Thomas Studio stayed busy with performances for civic clubs and benefits throughout the area. During World War II, shows were held at the local hospitals for injured servicemen. In addition, Grace led a group of young woman, most all of them from Lake Worth High School, on a national USO Tour after being personally invited by First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt to participate with this show. The school's Adagio Team, consisting of local Lake Worth boys and girls, was recognized around the State for their exciting and thrilling performances.
Virginia Sullivan was one of Grace's many students from the Lake Worth area. She studied dance at the studio from the age of 7; and began teaching for Grace while still in high school. Virginia married Grace's son, Fred, in 1948 and continued teaching at the school. Fred & Virginia had three children, Teri Szember; Todd Thomas and Tami Valentine.
After producing numerous professional dancers and accredited teachers, and influencing thousands of young lives, Grace retired in 1974, leaving the studio in the capable hands of daughter-in-law, Virginia. As director of the Virginia S. Thomas Studio of Dancing, Virginia continued to provide quality dance instruction to students in the local community, and also was very active in Dance Masters of America, Florida Dance Masters and the Palm Beach Ballet Society. Virginia's students also provided entertainment throughout the local community, and often performed at events such as Miss Palm Beach County Pageant, Sun Fest and Lake Worth Playhouse's Dancing At It's Best, among others. Many students have become accredited teachers through the Florida Dance Masters organization and are teaching around the country; while others performed professionally in theatre and movies.
Thomas Dance Studio today
In 1986, Virginia's daughters, Teri & Tami, became co-owners of "Thomas Dance Studio", and have continued the tradition started so many years ago. In 1990, they formed the non-profit children's dance ensemble, ENCORE! Dance Company, which provides performances in the area and around the State of Florida. ENCORE! Dance Company has been recognized for excellence in the areas of technique, performance and choreography, and has been the recipient numerous times of Florida Dance Masters' President's Award, the highest honor given for group performances at their State Conventions. In 2003, Virginia Thomas and Thomas Dance Studio were recognized with a Community Service Corporate Award for the school's years of contributions to Lake Worth.
As a ballet based school, Thomas Dance Studio provides classical training in ballet and pointe, as well as a strong curriculum in jazz, tap and acrobatics. Many students have received scholarships to attend prestigious summer dance programs throughout the nation, including the Pacific Northwest Ballet School, American Ballet Theatre, Pittsburgh Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, and Milwaukee Ballet amongst others. In addition, graduates of the school are performing with Tokyo Disney, Augusta Ballet, Holland America Cruise Lines, Central Florida Ballet and Walt Disney World in Orlando. Many former students work as certified dance instructors in public and private school settings.
Thomas Dance Studio will commemorate its 80th Anniversary at the school's annual recital on Friday, June 9th and Saturday, June 10th at 7:00 pm. The school's alumni who attend the performances are invited to participate in an alumni processional which will be held at the beginning of each recital. Anyone interested in attending should contact the studio at (561) 582-3100. Thomas Dance Studio is located at 924 N. Dixie Hwy., Lake Worth, FL 33460.