Mrs. Iris Hensley founded The Georgia Ballet in 1960 and served as its Artistic Director until August 2003. She had a noted and varied background as a dancer, teacher, and choreographer. Mrs. Hensley received her dance training in Atlanta, New York, Washington D.C., and with the National Ballet of Canada. She made numerous stage and television appearances and choreographed numerous works for regional ballet companies throughout the Southeast.

In 1960 she founded the Cobb/Marietta Ballet, which later became The Georgia Ballet. Mrs. Hensley received the first Lillian Bennet Sullivan Award, Cobb's highest recognition in the arts, for her work in inaugurating the Performing Arts package for thousands of Cobb County school children. She was additionally the former director and tri-chairman of the Board for the Southern Regional Ballet Association. Mrs. Hensley served on the dance panel for the Georgia Council for the Arts and was a guest instructor for the Governor's Honors Program for many years.

Mrs. Hensley took her company on two international tours and was resident choreographer for the first Georgia Festival of the Arts in Italy. During her career she choreographed numerous and varied works, including audience favorites: Gershwin Concerto, Carnival of the Animals, The Nightingale, Five Guys Named Moe, and The Adventures of Mary Poppins.