Business Details
50+ Years
experience
Your Premier Destination for Dance Education in Decatur, GA
Decatur School Of Ballet has been nurturing dance excellence since 1947, making it the oldest classical ballet school in DeKalb County. Our institution is built on a foundation of personalized instruction, offering ballet, jazz, tap, modern dance, and specialty styles for students of all ages and skill levels. We prioritize individual growth through tailored evaluations and a curriculum that balances technical mastery with creative expression. With a legacy spanning 78 years, our faculty combines deep industry experience with a commitment to fostering artistic development in a welcoming environment. We serve both recreational dancers and those pursuing professional careers, emphasizing inclusivity across diverse cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds.Our community impact extends through Decatur City Dance, providing performance opportunities and outreach programs that enrich metro Atlanta's cultural landscape. The school's evolutionfrom a small studio above an ice cream shoppe to two modern facilitiesreflects our enduring dedication to dance education. Thousands of alumni have benefited from our holistic approach, which values interpersonal growth alongside technical proficiency. As a nonprofit-affiliated institution, we maintain rigorous standards while remaining accessible to all aspiring dancers. This legacy of excellence continues under the leadership of owner Leslie Palmer Gourley, a former student and instructor with decades of institutional knowledge.
Services
Ballet
Jazz
Tap
Modern Dance
Creative Movement
Lyrical
Swing
Scottish Highland Dance
Details
- Year established: 1947
Highlights and features
- We offer 78 years of proven excellence in dance education
- Our faculty provides personalized evaluations for optimal class placement
- We teach 8 diverse dance styles from classical ballet to Scottish Highland
- Our alumni network includes professional dancers and instructors
- We maintain historic ties to Decatur City Dance's performing company
Services
Ballet
Our classical ballet program develops technical precision and artistic expression through graded levels from beginner to advanced. Students learn traditional techniques while building strength, flexibility, and performance skills. The curriculum prepares dancers for both recreational enjoyment and professional aspirations while maintaining the discipline's historic traditions.
Jazz
Jazz classes focus on rhythmic precision, dynamic movements, and stylistic versatility in contemporary dance forms. Students explore various jazz styles from Broadway to commercial dance while developing performance confidence and musicality. Classes emphasize safe technique while encouraging creative self-expression in a high-energy environment.
Tap
Tap instruction combines technical skill development with musical interpretation through percussive footwork. Our program accommodates all levels, teaching rhythm patterns, improvisation, and performance techniques. Students gain coordination and timing while participating in a dance form deeply rooted in African American cultural traditions.
Modern Dance
Modern dance classes emphasize creative expression through innovative movement vocabulary and floor work. Students explore body awareness, spatial dynamics, and emotional storytelling while building technical versatility. The program encourages artistic experimentation within structured technique frameworks for intermediate to advanced dancers.
Scottish Highland Dance
Specialty Scottish Highland dance instruction preserves traditional Celtic dance forms with authentic technique and costume. Students learn competition routines and performance pieces while understanding the cultural heritage behind each dance. This unique offering connects participants to historical dance traditions through precise footwork and athletic movements.
People
Leslie Palmer Gourley
Owner & Artistic Director
Leslie Palmer Gourley, a lifelong dance professional, purchased the school in 2018 after studying, dancing, and teaching there since 1980. Her extensive experience spans performance, choreography, and arts administration. Under her leadership, the school maintains its commitment to excellence while expanding community outreach programs. Gourley also directs Decatur City Dance, ensuring artistic continuity across educational and performance platforms.
Questions
What dance styles do you offer?
We teach ballet, jazz, tap, modern, lyrical, swing, creative movement, and Scottish Highland dance for all skill levels.
Do you accept adult students?
Yes, our programs welcome dancers of all ages with dedicated classes for teens and adults.
How are students placed in classes?
Individual evaluations assess age, technical level, and ability to ensure appropriate class placement for each student.
Is there a performance opportunity?
Students can audition for Decatur City Dance company, which offers six performing groups and community outreach performances.
What's your teaching philosophy?
We combine technical excellence with creative expression in a supportive environment that values individual growth and artistic development.
