BILLY JAMES HAWKAINS, III, Artist + Educator. Graduate from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (MFA, ’21) and BFA from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. Billy began his professional performing career with Theatre of Movement […]
community
Erin Burch dances through recovery in Atlanta arts scene
“Atlanta is a land of opportunity for dance,” says Atlanta-based performer and educator Erin Burch. “It’s one of the few places where no matter how you look, there’s a spot for you.” Burch describes Atlanta as “a web of connectivity,” where everyone knows everyone, which allows for greater networking and a multitude of opportunities. In her own words, “If you can make it here, you can make it anywhere.”
Cassandra Springs develops proprietary dance education service
From instructing in North Carolina to opening her own dance education company, Cassandra Springs has over 20 years of dance training and professional theater, film and competitive experience; fusing her passion for teaching and mentorship into the evolution of her dreams.
Meg Gourley expresses gratitude as she reflects on her career
Reflecting on her early dance training, Meg Gourley says, “I really didn’t like [dance] for a long time.” It wasn’t until Gourley earned her pointe shoes and added more dance forms to her ballet training that she realized her deep love for the art of dance. With no pun intended, Gourley describes this formative experience as being “a real turning point” in her relationship with dance.
Full Radius Dance: Turning tradition on its head
“Your body is perfect, your body has undiscovered movement, your body can experience dance.” The words roll off the tongue like a mantra for Douglas Scott, founder and artistic director of Full Radius Dance. This is one of the company’s statements of purpose, and much like Scott’s body of work, it reveals his dedication to reshaping the way we talk about dance in the modern world. His company deconstructs widely-held standards in Western dance and places accessibility at the center of its mission.
A.M. Collaborative’s 2021-22 season to be presented March 12
This year’s A.M. Collaborative program is nearing a grand finale, and the second cohort of artists will soon showcase their long-term interdisciplinary projects. DanceATL is thrilled to congratulate these visionaries, each of whom has invested their own unique perspectives and procedures. Moreover, we eagerly look forward to presenting the fruits of their synthetic exploration. The pieces will premiere all together at a live in-person showing on Saturday, March 12, at 6 p.m. onstage at the Windmill Arts Center’s intimate black box theater.
Kayla Marie Jackson reflects on her career and the impact of community
As Kayla Marie Jackson’s career continues to take off, the highly accomplished artist often reflects on the values and community that helped her get where she is today. Living and training in Milwaukee and Los Angeles for much of her young life, the artist eventually relocated to Atlanta to attend Spelman College. Jackson found that her experiences at Spelman pushed her to fiercely chase her goals and improve herself everyday. The focus on sisterhood and scholarship helped her “understand how to network and how to build relationships with people.” Now, as an active alumna and assistant coach of Mahogany-N-Motion, Jackson seeks to provide the same support to current students that she received as an undergraduate. Among numerous other opportunities, Jackson is currently working as dance captain for two-time Grammy Nominated rapper and songwriter Saweetie.
Karl Drake propels Irish dance into uncharted waters, both near and far
At the age of 17, Dublin native Karl Drake immigrated to New York in pursuit of the emblematic American dream. Although Drake’s plans of opening up his own dance studio did not come to fruition during those early years in New York, several decades later, Drake has built his legacy as one of the leading names in Irish dance education across the globe.
Since the establishment of the Drake School of Irish Dance here over 30 years ago, the city of Atlanta has played an integral role in Drake’s story and has stepped into the spotlight for its historic contributions to the expansion of Irish dance throughout the South.
Service Organizations
Explore this interactive map of national and international dance organizations and spaces that provide resources and information for artists and members of their communities. If you’d like your organization added to our map, or see any errors, don’t hesitate to contact […]
Dance Performance Companies
This page features an ongoing list of actively present Atlanta-based dance companies that are creating and sharing work. This list is not exhaustive and we need your help to ensure we accurately showcase all companies currently active in the city. If […]