Dance Theatre Arrives in St. Johns

AWARD-WINNING DANCE THEATRE BRING MORE THAN THREE DECADES OF EXCELLENCE, ARTISTRY, AND MENTORSHIP TO A NEW GENERATION OF DANCERS IN OUR COMMUNITY!

For more information or to register, call (904) 544-5678
​or visit www.dancetheatre.net.

For families in St. Johns, a new opportunity to explore the performing arts has arrived. Dance Theatre, an award-winning dance studio with more than 34 years of experience, has opened its doors in St. Augustine, bringing a comprehensive dance program and a long-standing commitment to developing confident, well-rounded students.


For Founder Michelle Gerlick, opening a Dance Theatre location in St. Augustine was an opportunity to create a place where young dancers could grow not only in technical ability, but also in confidence, creativity, and character. She saw a need for a studio where high standards and personal encouragement exist side by side, one that nurtures students as individuals while inspiring artistic excellence. Drawn to St. Augustine’s rich history, vibrant arts community, and creative spirit, Gerlick believes the community’s unique character provides the perfect setting for a studio rooted in tradition while embracing innovation. She hopes Dance Theatre will become a place where children build lifelong friendships, and develop the discipline and self-confidence that will serve them both on stage and throughout life.

​Over the past three decades, Dance Theatre has earned numerous industry honors, including multiple Reader’s Choice and Best in the West awards. Its competitive dancers have received thousands of awards at regional and national competitions, but owner Michelle Gerlick believes the studio’s greatest accomplishments can’t be measured by trophies. “We build beautiful, safe, clean facilities, hire the best teachers in the business, and treat each child that walks through our doors as if they were our very own,” Gerlick says. “Our staff is filled with strong, positive role models who are so important to our students as they mature. We work hard, we have passion, and we care deeply about the impact we have on their lives.”

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​“Our staff is filled with strong, positive role models who are so important to our students as they mature. We work hard, we have passion, and we care deeply about the impact we have on their lives.”
 —Michelle Gerlick

Dance Theatre welcomes students of all experience levels, from first-time dancers as young as 2½ years old through adults. The curriculum includes ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, hip hop, contemporary, acrobatics, pointe, and aerial silks, giving students the opportunity to explore a variety of dance styles while building confidence, discipline, and creativity. For Gerlick, some of the most meaningful moments come when parents and former students share how Dance Theatre has made a lasting difference in their lives.


"When a parent tells me their child has flourished since enrolling, I melt," she says. "When former students come back to tell me we helped them find success in life, as well as in dance, nothing can compare. That's why we do this." Students looking for additional performance opportunities can participate in Dance Theatre Company (DTC), a performance ensemble that has appeared aboard Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas, at Universal Studios, and during professional NFL, NBA, and NHL events. This coming year, the company will also travel to New York City to perform as part of Dance The World.


For dancers interested in pursuing competitive dance, Team DTX provides advanced training through regional and national conventions and competitions. Most recently, the team competed at the 2026 Platinum National Finals in Destin, earning multiple Junior and Senior division titles, sweeping every dance battle, and receiving the highest overall score among more than 350 entries.

​Grand Opening Dance Party! | August 8th Dance Theatre invites the community to celebrate its Grand Opening Dance Party on Saturday, August 8, with FREE classes from 9 a.m. to noon for dancers ages 5 and older. Families are encouraged to tour the new facility, meet the instructors, and experience the studio firsthand.