Armed with a passionate dream to see a world-class contemporary ballet company come to life, Arts Triumphant founders, Colin & Yvonne Williams arrived in Jacksonville, Florida in 1992.

Arts Triumphant Dance Theatre (ATDT) began as a conservatory for students serious about advancing the art of dance. That summer, Art Triumphant hosted its first annual Summer Dance Intensive.

Incorporating in 1996 as a non-profit organization, Arts Triumphant presented its first main stage performance, Dancing the Dream, at the Florida Theatre. Over 1,000 people shared in the magic and applauded the arrival of Jacksonville’s very own contemporary ballet company. That year ATDT also moved into its first studios and quickly began to draw students from throughout the city.

In 1998 ATDT renovated an old retail store and transformed it into a state-of–the-art 12,000 square foot facility, housing three of the areas largest studios.

In the fall of 2000, Arts Triumphant premiered its first full-length original ballet de’ action Sacred Symbols. This epic story, written, directed and choreographed by Artistic Director, Yvonne Salcedo Williams, was inspired by the true story of Holocaust survivor, Klara Bundi. This stirring and timeless story reveals that friendship, honor, courage, hope and most of all, unconditional love are worth fighting for.

From 1996 – 2002, Arts Triumphant staged numerous full-length dance productions in Jacksonville. From the very beginning a great emphasis has been placed on sharing the joy of dance by performing in area schools, churches, synagogues, retirement homes and theatres, including: Wolfson Children’s Hospital, Children’s Miracle Network, Mount Zion Retirement Community,

Congregation Beth Shalom, Israel’s Jubilee, Earth Day Celebration, Sultan’s Pool Amphitheatre, Jerusalem & Debron Conference Center, Holland.

Colin & Yvonne have always envisioned a place where dancers could unplug from their hectic lives and recharge and reconnect with the source of their creativity. The mountains of West Virginia provide such a refuge. In the spring of 2002 Arts Triumphant relocated to Berkeley Springs, West Virginia. This picturesque town is located in the eastern panhandle of West Virginia…miles from nowhere, and yet only 90 minutes from Washington D.C.

In the Summer of 2007, Arts Triumphant its new studio, The Dance Barn at Lions Oak with its 14th Annual Summer Dance Intensive. The studio will provide space for BalletSport classes, retreats and private instruction.