ABOUT US
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WHO WE ARE​​
Future of Dance is a new school in the heart of Sarasota, Florida. Founded by Melissa Dobbs in 2021, the school that began with just as a handful of students has grown into a vibrant community of the arts. Future of Dance is dedicated to excellence in arts education and building a place of belonging.
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OUR HISTORY
Melissa Dobbs, Founder of Future of Dance, spent the last 25 years as as the Founder, Chief Visionary, Executive Director and Innovator behind Metropolitan School of the Arts, one of the most highly esteemed performing arts schools in the world. During her time there, she taught over 10,000 children and developed a time-tested teaching methodology based on a classical approach to dance education coupled with an innovative study of neuroscience, mind-body connection and childhood development. The curriculum is rooted in the classics, honors the history and evolution of dance and promotes excellence in technical and artistic training. The pedagogy is intelligent and inspiring and encourages students to ignite their inner spark and maximize their human potential.
THE FUTURE OF DANCE WAY​​
Dance education is life education. We take our work in the classroom and on the stage seriously and understand that the skills we learn to become dancers transform our lives immeasurably. We learn dedication, perseverance, compassion, empathy, resilience, innovation, embodiment and love for ourselves and others. We show up ready to learn and practice consistently and effectively. We honor our community, because we know we are always better together.
We are on a mission to positively change lives through the transformative power of the arts.
WHAT WE BELIEVE​
We believe in excellence. Future of Dance emphasizes excellence in all we do. Our teachers model excellence and our students learn to strive to be their best in the classroom, on stage and in life.
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We teach dance through a time-tested approach to learning that provides an excellent technical foundation for future achievement.
We honor the history of dance and study the great masters and contributors who preceded our time. We learn from our past as we experience the present and contribute to the future.
We believe in a mastery-based approach to learning. Rather than students moving quickly through curriculum, we advocate for a thorough and complete understanding of the work and lessons.
We believe that the dance is an integral part of human existence; all human beings are wildly creative and wired to dance.
We believe that excellence in dance education wires the brain for excellence in life. Dance connects the mind, body and soul through the repetition of movement, frequency of music and mastery of patterns and sequence.
We believe that dance education is an entry point to life long innovation.
We believe that dance is an expression of the soul.
We believe that dance education must be instructed from a body, mind and soul approach.
We believe dance has the power to transform lives.
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