Paulo’s work extends beyond the stage into media, cultural events, and interdisciplinary collaborations. He has appeared in MTV music videos with artists such as Gloria Estefan and Laura Branigan and has collaborated with organizations including the Discovery Channel, New World School of the Arts, Teatro Avante, and Alaska Dance Theater. His choreographic commissions include major cultural events, benefit galas, and theatrical productions in both the United States and Portugal.
Now residing in Newnan, Georgia, Paulo brings his global perspective and deep artistic heritage to Southern Arc Dance Theatre and Southern Arc Dance Center, which he founded in 2013. Through these organizations, he is committed to cultivating excellence in performance while mentoring and educating the next generation of dancers. Paulo continues to be sought after as a guest instructor and choreographer both nationally and internationally, sharing his passion for dance as an expressive, transformative art form.
founding Artistic Diector
Paulo Manso de Sousa
Paulo Manso de Sousa is an internationally respected dancer, choreographer, ballet master, and educator, born on the island of Madeira, Portugal. He began his professional career at the age of 15 with Oakland Ballet, where he worked alongside legendary artists and choreographers, laying the foundation for a lifelong international career in dance.
Professional Performance & Touring
Performed with major ballet and contemporary companies across the United States and Europe, including Miami City Ballet, Metropolitan Opera Ballet, Ballet Oklahoma, Ballet Concierto de Puerto Rico, Ballet Biarritz, Alaska Dance Theater, and Charleston Ballet
Toured internationally with Edward Villella and Dancers, Dennis Wayne’s DANCERS, and Fernando Bujones
Maintains an extensive repertory spanning classical ballet, contemporary ballet, and modern works from Balanchine to Paul Taylor
Artistic Leadership, Choreography & Ballet Master Work
Served as Artistic Director of Companhia de Dança de Aveiro in Portugal, creating original works including a major Mozart Year collaboration with the University of Aveiro and Filarmonia das Beiras
Worked as Ballet Master with companies such as Nevada Ballet Theatre, the National Ballet of Belgrade, Companhia Portuguesa de Bailado Contemporâneo, and Ayumi Ballet in Tokyo
Directed his own company, MAN-SO-DANCE, and choreographed for international festivals, theaters, and cultural organizations
Education & Teaching
Trained at San Francisco Ballet School, Oakland Ballet, and the School of American Ballet in New York
Studied under renowned teachers including Maggie Black, David Howard, Melissa Hayden, and Edward Villella
Taught at leading institutions such as Atlanta Ballet, Emory University, the University of Georgia, the Vaganova Academy, Ballet Gulbenkian, and numerous professional schools and companies throughout Europe and the United States
Founding Operations Director
Will D. Slay
Willie “Will” Slay, Jr. brings more than 40 years of experience in the hospitality and service industry to his role as Director of Operations at Southern Arc Dance, which he co founded in 2013. His background in restaurant leadership and management has provided a strong foundation in operations, customer experience, and community focused service.
At Southern Arc Dance, Will helps guide a mission centered on accessibility, inclusion, and artistic growth. The school serves students ages 3 to 85 and offers specialized programs for individuals with Parkinson’s disease, balance and flexibility challenges, and children with special needs. Under his leadership, Southern Arc Dance has become an integral part of the Newnan arts community and includes an on site art gallery where local artists can showcase and sell their work.
Will also serves as Chairman of the Board for Southern Arc Dance Theatre, the organization’s 501(c)(3) professional dance company. In addition, he is a founding board member and Treasurer of the Coweta Collective Arts Network of Georgia and serves on the steering committee for the Season of Strength Project, further supporting arts advocacy and community initiatives.
With decades of hands on leadership experience, Will plays a vital role in the operational strength and sustainability of Southern Arc Dance. He believes dance is more than movement. It is a living art form that reflects emotion, creativity, and freedom. Through dance education, Will is committed to helping cultivate confident, expressive, and well rounded human beings.
Will
Paulo
About Us
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.