The next in our series on every business in Milford is First State Dance Academy. If you would like your business highlighted in the series, send an email or visit our Contact Us page!
First State Dance Academy was founded in 2001 by Director Michele Xiques Arnold. Since then, the studio has produced numerous professional dancers and helped students earn recognitions, scholarships and opportunities for summer and year-round training at prestigious dance schools. Arnold explained she got into the business through a friend.
“My dear dance friend, Maria Fry, offered me the opportunity to further develop the business and I simply couldn’t say no,” Arnold said. “I had always felt a calling to teaching and choreographing, and this opportunity allowed me to fully step into that passion and purpose.”
The studio was originally home to Diamond Dance Company, founded by artistic director Tatiana Akinfieva-Smith and co-founder Maria Fry, whose home had previously been “A Dance Class.” After Smith passed, Arnold created DanceCompany-X, a. non-profit company dedicated to continuing the legacy of excellence in dance. FSDA remains the longest-running dance studio in Milford, continuing to serve the community with high-quality training and performance opportunities.
“FSDA is also proud to have one of the most knowledgeable dance staffs in Southern Delaware,” Arnold said. “We offer ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary, modern, pointe, adult ballet and AcroDance to ages two through adults.”
The biggest challenges Arnold has faced over the years is navigating economic fluctuations and addressing the declining visibility and demand for ballet productions outside of major metropolitan areas.
“Sustaining high-quality productions in smaller communities requires continual advocacy, outreach and creative engagement to build and maintain audiences,” Arnold said. “Furthermore, the challenges of convincing the local community that they can, indeed, witness high-quality productions right in their own community.”
Arnold feels her greatest achievement has been producing professional dancers who have earned acceptances and scholarships at some of the most prestigious dance institutions in the world.
“These include American Ballet Theatre and the Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet in St. Petersburg, Russia,” she stated. “I have also been honored with a commendation from the Mayor of Milford for outstanding service to the Milford community. In addition, I have received two awards and recognitions from the Delaware Division of the Arts for my choreography. Artistically, one of my favorite achievements has been developing the concept of CinemaBallet productions, where full-length ballets are created based on popular movies.”
DanceCompany-X and FSDA dancers have accomplished this by bringing to live productions such as “Twilight Ballet,” “Pirates of the Caribbean ballet,” “Wizarding World of Ballet,” “Annie – The Ballet” and “Pippi Longstocking Ballet.” They have also performed “The Nutcracker Express” which is a combination of “The Polar Express” and the “Nutcracker.”
“If I could do things differently when I first started out, I would have established my own ballet company from the beginning,” Arnold said. “I chose to continue with the existing company out of love and respect for the former artistic director who trained me and, because of her work, FSDA was the only studio that would employe her until she could no longer teach. After her passing, I hoped to honor her legacy while also moving forward artistically by alternating her ballets with new works of my own. The company ultimately did not feel comfortable with this direction, which led to a separation and the opening of another dance school in Milford. While it was a difficult transition, it clarified the importance of having a shared vision and artistic alignment from the start.”
Arnold has advice for anyone who wants to enter her industry.
“First understand whether the local population can truly support your business,” Arnold said. “Equally important is building a team that is loyal, compassionate and experienced in dance; educators who place mental and physical well-being of their students above the business side. A healthy, supported dancer is the foundation of a successful and lasting organization.”
Arnold also makes a point to say that at First State Dance Academy, training is never rushed because a child’s long-term health and development matter. She believes that educators should prioritize the mental and physical well-being of students over the business aspect.
“We are deeply committed to providing a safe, inclusive and uplifting environment rooted in kindness, acceptance, diversity and respect,” Arnold said. “Our faculty brings extensive knowledge and experience to every training decision, always prioritizing what is best for each individual dancer. Our pre-pointe and pointe instruction is led by Rose Spickes, who works directly with Josephine Lee and is certified by Dr. Kendell Always through Pointe Safe. Point Safe trains instructors in a multi-step assessment process that students must successfully complete before advancing to pointe work, including mastery of seven primary pre-pointe skills.”
DanceCompany-X regularly performs the Nutcracker annually as well as a variety of spring performances. FSDA is located at 107 Maple Avenue, Milford, located between the Milford Post Office and Westside Diner. Business hours are Monday through Thursday, 5:30 to 7:30 PM. No appointment is necessary. Those interested in registering can just walk in during business hours.
