Welcome to Ballethnic’s Official Website!
Founded January 15, 1990 by husband and wife Waverly T. Lucas and Nena Y. Gilreath.
Ballethnic Dance Company Inc. (pronounced \bal-eth-nik\) creates access for dancers who in spite of proper training are overlooked. Elite training taught in the tradition of Dance Theatre of Harlem, Ballethnic creates and produces original Ballets relevant to it’s community. Increasing artistic opportunities and outlets for the community, Ballethnic Dance Company, Inc. is enhancing cultural diversity.
The organization is comprised of two components, Ballethnic Dance Company and Ballethnic Academy of Dance. The Company is a classically trained, culturally diverse performing company, while the Academy provides professional training for children and adults. It is our mission to involve the community, especially youth and those who are financially disadvantaged, in an appreciation of our unique art form.
Our mission
The mission of Ballethnic is to inform, educate and entertain through dance, using dance as a vehicle to impact the community by offering programs that act as a catalyst for social change.
Academy of Dance
- Programs – Nine months of Technical Training
- Summer Dance Diversity Intensive
- Ballethnic Youth Ensemble
- Danseur Development Project
- Major production opportunities such as Urban Nutcracker & The Leopard Tale
Dance Company
- Board of Directors
- Inner Circle
- Supporters
- Volunteer Form
- Booking Request Form
- Company Touring Info
Community
- Educational performances with Local Schools
- Partnerships with Senior Centers
- Community Performances
- Community Garden
Academy of Dance
Ballethnic Academy of Dance is the official school of Ballethnic Dance Company, Inc.
Providing a unique education through the art and discipline of dance, training is provided through a variety of dance techniques including Ballet, Pointe, Pre-Pointe, Pas De Deux, Modern, Jazz, Hip Hop, Tap, African, and Ballethnicize (an original style of dance developed by Co-Founder Waverly Lucas).
As a family oriented school, Ballethnic Academy of Dance’s educational approach stresses disciplined lives, sound bodies, and focused minds for both children and adults. Students keep journals to enhance their craft and concentrate on learning dance terminology as part of their training through reading, writing, and spelling skills. In addition to instruction, the Academy focuses on the full development of each student.
Instructors

Nena Gilreath
Co-Founder / Co-Artistic Director

Waverly T. Lucas, II
Co-Founder / Co-Artistic Director

Adam L. McKnight
Associate Artistic Director / Music Director / Vocal Coach

Lydia Abarca Mitchell
Ballet, Pointe & Rehearsal Coach

Theresa Freeman-Howard
African, Afroyoga & Jazz

Karla Tyson
Ballet & Pointe

Brittany Steele
Hip Hop

Deneen Graham-Kerns
Ballet, Pointe, Tap & Theatre Dance

Mona Scott
Tap

Calvin Gentry
Ballet & Pointe

Lauryn Lawrence
Ballet & Kiddie Ballethnicize

Kaila Carter
Ballet & Pre-Pointe
Join the Ballethnic Tribe to support its continuing vision!!
The Company
The Ballethnic Dance Company
The Ballethnic Dance Company is a classically trained, culturally diverse performing company, while the Academy of Dance provides professional training for children and adults. It is our mission to involve the community, especially youth and those who are financially disadvantaged, in an appreciation of our unique art form. Through our programming we instill in children an interest in the culture of dance and offer them new outlets for expression and enjoyment.
Ballethnic has also separated itself from other professional companies by creating and producing original productions, all which give local dancers and students of diverse backgrounds to participate.
Ballethnic’s Original Ballets
Ballethnic creates and produces original Ballets relevant to it’s community. Click on the images below to find out more!
Click image for description….
Video Gallery
Management Team

Nena Gilreath
Co-Founder / Co-Artistic Director

Waverly T. Lucas, II
Co-Founder / Co-Artistic Director

Adam L. McKnight
Associate Artistic Director / Music Director / Vocal Coach

Lisa Christopher
Interim Academy Administrator

Suzanne Gordon
Administrative Assistant