Spotlight on Our Featured Performing Artists

GEORGIA DANCE THEATRE

Leading Artists

Georgia Dance Theatre Leading Artists are the Principal Dancers of a 40 member company.
Professional Artists lead the company in various genres of dance and performances. 
Georgia Dance Theatre performs approximately 14 productions each season which includes full length Nutcrackers, Nutcracker Teas,
Showcases of Classical and Contemporary Works at The Master Works Series, Arts Alive Gala, full length Classical and Contemporary Ballets,
Contemporary Productions, featured Artists of our Early Childhood Performances, and several outreach programs & performances.

Ballet dancer posing en pointe in pink skirt

ABIGAIL BUSBY

​Abigail Busby received her training from Atlanta Ballet and Mainstream Dance under the direction of Jaime Robtison. She has received additional training and scholarships from prestigious programs such as the School of American Ballet, Miami City Ballet, Rock School of Ballet, and the Covington Regional Ballet.

Ms. Busby has danced various roles in Atlanta Ballet’s Nutcracker Ballet and had the privilege of dancing the lead role of Sophie in Twyla Tharpe’s world premiere of the Princess and the Goblin. In addition, Ms. Busby performed in Terminus Modern Ballet Theatre’s “Italian Symphony” by Martha Goodman and Terminus Modern Ballet Theatre’s “Gust” by Tara Lee and “A step in three” by Heath Gill.

Ms. Busby danced the principal role of Clara in Georgia Dance Theatre's production of The Nutcracker Ballet.
She has danced the soloist role of the Crystal Fountain Fairy in Georgia Academy of Dance & the Performing Arts' production of The Sleeping Beauty. She has performed various lead roles such as Clara, Arabian, Dew Drop, and various soloist roles in Georgia Dance Theatre's Nutcracker Ballet . Ms. Busby performed the lead role of Sugar Plum Fairy in Georgia Dance Theatre's production of The Nutcracker Ballet in 2022.

Ms. Busby performed the lead role of the Stepsisters in Georgia Academy of Dance & the Performing Arts production of Cinderella in the 2022-23 Season. For Artistic Director Sherri Davis' original ballet of An American in Paris, Ms. Busby danced the soloist role of Street Artist in the 2023-2024 season.
In the 2024-2025 season, Ms. Busby danced the lead role of Lise' in GAD's production of La Fille Mal Gardee'.

Ms. Busby has been a leading artist with Georgia Dance Theatre since the 2020-2021 season.

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Ballet dancer lifted by partner on stage

SARA FALSTAD

Originally from Atlanta, Georgia, Sara Falstad began her ballet training with the Atlanta Ballet Centre for Dance Education, where she studied for 10 years before relocating to New Orleans in 2009. In New Orleans, Sara furthered her training at the Schramel Conservatory of Dance under the direction of Greg and Marjorie Hardwick Schramel before accepting a traineeship with the Charlotte Ballet Academy in 2012, and then a traineeship with the Joffrey Academy of Dance in 2013. During this time, she also enjoyed returning to New Orleans to dance in New Orleans Ballet Theatre’s The Nutcracker and Summer Solstice. In 2015, Sara’s career took her to the Sarasota Ballet, where she performed in ballets by Sir Kenneth MacMillan, Matthew Hart, George Balanchine, Dame Ninette de Valois, Anthony Tudor, and Sir Frederick Ashton. 

In 2017, she took the opportunity to dance internationally with Tokyo Disney Resort by joining their flagship live show One Man’s Dream II: The Magic Lives On, a Disney medley featuring many of Disney’s iconic characters. She remained in Japan for three years dancing in both title and ensemble roles until the show’s closing in December 2019. 

Upon her return to New Orleans in January 2020, Sara rejoined New Orleans Ballet Theatre as a company artist, where she performed in a variety of works, including the company’s productions of The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Giselle, and Cinderella, George Balanchine’s Concerto Barocco and Serenade, Tara Lee’s Under the Olive Tree, Diogo de Lima’s Esplanade, Oliver Halkowich’s Romeo + Juliet, Donald Jones Jr.’s A Suite Named Desire, and more. Featured roles included Snow Queen and Arabian (The Nutcracker), Summer Fairy (Cinderella), First Violin (Concerto Barocco), and Mina (Dracula). She also originated multiple roles in ballets choreographed by Gregory Schramel, Diogo de Lima, and Oliver Halkowich, including Mina in O. Halkowich’s Dracula and, most recently, Poli in O. Halkowich’s Sporting House.

While dancing for New Orleans Ballet Theatre, Sara also had opportunities to perform as a guest artist for Northwest Florida Ballet, appearing in their 2024 performances of Carmina Burana, a collaboration between Northwest Florida Ballet and the Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra with choreography by Gregory and Marjorie Schramel, and Todd Allen’s Afterglow. That same year, she returned to Northwest Florida Ballet as a guest artist in their mixed repertoire program “On the Edge,” revisiting T. Allen’s Afterglow and debuting a pas de deux choreographed by Rafael Ferreras. 

Excited to be back in Georgia, this is Sara’s first season with Georgia Dance Theatre. 

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Ballet dancer in red dress poised on pointe

​​​SYDNEY BYARS

Sydney Byars has trained for eight seasons with the Georgia Academy of Dance & the Performing Arts under the direction of Sherri Davis. She also received supplementary training from the Atlanta Ballet, where she had the privilege of participating in the world premiere of Yuri Possokhov’s *Nutcracker* in 2018, as well as in *Beauty and the Beast* by Bruce Wells with Atlanta Ballet’s second company.

Additionally, Ms. Byars has trained at the Nashville Ballet’s summer intensives. Within the Georgia Dance Theatre, she has performed various corps and soloist roles, including Shades in La Bayadere, the Hungarian Princess in Cinderella, Angel Fairy and Arabian lead in The Nutcracker Ballet.

Ms. Byars began her professional career with Georgia Dance Theatre as a Trainee in the 2023-2024 season. She has been a leading artist with company since the 2024-2025 season.

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Ballerina on pointe in white tutu, arabesque

​SOFIA ISETT

Sofia Isett's journey as a dancer began at the age of 4 at Georgia Academy of Dance & the Performing Arts. Since 2017, she has been an integral part of the non-profit performing company, Georgia Dance Theatre, where her talent has shone brightly.

Sofia's performances at GAD include unforgettable soloist roles such as the Shepherdess and Angel Fairy in The Nutcracker Ballet, as well as the Summer Fairy in Cinderella. She also mesmerized audiences with an excerpt of Lise from La Fille mal Gardee in GAD's Masterworks series.

Sofia Isett's dedication and passion for ballet have been recognized through various achievements. In 2022, she enriched her artistry at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts' summer dance program and continued to hone her craft at Nashville Ballet's summer intensive in 2023. Additionally, her talent has been acknowledged through acceptances into esteemed summer programs, including those at Texas Ballet Theatre, Atlanta Ballet, BalletMet, Oklahoma City Ballet, and Milwaukee Ballet. Through her hard work and commitment, Sofia continues to make her mark in the world of ballet.

Ms. Isett performed the principal role of Myrtha in Georgia Academy of Dance & the Performing Arts' production of Giselle in the 2025-2026 season.

Ms. Isett has been a leading artist for Georgia Dance Theatre since the 2024-2025 season.

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Ballerina in white tutu holding lilies

MARY BAILEY CAMPBELL

Mary Bailey (MB) embarked on her dance journey at the Alabama Dance Academy at the age of three. She subsequently enrolled at the Alabama Ballet, where she dedicated 12 years to her training under the guidance of Roger VanFleteren and Tracey Alvey, culminating in her graduation. While at Alabama Ballet, she followed the Royal Academy of Dance syllabus, achieving the top mark of “Distinction” multiple times on her annual exams.

Ms. Campbell became an Apprentice member of the professional Alabama Ballet company. She has performed notable roles, including “Woman 4” in Twyla Tharp’s Baker’s Dozen, “Peasant Pas” in Roger VanFleteren’s adaptation of Giselle, and “Drama” in VanFleteren’s Messin’ with Mozart. Other significant productions she has participated in include George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker, Western Symphony, and Serenade, as well as Dennis Nahat’s Blue Suede Shoes, Julia Eisen’s Alabama Pines, Aidan Nettles’ Equilibrium, Juan Castellanos’ Night on Cranberry Street, and Derek Rocas’ In The Stars.

Currently, Ms. Campbell is studying at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, where she is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology with a focus on Exercise Science. Her aspiration is to become a physical therapist specializing in care for dancers.

Ms. Campbell performed the lead role of Giselle in Georgia Academy of Dance & the Performing Arts production of Giselle for the 2025-2026 season.

Ms. Campbell has been a leading artist of Georgia Dance Theatre since the 2025-2026 season.

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Female dancer leaping gracefully in black dress

ARIANA SERRANO

Ariana Serrano received her ballet training in the Vaganova syllabus from Perm State Ballet under the direction of Russian's premier ballet teacher Olga Tozyiakova. She received additional dance training from Wilmington Ballet Company, State Street Ballet, Texas Ballet Theater, and the US International Ballet Company.
Along with her training in Classical Ballet, Ms. Serrano received training in Modern and Batsheva Repertoire from Hubbard Street Dance and Jazz and Flamenco from the Los Angeles Ballet. While receiving her dance education, Ms. Serrano had the special honor of performing at the International Ballet Festival (Tanzolymp) in Berlin and the Youth American Grand Prix where she was placed in the top 24 Senior Women's Classical Category.

While at the US International Ballet Company and the State Street Ballet, Ms. Serrano had the opportunity to be mentored by celebrated artists of dance such as Walter Angelini (LaScala Ballet School), Jonhal Fernandez, Rona Olarte, Ana Leyte, Javier Sanchez (National Ballet of Cuba), Kara Wilkes (Lines Ballet),
Debra Berger (New York City Ballet, Luigi Jazz Master Teacher), and Christina Sanchez (Alvin Ailey School).

As 1st Soloist of the professional company of the US International Ballet Company, Ms. Serrano has performed principal roles in US International Ballet's productions of Giselle, Don Quixote, Midsummer Night's Dream,  Nutcracker Ballet, and various contemporary works.
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Ms. Serrano has been a leading artist in Georgia Dance Theatre's professional company since the 2023-24 season.

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Ballet dancer in blue dress performing gracefully.

CORY EARNEST/TRAINEE

Cory Earnest received her dance training in multiple genres from the Georgia Academy of Dance & the Performing Arts and has been dancing with the Academy for the past 14 years. Ms. Earnest was a member of the pre-professional company of Georgia Dance Theatre. She has danced various soloist roles in multiple ballet and contemporary productions of the Academy.
Ms. Earnest is her in second season as a Trainee to the professional company of Georgia Dance Theatre.

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Mallory McDonnell cropped

MALLORY MCDONNELL/TRAINEE

Mallory McDonnell - additional information to follow

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Two actors performing on stage in costume.
Ballet dancer in red costume mid-leap.
Ballet dancer and costumed performer on stage.
Dancers in white veils performing on stage.
Dancers performing on stage with purple curtains.
Ballet dancer performing on stage with backdrop.
Ballet dancers performing in a library setting.
Dancers performing on stage with blue backdrop.