Business Details
50+ Years
experience
Premier Dance Education in Arlington, TX
Miss Persis Studio has been a cornerstone of dance education in Arlington, Texas since 1954. Our studio provides comprehensive training in tap, jazz, ballet, hip hop, lyrical, and musical theatre for students of all ages in a nurturing environment. With a legacy of excellence, we emphasize proper technique, artistic expression, and character development through dance. Our faculty includes certified instructors with extensive professional experience in performance and education. Beyond technical skills, we cultivate life lessons through programs like our renowned Cotillion classes that teach social etiquette and grace. The studio actively engages the community through outreach initiatives like our annual Elf Shows performed at senior facilities.As stewards of dance education, we maintain affiliations with professional organizations like the Texas Association Teachers of Dancing, Inc. Our historic downtown location hosts performances by Dance Theatre of Arlington, the non-profit company we founded in 1981. With decades of combined teaching experience, our staff ensures personalized attention while maintaining rigorous educational standards. Our commitment to quality has made us a trusted institution for generations of dancers in the Metroplex area.
Services
Dance Classes
Cotillion Training
Community Performances
Adult Dance Programs
Summer Workshops
Youth Outreach Programs
Details
- Year established: 1954
Highlights and features
- We offer 70+ years of combined teaching experience from certified dance professionals
- Our studio maintains historic ties to Arlington's cultural development since 1954
- We provide specialized Cotillion programs teaching social skills and etiquette
- Our faculty includes former professional performers and university instructors
- We operate Dance Theatre of Arlington, a community performance organization since 1981
Associations and certifications
- Texas Association Teachers of Dancing, Inc.
What people say
Safe learning environment
Professional instructors
Excellent Cotillion program
Community engagement
Long-standing reputation
Services
Dance Classes
Our comprehensive dance curriculum includes tap, jazz, ballet, hip hop, lyrical, and musical theatre for ages 3 to adult. Classes emphasize technical proficiency, artistic expression, and performance skills. Instructors provide personalized attention while maintaining professional standards developed over 70 years of combined teaching experience.
Cotillion Training
This six-week program teaches sixth graders traditional social dance skills, dining etiquette, and communication techniques. Sessions culminate in a formal spring dance at the Bob Duncan Center. The curriculum combines dance instruction with character development in a supportive environment.
Community Performances
Our annual Elf Shows feature dancing dolls and singing Christmas trees performing at over 35 senior facilities each December. Dance Theatre of Arlington presents additional community performances throughout the year, showcasing student talent and providing cultural enrichment.
Adult Dance Programs
We offer specialized dance instruction for adults including tap, ballet, and jazz fundamentals. Our summer workshops provide intensive training opportunities for mature students seeking to develop or refine their dance skills in a supportive environment.
Youth Outreach Programs
Beyond regular classes, we provide dance education through school partnerships and community events. Programs include school dance teams, theater productions, and special workshops that make dance accessible to diverse youth populations in the Metroplex area.
People
Persis Ann Forster
Studio Director
Third-generation dance educator with 50 years teaching experience. Manages daily operations while maintaining performance standards established by her mother, studio founder Persis Forster.
Bettie Roeber
Ballet Instructor
OU graduate with professional performance experience at Fort Worth Ballet and Six Flags. Teaches classical ballet technique drawing from decades of stage experience and military base studio ownership.
Becca Brown
Musical Theatre
Studio alumna with NY and LA training. Teaches multiple disciplines while managing Dance Theatre of Arlington. Combines Broadway-style instruction with practical performance experience from regional theatres.
Quinton Winston
Hip Hop Instructor
Professional dancer with international tour experience. Former Broadway performer brings industry expertise to hip hop and breakdancing instruction while connecting with local youth through relatable teaching methods.
Lori Woods
Jazz Instructor
21-year dance program director with theatre degrees. Combines stage experience from regional theatres with educational expertise to develop well-rounded performers in jazz and musical theatre styles.
Questions
What dance styles do you teach?
We offer instruction in tap, jazz, ballet, hip hop, lyrical, and musical theatre styles for all skill levels.
Do you offer classes for adults?
Yes, we provide adult dance classes and workshops including our popular summer programs for all experience levels.
What are Cotillion classes?
Our Cotillion program teaches sixth graders social dance skills, etiquette, and dining manners through six weekly sessions and a spring dance event.
How is the studio involved in the community?
We perform over 35 free Elf Shows annually at senior facilities and operate Dance Theatre of Arlington, our non-profit performance company.
What experience do your instructors have?
Our faculty includes certified dance educators with professional performance backgrounds and university teaching experience.
Reviews (4)
Rebecca Fletcher
Jun 03, 2021
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I would use this dance studio again owner is very nice and staff too,my 6 year old granddaughter loved going to dance there.
Sheila Applewhite
May 31, 2021
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It is a wonderful opportunity for children to learn dance, music & Theater. It is a nurturing environment. The Pandemic protical is always followed.
Tharon Hoffman
Jan 21, 2021
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I grew up dancing here back in the 80s. I have so many wonderful memories. The fact that they are still shaping the lives of children through dance is a blessing to anyone who has the opportunity to experience it.
Looking back at my 8 plus years I attended classes at Miss Persis Studio were some of the best times of my life. Christmas time holds a special time to me as I reminisce singing all the songs and dances learned there.
Looking back at my 8 plus years I attended classes at Miss Persis Studio were some of the best times of my life. Christmas time holds a special time to me as I reminisce singing all the songs and dances learned there.
Phillip McBee
May 05, 2016
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If you live in the Arlington area your search for a great dance studio should begin and end here. Miss Persis has been the leading dance school in the mid-cities for over 60 years. My daughter started here 3 years ago when she was 3 and she has loved every minute of it. Her experience here has engendered a love of the fine arts, which thrills her mother and I, and we hope her passion only grows in the years to come.
