Giselle DiBlasi School of Ballet was created to bring beauty, movement and an appreciation for the arts to Henry County and beyond. Our objective is to offer children and adults the opportunity to embrace ballet, inspire artistry and self-expression. We share our passion and love of dance to each student and inspire them to grow and accomplish their dreams as both a dancer and a person.
Giselle DiBlasi Pugh
Owner / Director
GISELLE & PORTER
Giselle is originally from West Columbia, Texas. She studied with Margo & Dennis Marshall in Houston and was a member of the City Ballet of Houston—a Regional Dance America Southwest honor company—for five years. She attended several intensive summer workshops with the Boston Ballet, Houston Ballet, and the Joffrey Ballet in New York and San Antonio.
In 2002, Giselle received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Ballet Performance from the University of Oklahoma. There she studied under Mary Margaret Holt, Dennis Marshall, Allan Kinzie and Donn Edwards. She was chosen as a member of the Oklahoma Festival Ballet and had the opportunity to perform ballets such as Napoli, Balanchine's Serenade, The Sleeping Beauty Act III, excerpts from Paquita, The Nutcracker, Le Spectre de la Rose, and Carmina Burana. In addition, Giselle was selected to tour with the company to Nice, France in 2000 and Cancun, Mexico in 2002.
Giselle was a principal dancer with Atlanta Festival Ballet for 12 seasons, performing such roles as The Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker, Odetter/Odile in Swan Lake, Juliet in Romeo and Juliet, Aurora in The Sleeping Beauty, as well as many original works and full-length ballets. In addition to her performing career with AFB, Giselle also worked as Director of Operations with the school. Giselle has also taught and set choreography for Henry Arts Alliance Summer Camp, The Madison Studio for Dance Education, and Clayton County School's Alice in Wonderland, among others.
a letter from the director...
"Welcome to Giselle DiBlasi School of Ballet – a dance company that has afforded me the opportunity to give back to an art form that has given me so much. As a native of West Columbia, Texas and a graduate of Oklahoma University, I have lived and danced in McDonough, Georgia for over 15 years.
I welcome you to join me in my dream of introducing ballet to children and adults of all skill levels. Giselle DiBlasi School of Ballet offers a positive environment for students to flourish, and more importantly, discover the true beauty within themselves." ~ Giselle DiBlasi Pugh
Dani Qualls
Ballet Program Director
Dani grew up in Clayton/ Henry county. She began her ballet training at the age of 4 and quickly discovered how much she loved the art form. At the age of 10 she began seriously studying ballet under the instruction of Gregory Aaron and Nicolas Pacaña. While a student with Atlanta Festival Ballet, Dani preformed many soloist and lead rolls some of which included, sugar plum fairy, dew drop and Clara in The Nutcracker. Tinkerbell in Peter Pan, The White Rabbit in Alice in Wonderland, and many more.
At the age of 17 she was asked to join the professional company with Atlanta Festival Ballet where she continued to perform soloist rolls until the end of her career in 2010. Dani received many full scholarships to summer intensives including Walnut Hill, Boston Ballet, and The Rock School. After a 7 year break Dani is so excited to be back in the art form that continues to touch her life every single day. She is passionate about sharing the knowledge she has been taught with the newest generation of dancers.