The History of Thomas Dance Studio
In the early 1920's, Grace Arbogast Thomas began what would become a family tradition... and one that has continued now for over 80 years.
Grace first found her passion for dance as a young ballet student in Elkhart, Indiana. Her instructors were so impressed with her talents that they encouraged her to begin teaching at age 16 in her local community, which eventually led to her giving ballet classes to the athletes at Notre Dame University where she was attending school for law. Soon her love for dance, and a fascination with the South Florida area, led her to Lake Worth where she would start her own family and her dance school.
In 1927, she met and married an Englishman, Fred J. Thomas, and with him by her side, the family dance business grew. She and Fred, a grocer by trade, opened a successful children's clothing store as well, and they began their family. As her enrollment and reputation in the dance world grew, Grace became an integral part of several pioneering dance groups, such as Dance Masters of America. She coordinated with Ben Somers, founder of Capezio, in the development of dance products and pointe shoes. Grace helped write the teacher's syllabus for ballet and acrobatics for Dance Masters and helped prepare the teacher's examinations. She studied abroad often with the school at the Royal Academy of Dancing in London. She was invited to teach at numerous dance workshops across the country. Grace's signature Adagio Dance Teams became reknowned.
Over the years, Grace kept her students involved in performances for civic and charitable events locally. But in 1943, she was honored to be invited, by first-lady Eleanor Roosevelt, to supply dancers and a show for the U.S.O. during World War II. She and her young dancers traveled and entertained servicemen with their lively dance routines. The shows included singers and comedy acts, and emcee, Stubby Kaye. This wonderful experience not only gave her dancers a great opportunity, but formed many personal associations for Grace, allowing her to introduce her dancers to many persons in the entertainment business. This included singer Howard Keel, who later married one of Grace's dancers, and famed choreographer and Metropolitan Opera artistic director, Zachary Solov. This association proved to be a life-long friendship with Mr. Solov spending each Spring vacation as a guest of the Thomas family, and the Thomas students gaining his wonderful master classes.
The studio building located today at 924 North Dixie Highway, was built by Grace's son, Fred S. Thomas, in 1952. Fred met his wife, Virginia at the studio, where they were young dance students and local school mates together.
In 1975, after producing hundreds of accredited teachers and professional dancers, and influencing thousands of young lives, Grace turned the reigns of the school over to her daughter-in-law, Virginia. During Virginia's time as director, from 1975-1986, the school continued to prosper. Virginia was active with both D.M.A. and Florida Dance Masters, where she taught nationally. Then, in 1986, Virginia retired as director, and passed the torch to daughters Teri Thomas Szember and Tami Thomas Valentine. As directors, Teri and Tami continued to draw upon the longstanding traditions on which they were raised; valuable philosophies set in motion by their grandmother all those years ago.
In 2010, the torched was passed once again to the Studio's current Director Amy Gentile, when Tami Valentine and Teri Szember retired. Amy had been a Thomas Dance Studio student since age 4. After studying dance performance at Oklahoma City University, Amy returned to Palm Beach County and began teaching at TDS in 1997. Amy is extremely excited and blessed to have been given this opportunity to continue the rich history of dance excellence at TDS.
We at Thomas Dance Studio invite you to join us... become a part of our tradition... "A Tradition of Quality Dance Education Since 1926."
Grace first found her passion for dance as a young ballet student in Elkhart, Indiana. Her instructors were so impressed with her talents that they encouraged her to begin teaching at age 16 in her local community, which eventually led to her giving ballet classes to the athletes at Notre Dame University where she was attending school for law. Soon her love for dance, and a fascination with the South Florida area, led her to Lake Worth where she would start her own family and her dance school.
In 1927, she met and married an Englishman, Fred J. Thomas, and with him by her side, the family dance business grew. She and Fred, a grocer by trade, opened a successful children's clothing store as well, and they began their family. As her enrollment and reputation in the dance world grew, Grace became an integral part of several pioneering dance groups, such as Dance Masters of America. She coordinated with Ben Somers, founder of Capezio, in the development of dance products and pointe shoes. Grace helped write the teacher's syllabus for ballet and acrobatics for Dance Masters and helped prepare the teacher's examinations. She studied abroad often with the school at the Royal Academy of Dancing in London. She was invited to teach at numerous dance workshops across the country. Grace's signature Adagio Dance Teams became reknowned.
Over the years, Grace kept her students involved in performances for civic and charitable events locally. But in 1943, she was honored to be invited, by first-lady Eleanor Roosevelt, to supply dancers and a show for the U.S.O. during World War II. She and her young dancers traveled and entertained servicemen with their lively dance routines. The shows included singers and comedy acts, and emcee, Stubby Kaye. This wonderful experience not only gave her dancers a great opportunity, but formed many personal associations for Grace, allowing her to introduce her dancers to many persons in the entertainment business. This included singer Howard Keel, who later married one of Grace's dancers, and famed choreographer and Metropolitan Opera artistic director, Zachary Solov. This association proved to be a life-long friendship with Mr. Solov spending each Spring vacation as a guest of the Thomas family, and the Thomas students gaining his wonderful master classes.
The studio building located today at 924 North Dixie Highway, was built by Grace's son, Fred S. Thomas, in 1952. Fred met his wife, Virginia at the studio, where they were young dance students and local school mates together.
In 1975, after producing hundreds of accredited teachers and professional dancers, and influencing thousands of young lives, Grace turned the reigns of the school over to her daughter-in-law, Virginia. During Virginia's time as director, from 1975-1986, the school continued to prosper. Virginia was active with both D.M.A. and Florida Dance Masters, where she taught nationally. Then, in 1986, Virginia retired as director, and passed the torch to daughters Teri Thomas Szember and Tami Thomas Valentine. As directors, Teri and Tami continued to draw upon the longstanding traditions on which they were raised; valuable philosophies set in motion by their grandmother all those years ago.
In 2010, the torched was passed once again to the Studio's current Director Amy Gentile, when Tami Valentine and Teri Szember retired. Amy had been a Thomas Dance Studio student since age 4. After studying dance performance at Oklahoma City University, Amy returned to Palm Beach County and began teaching at TDS in 1997. Amy is extremely excited and blessed to have been given this opportunity to continue the rich history of dance excellence at TDS.
We at Thomas Dance Studio invite you to join us... become a part of our tradition... "A Tradition of Quality Dance Education Since 1926."
