Nena Gilreath, East Athens Educational Dance Center Program Supervisor, was recently honored by Georgia Governor Brian Kemp with a Governor’s Award for the Arts and Humanities.
These awards recognize and honor individuals and organizations that have made outstanding contributions to the civic or cultural vitality of the state.
She is a former Dance Theatre of Harlem and Atlanta Ballet dancer, who was honored for her work in establishing the Ballethnic Dance Company which is a classically trained, culturally diverse arts organization providing training and performance opportunities to professional and pre-professional dancers, children, and emerging artists. Ballethnic Dance has distinguished itself from other professional ballet companies by its unique and authentic praxis of blending ballet with African dance concepts.
In 2017, Nena joined the Athens-Clarke County Leisure Services Department as the East Athens Educational Dance Center Program Supervisor. The Dance Center provides a variety of dance programs, dance education, and summer camps for children, teens, and adults. Each year an annual production is presented at the historic Morton Theatre.
The Governor’s Awards for the Arts and Humanities honor outstanding individuals and organizations who have significantly contributed to Georgia’s civic and cultural vitality through excellence and service to the arts and humanities. Presented by the Office of the Governor in partnership with the Georgia Council for the Arts and Georgia Humanities, the Governor’s Awards recognize the value of the arts and humanities in creating a thriving economy and their contributions to education, innovation, growth, and quality of life. The Governor’s Awards pay tribute to the most distinguished citizens and organizations that have demonstrated a lifetime commitment to the arts.