Thomas Tommy Armour
Tommy Armour, world renowned classical ballet dancer, was born in Tarpon Springs, Florida in 1909. He was trained, first by Noelle Armour, and then in Paris, by the legendary, Olga Preobrajenska. In his career, he was a principal soloist with the Ida Rubenstein Company, the Nijinska Company, the Woijikowski Company, the De Basil Company and finally, Leonid Massine's famed Ballet Russe De Monte Carlo. His performing contemporaries included; Alexandra Danilova, Igor Youskevitch, Andre Eglevsky, Rosella Hightower, Alicia Markova and Frederic Franklin. One of his most celebrated roles was Vaslav Nijinski's "Spectre de la Rose."
After being drafted into Military Intelligence during World War II, Armour's performing career ended. In 1949, after the war, he returned to South Florida, where he took over a ballet school. The Miami Conservatory continues his work today, as the oldest existing ballet school in Miami. He started the Miami Ballet Guild, which became the Miami Ballet, in 1951.The company's goal was to provide first class training and stage experience for aspiring dancers, by presenting full-scale classical ballets, with professional guest artists, such as Cynthia Gregory, Fernando Bujones, Edward Villella, Natalia Makarova, Peter Martins, and Violet Verdy, to name but a few. Ballets presented, include: "Giselle," "Swan Lake," "Coppelia," "Sleeping Beauty," "La Bayadere," etc..The Miami Ballet was also a co-founder of the Southeastern Regional Ballet Association (SERBA).
In July, 1997,the name of the Miami Ballet was changed to the Thomas Armour Youth Ballet, to honor its founding director. The company continues his legacy, including an extensive scholarship and outreach component. Thomas Armour continued to serve as Artistic Director Emeritus until his death.
Tommy will be buried next to his predeceased lifetime partner, Maurice J. Lindron in Tarpon Springs.
It can be said that his most important contribution was that he taught us, through his life, how to be good. He met each challenge throughout his career, with kindness, grace, elegance and true humility.
Thank you, Tommy, for the century of light you have shown us.