Southern Performing Arts Academy

Join SBT on Sunday March 29 from 3:00-5:00 for Alice’s Mad Hatter Tea Party at Southern Performing Arts Academy!

https://www.southernballettheatre.com/events/alices-mad-hatter-tea-party

Join us for a delightfully curious afternoon filled with magic and mischief. Enjoy enchanting excerpts from Alice in Wonderland, snap photos with your favorite Wonderland characters, create imaginative arts and crafts, and indulge in delicious tea party treats worthy of the Queen herself. Don’t be late to this very important date!

*Alice’s Mad Hatter Tea Party is for ages 10 and under. Parents must purchase a “Parent Ticket” to accompany children 4 and under.

Thank you for making us Best of Gwinnett since 2018! Our amazing staff, dancers and parents make us who we are!!

Stop by the Southern Performing Arts Academy on your way to dance class or the Atlanta Christkindl Market to snap some pics with our glowing dancers — and don’t forget to take a seat on our sparkling ice throne! ❄️✨
Tag us in your photos! 📸💫

Flashback Friday to some of our Halloween fun at the studio!

Fabulous start to our 2025-2026 season! Can’t believe it’s already October! Love our dancers!

S E N I O R S P O T L I G H T

Today we celebrate: Caralena Ondre

Caralena has been dancing with SPAA for 15 years and been a part of SBT for 8 years. She will be attending the University of Cincinnati majoring in Ballet.

Caralena graduated from Peachtree Ridge High School with honors and was a part of the Dance and Theatre Department there. She was also co-captain of the Ridge Varsity Dance Team for two years and a 2x State Championship winner for the dance team as well. Caralena also attended the Governors Honors Program in 2024.

Words from our senior:

“My favorite memory of being apart of SBT has to be getting ready with all my friends in the dressing room before a performance. All the girls putting on their eye makeup and friends doing friends hair, it is such a warm environment to be apart of. I am going to miss all these moments, love you guys.”

Congrats Caralena!

S E N I O R S P O T L I G H T

Today we celebrate: Taylor Keister

Taylor danced with SPAA and SBT for 3 years. She will be attending Georgia Southern University majoring in Elementary Education and will also be competing with their dance team.

Taylor graduated from Mill Creek High School, where she was in the dance program along with the Varsity Dance Team all four years. She was an officer of the National Dance Honors Society, a dance composition student and a 2x winner of the State Championship for dance team.

Words from our senior:

“One of my favorite memories is coming out to the front after the last Grinch show and getting to talk and take pictures with all the kids. My advice for younger dancers- don’t forget to smile :)”

Congrats Taylor!

S E N I O R S P O T L I G H T

Today we celebrate: Joshua Bowen

Joshua danced with SPAA and SBT for 2 years.

Joshua graduated from Peachtree Ridge High School with over 20 dance and theatre shows under his belt. He received many awards including the All Star Cast award for his performance in “Pippin’”in his junior year, and two State Championships for the Ridge Varsity Dance Team. After high school, Joshua plans to stay local and pursue professional dance and theatre opportunities and will later attend college to pursue musical theatre.

Words from our senior:

“My favorite memory is becoming friends with all of the dancers here at SPAA and how welcoming they were to a random freshman, who had never danced a day of his life, coming in to be there King Triton. I never would’ve thought one day I was going to be officially dancing with them onstage. “

Congrats Joshua!

S E N I O R S P O T L I G H T

Today we celebrate: Addie Miller

Addie danced with SPAA for 14 years and SBT for 8 years.

Addie graduated from Brookwood High School with honors, and plans to attend the University of Alabama double majoring in Kinesiology and Dance with hopes of pursuing a career in Sports Medicine.

Words from our senior:

“One of my favorite memories from SBT will always be the performances, but the one that holds a special place in my heart is Peter Pan. I had the opportunity to fly and perform as Tinker Bell, and what made it even more unforgettable was that my dad was my flying operator. Sharing that moment with him made the experience even more meaningful and trunforgettable.”

Congrats Addie!!

S E N I O R S P O T L I G H T

Today we celebrate: Erika Hudson

Erika danced with SPAA for two years!

She graduated from Fusion Academy and will be attending the Institute for American Musical Theater (IAMT) in New York City. She will be training in musical theater and getting taught by current working broadway professionals for the next two years! 

Words from our senior:

“Younger dancers- take advantage of every learning opportunity you can. Never stop learning. Also, find the people who you want on your team. Get people around you that will tell you the truth but at the same time don’t let all of the other opinions around you affect you.”

Congrats Erika!

✨S E N I O R S P O T L I G H T ✨

Today we celebrate: Kayla Todd

Kayla has been dancing with SPAA since she was 6 in Ms. Angela’s Special Ed Dance Class.

Kayla graduated from Peachtree High School with a general education diploma and received her academic letter award during her junior year of high school. She received the Council Exceptional Children Outstanding Achievement award in elementary school and received the Principal’s Award in middle school for earning straight A’s and another award in middle school for straight A’s in 6th-8th grades. Kayla participated in the Exceptional Athletics Program where played soccer for 3 years and also participated in a Special Needs Girl Scout troop for 4 years. She won the title of Miss Incredible in 2023 and won the Miss Sunshine in 2024 and 2025 for The Miss Incredible pageant.

Kayla will attend the Buice Center in the fall under the ADAPT program. She would like to one day become a chef.

Congrats Kayla!