Building a New generation of dance
Our Story
ROOTED IN ART. GROWING THROUGH COMMUNITY.
WHERE TRAINING, PERFORMANCE, AND PURPOSE COME TOGETHER.
Southern Arc Dance was founded in Newnan, Georgia, in 2013 by Paulo Manso de Sousa and Will Slay Jr. Their shared vision was to create a place where professional-quality dance training, artistic expression, live performance, and meaningful community service could grow together.
Drawing from Paulo’s extensive international career as a professional dancer, choreographer, instructor, coach, and artistic director, Southern Arc Dance began with a commitment to strong technique and genuine artistry. Will brought decades of leadership, hospitality, and community-building experience to the organization, helping transform that artistic vision into a welcoming and sustainable home for dancers and families.
Over the years, Southern Arc Dance has grown into a multifaceted arts organization serving children, teens, adults, professional artists, and individuals with a wide range of abilities. Through dance education, professional performances, community festivals, school programs, and inclusive movement classes, Southern Arc Dance continues to create opportunities for people to learn, perform, connect, and experience the power of the arts.
TWO PARTS. ONE SHARED VISION.
SOUTHERN ARC DANCE CENTER
Southern Arc Dance Center provides dance education for children, teens, and adults. Students are encouraged to develop strong technique, confidence, discipline, creativity, and the freedom to express themselves through movement.
Classes and programs are designed to support dancers at different ages, experience levels, and stages of life, from a child’s first dance class to continued adult training.
Button: Explore the Dance Center
SOUTHERN ARC DANCE THEATER
Southern Arc Dance Theater is a Newnan-based professional dance company and nonprofit organization producing original neoclassical and contemporary works, seasonal performances, and collaborative artistic experiences.
The theater provides opportunities for professional artists and emerging choreographers while bringing innovative dance productions to Newnan, Coweta County, and audiences beyond the local community.
Our values
Inclusivity and Diversity:
Southern Arc Dance Center is proud to be among the most inclusive and diverse Dance Organizations. We support our community and everyone in it, regardless of race, color, gender, age, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, and socio-economic background.
The vision of Southern Arc Dance Center is to bring into existence an enviable forum for teaching and learning the absolute best of dance and movement. Atop a foundation of superb technique and mutual respect, teacher and student will have the freedom to create and express their most authentic selves using elements for inspiration from many of the Fine Arts forms, such as music, voice, theatre, film, photography, paintings and the written word.
We are proud to provide the place for dancers and movers of all ages and international diversities to achieve and/or surpass their goals in terms of physical, emotional and creative well-being. Those with the talent and desire to make a career of dance or movement will have our unwavering support, time and vast array of contacts in order to help make their dreams come true.
Southern Arc Dance Center is committed to seeking out and encouraging the joyful dancer and mover in every student who walks through these doors not only today, but for generations to come.
The mission of Southern Arc Dance Center is to provide a supportive environment for learning and creative expression of the highest caliber in every genre of dance and movement, uniquely drawing inspiration from all aspects of the Fine Arts.
Our Goal is to provide a fun supportive environment for the development of creativity through the art of dance and movement, while providing the absolute best education in the discipline, technique, musicality, and artistry that is dance. We are committed to collaborating with all art forms focusing on the similarities. We are also determined to make every effort to reach out to those in the community who are currently not represented in the dance schools in our area realizing the importance of diversity as we continue to educate a new generation of performing artist, and art lovers. We will continually look for new and exciting venues for performance experiences, in our journey to become a renowned world class institution.