Anzia was
the Artistic Director of The Tampa Ballet from 1964 to 1984, one of the
first professional dance companies in the state. There she created a
repertory by not only nuruturing locally based choreographers but by
bringing in a wide variety of outside talent such as Tom Pazik, Ron
Cunningham, Richard Sias, Michael Vernon and Martin Freedman among
others. In addition, her own diverse choreography rounded out the
repertoire and her work Pas de Sept was chosen for the National
Choreography Plan. She founded the Dance Program at the University of
Tampa which is now headed by one of her former students Susan Taylor
Lennon. She also served on the Board of Directors of the State Dance
Association of Florida and the Southeastern Regional Ballet Association
and was active in the Association of American Dance Companies.
In 1984 the University of Tampa honored her with the President’s Medal of Honor and in 1986 the Dance Association of Florida honored her with the Nancy Smith Award for a lifetime of service to dance in Florida.
Prominent former students include former Joffrey Ballet Principal and Tony Award Nominated Elizabeth Parkinson, New York based dancer / teacher Kat Wildish, former Frankfort Ballet Soloist Marcia Ward as well as the aforementioned Susan Taylor Lennon.
Recently her ballets Polovetsian Dances and Pas de Sept have been revived by former student Robin Dugan’s Tampa Ballet Center with Anzia personally building new wardrobe for the pieces.
At age 82 Anzia passed away Sunday March 8, 2009, one day after her 63rd Wedding Anniversary. She leaves behind her loving husband of 63 years Ralph Arsenault and her devoted son Keith Arsenault and scores of dedicated and loving former dance students and associates scattered through out the United States and abroad.
In 1984 the University of Tampa honored her with the President’s Medal of Honor and in 1986 the Dance Association of Florida honored her with the Nancy Smith Award for a lifetime of service to dance in Florida.
Prominent former students include former Joffrey Ballet Principal and Tony Award Nominated Elizabeth Parkinson, New York based dancer / teacher Kat Wildish, former Frankfort Ballet Soloist Marcia Ward as well as the aforementioned Susan Taylor Lennon.
Recently her ballets Polovetsian Dances and Pas de Sept have been revived by former student Robin Dugan’s Tampa Ballet Center with Anzia personally building new wardrobe for the pieces.
At age 82 Anzia passed away Sunday March 8, 2009, one day after her 63rd Wedding Anniversary. She leaves behind her loving husband of 63 years Ralph Arsenault and her devoted son Keith Arsenault and scores of dedicated and loving former dance students and associates scattered through out the United States and abroad.
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