The School at The Georgia Ballet

 

The Georgia Ballet School, founded in 1960 by Iris Hensley, is dedicated to providing outstanding instruction in ballet and related dance styles in a professional, structured, yet nurturing environment. We believe the pursuit of dance is unmatched in its benefits - aesthetic, physical, and mental. We also stress that a vigorous pursuit of good dancing is of great personal value, no matter what the student's ultimate occupation.

Leading the school is Artistic Director Gina Hyatt-Mazon, School Director Michele Ziemann-DeVos, and Ballet Master Janusz Mazon. Ms. Hyatt-Mazon and Mr. Mazon are international gold medal winners and former Hamburg Ballet principal dancers. Ms. Ziemann-DeVos performed with the Pennsylvania Ballet, Des Moines Ballet, New Haven Ballet, and for seven years with The Georgia Ballet. The Georgia Ballet School faculty is a small group of dedicated and enthusiastic dance education professionals who work closely together within a carefully designed curriculum comprised of thirteen grade levels, each with a written syllabus to ensure progress. The Georgia Ballet announced the addition of Theresa Lee Crawford to its teaching faculty for the 2010-2011 academic year.  Ms. Crawford is an expert in the famous ballet syllabus developed by her aunt, Marcia Dale Weary, founder of the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet (CPYB).  She was a permanent member of the CPYB faculty for twelve years.  Classes are held in The Georgia Ballet's spacious 13,000 square foot facility.

The School's resident ballet company, The Georgia Ballet, provides talented, advanced level students with opportunities to apprentice with a professional organization. The company's presence also provides a valuable firsthand education for all students in the ultimate practical application of their weekly lessons.

The Georgia Ballet School 's primary focus is on classical ballet, but also offers classes in tap, modern dance, and jazz.  The school aims to serve both the recreational dancer, as well as the applied student, for whom ballet performance is a career goal.  The Georgia Ballet also has a thriving open adult program with classes in a fun and relaxed environment.  In total, we provide outstanding instruction to more than 350 students. Due to the school’s association with The Georgia Ballet professional company, students have the opportunity to perform in professional productions.  In recent seasons, students have appeared in The Nutcracker, A Sleepy Hollow Story, Coppélia, The Sleeping Beauty, The Firebird, La Sylphide, Serenade, and Pinocchio.