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Exciting News & Events

RON HOWARD AND MONIQUE VERMONT IN
"THE MUSIC MAN" (1962)

SHIRLEY JONES AND MONIQUE VERMONT IN
"THE MUSIC MAN" (1962)

MONIQUE VERMONT TODAY
sharing her love of the Theatrical Arts with the next generation!

The Art of Dance Musical Theatre and Academy
is a private dance school
and professional theater performing academy.
We are known for our professionalism and dance excellence,
our toddler classes, and our famous
Summer Prince & Princess Music, Art and Dance Camp^™©!
We offer morning classes for toddlers and preschoolers,
afternoon and evening, and weekend classes
for all ages (13 months) up through our
pre-professional program for youth, teens and adults.

We do two major performances a year:
The Nutcracker in December,
and our Spring Recital, which this last year (2011) was our own
full musical version of "Alice's Wonderland!" and for the upcoming year (2012)
we are excited to be presenting our version of "Cirque Du Ballet!"
We perform our professional-level productions in the downtown
historic theater district of Norfolk, VA, at the TCC Roper Performing Arts Center.

Monique Vermont is the Founder, Producer, Director,
Choreographer and Creative Manager for The Art of Dance Theatre
and Academy. "Ms.Monique" has been involved professionally
(link to IMDb) in the theatrical arts for over 40years,
spanning the enitire United States & Canada..
She began her stellar career 1958 with the American National Theater
and Academy (A.N.T.A.) in Pasadena, California on the same stage
as Marcel Marceaux. She was then cast immediately in the National
Touring Company of "The Music Man" whereupon she toured all over
the United States and Canada. At age nine, she earned the same major
supporting role of 'Amaryllis' in the Warner Brothers hit classic movie
musical, "The Music Man,"(opposite Ron Howard) and has performed
with such stars as Robert Preston, Shirley Jones, and Robin Williams.
Her television credits include "Wagon Train" and "My Three Sons."
Ms Monique holds an honorary membership with Screen Actor's Guild
and Actor's Equity Association and most recently, has earned her elite
membership with The National Association of Professional Women.

Her extensive training includes the renowned George Balanchine's
New York City Ballet, Colorado Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, and
the American Conservatory Theatre's Stanislovsky Method of Drama
in San Francisco. Her degrees include a Bachelor of Arts in Theater and
Communication / Emphasis Education, Associates of Arts Degree
in Dance Educationand Choreography, with Honors in Humanities
and Early Childhood Development (with a Minor in Child Psychology).

Of her many qualifications, Ms. Monique's most recent
teaching certificate comes from Marcia Dale Weary's
Central Pennsylvania's Youth Ballet.

Ms. Monique's credits on stage and screen are many, and her more than
40 years experience teaching professionally has brought to fruition the most
important purpose that she shares daily with her students:
Dance is more than physical; it is mental, emotional and spiritual.
Ms. Monique feels honored to share her knowledge and expertise
with the next generation, from the introduction of her unique dance
program for children as young as 13 months of age, to guiding
our youth all the way up to a professional career, if so chosen.
Her students have gone on to be accepted locally at
Governor's School for the Arts, Todd Rossenlieb's
Junior Dance Company, and offered scholarships
at Virginia Commonwealth University, Longwood University
and Marymount Manhattan. Regionally, our students have been accepted
at Washington School of Ballet, Ballet Met, Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet
and The Richmond Ballet, just to name a restigious few.
The Art of Dance Theatre and Academy has been established
in Norfolk, VA since the year 2000; it is Ms. Monique's dream
to continue to mentor this area's children, their children, and grandchildren.

 "Ms Monique, your standards and
ideals (coupled with your intelligence and understanding of the psychology
of children) create such a nurturing environment centered on the
children where their creativity and self-esteem can grow. "I thought about
the little dancers at your academy and how much effort and  perseverance
they invest in their art at such young ages. It must be because, even though
each one experiences personal set-backs from time to time, the overall
experience your provide at your school with dancing, is so positive that
they develop a love for their craft that can only be described as extraordinary. 
I credit you, Ms Monique, with that and thank you for all that you have done
for my child and all the other chilren in your life. I appreciate you giving so much
of your personal time and extraordinary patience to help them achieve excellence."
-- Amy O'Briant (dedicated Art of Dance Academy Mom for seven years)
"Ms Monique teaches children to express their self-creativity
while still learning the discipling of professional dance and showmanship. She gets
truly remarkable results out of very young children by familiarizing herself with each
child's strengths and weaknesses, and encouraging each child to be their very best!
Her smile and high energy level motivates children and their families; her studio
inspires a strong community atmosphere and family environment.
My daughter dances when she brushes her teeth, when she studies for a test...
and I credit Ms Monique for instilling this love of movement and dance.
From one teacher to another, thank you, Ms Monique for all that you do,
to build self-esteem and bring out the strenths in our future generation!
-- Marnie Waldman (Sophie's Mom)

"We want to thank you for all your hard work and for your patience. 
Jessica is certainly enjoying herself.  And thank you for making her feel
so special.  She is always so excited to come to dance. Thank you and God Bless."
-- Lisa Gates and family

TESTIMONIALS:

"We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for enriching
Sarah's life and appreciate your warm and caring attention to her."
--  Steve (proud Dad)

"I just want to say thank you for all you, your school and your teachers do
for Emmaleigh. This summer when she started classes, we had just moved cross-country. You all helped make this transition easy for her. The highlight
of her week is coming to dance class, seeing her new friends she has made, hugging her teachers and dancing! I enjoy watching her excitement and her blossoming, all thanks to you and your loving staff. The first time we cam to visit your school, we knew this ws the perfect invironment for Emmaleigh. Again, your loving, fun and encouraging environment means a lot to me as a parent and former teacher. We couldn't be happier.
- Love, Leigh Anne and Emmaleigh Martin"

"Kaitlyn has learned so much from you in the one year, and it really shows.
Our family all commented about how impressed they were with the recital. 
I can definitely tell Kaitlyn has learned good form with her dance even
though she is only five you can really tell."
-- Julie Jesionowski
(All three of her daughters have danced with us, the youngest of which began at age one!)

"Again, thank you for everything you have taught Emily over this past semester.  You have really inspired her to embrace her dancing, and she has absolutely fallen in love with the movement of the dance.  She is moved to dance to most any music, regardless of where the inspiration strikes her. 
I so appreciate the positive learning experience you have provided for her.”
-- Emily's Mommy 

"I wanted to take the time to formally thank you for doing such an amazing
job with Kierston. I have highly recommended your studio to many of my friends. To see the progression she has made from where she was before has just blown my husband and I away. I truely thank you from the bottom of my heart. She is such a terrific dancer. She has talent that I didn't see until you brought it out in her. Thank you. In all actuality, thank you doesn't even begin
to cover my gratefulness to you. You saw potential in her and took that potential and ran with it. Her passion for dancing has grown to new heights.
I was in tears watching her dance every single recital. And for you to give her the opportunity to earn the role of Clara in Nutcracker just made it even so much more worth it. I love how you have the drive and passion for the students and their success and hiring professional instructors who have the same. No dance studio will ever compare to yours
Ms Monique. You're doing a terrific job with the girls. Many hugs and thanks"
-- Rebecca Vineyard

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