Director | Sherri Davis
As founder and director of Georgia Academy of Dance & the Performing Arts, Sherri Davis exudes her passion for dance & the performing arts through teaching aspiring artists who desire to learn the joy of movement. With a combined total of over 30 years of experience as a professional dancer, choreographer and dance educator, Ms. Davis has taken her professional training and experience and promoted her art form in a variety of genres such as opera, theater, classical ballet and contemporary.
At the age of 13, Ms. Davis received a full, residential scholarship to the Tidewater Ballet Association of Virginia where she left her home to study dance full time. Additionally, she trained with Mississippi Ballet Theatre, Joffrey Ballet of New York, School of American Ballet of New York, and the Pennsylvania Ballet under full scholarship. Ms. Davis has also received a scholarship to the prestigious school of American Ballet Theatre of New York.
Ms. Davis has performed with such prestigious companies as Georgia Dance Theatre, Mississippi Ballet Theatre, Richmond Ballet, and Virginia Ballet Theatre and as a guest artist with various companies and venues throughout the Southeast. Additionally, Ms. Davis has been a guest artist with the Virginia Opera, the Virginia Symphony Orchestra, and the Atlanta Symphony.
As Artistic Director and choreographer, Ms. Davis has re-staged and choreographed full length ballets, contemporary works and created original works for the stage with critical acclaim. These works include her original full length ballets such as Peter Pan, Alice in Wonderland, and The Three Musketeers. Ms. Davis has presented world premieres of her original full-length ballets of West Side Story, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and Jane Eyre to sold out audiences.
Ms. Davis has also written and produced the original full length ballet, The Growing Up of Annabell Potts, a story of a young girl growing up in the South with the knowledge of war soon approaching her homeland. As a contemporary choreographer, Ms. Davis has created original contemporary works such as Trio, Angels, The Rock Ballet, and Resurgam, as well as producing 33 seasons of contemporary and early childhood productions for Georgia Academy of Dance & the Performing Arts.
Believing that dance can bring courage, perseverance, and self-esteem to any child, Ms. Davis strives to offer a positive and challenging environment for every budding artist to achieve his/her highest potential. To help attain this goal, she established the non-profit company, Georgia Dance Theatre, in 1990, to offer an avenue for those who are interested in pursuing a more serious place in dance. For artistic excellence, this performing company has received support and commendations from the Georgia Council of the Arts, The National Endowment of the Arts, and the Governor's Office of the state of Georgia. As Artistic Director, Ms. Davis has been commended by the Georgia Council of the Arts for her professional experience, for upholding artistic standards in the arts, and for her community leadership and commendations. She has written and secured grants for Georgia Dance Theatre throughout the existence of the company.
Students of Georgia Academy of Dance & the Performing Arts and Georgia Dance Theatre artists have received scholarships, acceptances and invitations to join professional companies from all over the United States and abroad. Additionally students and artists have received scholarships to prominent colleges and universities for their artistic abilities. Many of her alumni have careers in the performing arts as professional dancers, educators, choreographers, actors, directors and arts advocates.
In 1996, Ms. Davis established Georgia Dance Theatre Professional Company, for those continuing their dance careers on a professional level. And in 2006, Ms. Davis extended Georgia Academy of Dance into Georgia Academy of Dance & the Performing Arts as a way to include additional forms of arts education.
Ms. Davis served on the Board of Directors of the Fayette County Chamber of Commerce for 6 years and was selected for Chamber leadership due to her "influential leadership qualities as to foster growth and vibrancy of the arts within the local community". In addition she served on the Government Affairs Committee and has served on the Board Member Selection Committee & Economic Development Committee of the Fayette Chamber. She has served on the Place Committee of Fayette Visioning of Fayette County. Ms. Davis is a partner with the Fayette and Coweta County Board of Education Mentorship Work Study Programs and had membership with the Coweta County Chamber of Commerce. Ms. Davis also serves as the Artistic Director of Georgia Dance Theatre and she is the CEO of The Dancer’s Boutique and Managing Member of Davis Properties, LLC.
In 2017, Georgia Academy of Dance & the Performing Arts was named Small Business of the Year in the Employer Category from the Newnan-Coweta Chamber of Commerce. In 2015, Georgia Academy of Dance & the Performing Arts was listed among the nominees for Small Business of the Year for Fayette County.
In 2019, the Arts Council of Fayette County was formed by Ms. Davis as its' founder. The Arts Council was formed to cultivate, celebrate, and offer platforms for the Creatives in our community.
At the age of 13, Ms. Davis received a full, residential scholarship to the Tidewater Ballet Association of Virginia where she left her home to study dance full time. Additionally, she trained with Mississippi Ballet Theatre, Joffrey Ballet of New York, School of American Ballet of New York, and the Pennsylvania Ballet under full scholarship. Ms. Davis has also received a scholarship to the prestigious school of American Ballet Theatre of New York.
Ms. Davis has performed with such prestigious companies as Georgia Dance Theatre, Mississippi Ballet Theatre, Richmond Ballet, and Virginia Ballet Theatre and as a guest artist with various companies and venues throughout the Southeast. Additionally, Ms. Davis has been a guest artist with the Virginia Opera, the Virginia Symphony Orchestra, and the Atlanta Symphony.
As Artistic Director and choreographer, Ms. Davis has re-staged and choreographed full length ballets, contemporary works and created original works for the stage with critical acclaim. These works include her original full length ballets such as Peter Pan, Alice in Wonderland, and The Three Musketeers. Ms. Davis has presented world premieres of her original full-length ballets of West Side Story, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and Jane Eyre to sold out audiences.
Ms. Davis has also written and produced the original full length ballet, The Growing Up of Annabell Potts, a story of a young girl growing up in the South with the knowledge of war soon approaching her homeland. As a contemporary choreographer, Ms. Davis has created original contemporary works such as Trio, Angels, The Rock Ballet, and Resurgam, as well as producing 33 seasons of contemporary and early childhood productions for Georgia Academy of Dance & the Performing Arts.
Believing that dance can bring courage, perseverance, and self-esteem to any child, Ms. Davis strives to offer a positive and challenging environment for every budding artist to achieve his/her highest potential. To help attain this goal, she established the non-profit company, Georgia Dance Theatre, in 1990, to offer an avenue for those who are interested in pursuing a more serious place in dance. For artistic excellence, this performing company has received support and commendations from the Georgia Council of the Arts, The National Endowment of the Arts, and the Governor's Office of the state of Georgia. As Artistic Director, Ms. Davis has been commended by the Georgia Council of the Arts for her professional experience, for upholding artistic standards in the arts, and for her community leadership and commendations. She has written and secured grants for Georgia Dance Theatre throughout the existence of the company.
Students of Georgia Academy of Dance & the Performing Arts and Georgia Dance Theatre artists have received scholarships, acceptances and invitations to join professional companies from all over the United States and abroad. Additionally students and artists have received scholarships to prominent colleges and universities for their artistic abilities. Many of her alumni have careers in the performing arts as professional dancers, educators, choreographers, actors, directors and arts advocates.
In 1996, Ms. Davis established Georgia Dance Theatre Professional Company, for those continuing their dance careers on a professional level. And in 2006, Ms. Davis extended Georgia Academy of Dance into Georgia Academy of Dance & the Performing Arts as a way to include additional forms of arts education.
Ms. Davis served on the Board of Directors of the Fayette County Chamber of Commerce for 6 years and was selected for Chamber leadership due to her "influential leadership qualities as to foster growth and vibrancy of the arts within the local community". In addition she served on the Government Affairs Committee and has served on the Board Member Selection Committee & Economic Development Committee of the Fayette Chamber. She has served on the Place Committee of Fayette Visioning of Fayette County. Ms. Davis is a partner with the Fayette and Coweta County Board of Education Mentorship Work Study Programs and had membership with the Coweta County Chamber of Commerce. Ms. Davis also serves as the Artistic Director of Georgia Dance Theatre and she is the CEO of The Dancer’s Boutique and Managing Member of Davis Properties, LLC.
In 2017, Georgia Academy of Dance & the Performing Arts was named Small Business of the Year in the Employer Category from the Newnan-Coweta Chamber of Commerce. In 2015, Georgia Academy of Dance & the Performing Arts was listed among the nominees for Small Business of the Year for Fayette County.
In 2019, the Arts Council of Fayette County was formed by Ms. Davis as its' founder. The Arts Council was formed to cultivate, celebrate, and offer platforms for the Creatives in our community.
Small Business of the Year 2017
of Coweta County Newnan-Coweta Chamber |
Small Business of the Year Nominee of 2015
Fayette County Board of Directors 2014-2020 |
Arts Council of Fayette County
Founder