When Nena Gilreath and Waverly T. Lucas II founded Ballethnic Dance Company and Academy of Dance in 1990, they set out to address a glaring absence: the lack of racial diversity in classical ballet. More than three decades later, their vision has been recognized with Georgia's highest artistic honor—the Governor's Award for the Arts and Humanities in 2023.
Gilreath's path to founding Ballethnic began in the most prestigious dance institutions in America. She performed with the Ruth Mitchell Dance Theatre, the legendary Dance Theatre of Harlem, and the Atlanta Ballet before recognizing the urgent need for greater representation in classical dance.
The company's mission—providing superior instruction and performance opportunities to underrepresented communities—has produced remarkable results. Ballethnic stands as one of only three Black professional ballet companies to perform in the 'Reframing the Narrative' ballet performances at The Kennedy Center, a distinction that underscores its national significance.
Under Gilreath's artistic direction, Ballethnic has produced performances at The Alliance Theatre on the Coca-Cola stage, bringing world-class ballet to Atlanta audiences while training the next generation of diverse dancers.
The Academy of Dance extends the company's impact beyond performance, offering rigorous training that has launched countless careers. Gilreath, who graduated from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, brings technical excellence rooted in classical tradition while embracing innovation.
One beloved tradition speaks to the founders' creativity: the 'Urban Nutcracker.' When Gilreath and Lucas started the production in 1990, Black nutcrackers didn't exist. So Gilreath learned to 'chocolatize' nutcrackers herself, a skill taught by her mother, Louella.
When asked about the best advice she's received, Gilreath shared wisdom from her best friend, Gloria Bowden: 'Fight until the end.' It's a motto that has guided Ballethnic's three-decade journey and will continue inspiring generations of dancers to come.