Remembering Persis Forster, Founder of Miss Persis Studio of Dance and Performing Arts

By Office of Communication

Posted on June 10, 2021, June 10, 2021

Miss Persis Studio of Dance and Performing Arts began in 1954 in a home. Now, it's a Downtown Arlington institution.

Today, the City of Arlington pauses a moment to honor the late Persis Forster, the woman behind the dance studio that has touched so many people of all ages over the years. In 2015, Miss Persis sat down and talked with MyArlingtonTV about living her American Dream right here in Arlington.

A graduate of UT Austin with a BFA in Radio/TV, Ms. Forster had a varied background in dance and theatre, which includes performing, directing, choreography and teaching in all levels, according to her biography on the Miss Persis Studio website.  

As a professional actress, Ms. Forster has appeared in leading principal roles at Casa Manana, Lyric Theatre in Oklahoma City, Carousel Dinner Theater in Ohio, Lyric Theatre in Irving, Theatre Arlington, Gown Town Theatre and Garland Summer Musicals. She was a graduation of the University of Texas at Arlington and held a bachelor's degree in radio/television.

Past honors include the Chamber of Commerce Citation for Service Award, the Friend of Youth Award and the Distinguished Alumnus Award. Ms. Forster was honored with the Women’s Legacy Award for Arts in Tarrant County in 1999 and with the Dallas Dance Council’s “Texas Tap Legend” award in May, 2006.

Ms. Forster was also a past president of the Texas Association Teachers of Dancing and the UTA Alumni Association. She taught in the UTA Drama Department for more than 18 years. Additionally, she founded Dance Theatre of Arlington in 1981.