Our History

Founded in 1991 by Artistic Director Joan Kall Stewart, Sawnee Ballet Theatre is a 501(c)3 non-profit performing company in Cumming, Georgia. Through Ms. Stewart’s leadership and creativity, SBT became well known as a leading provider of quality dance performances and dance training in Forsyth County. Upon her retirement in 2016, Courtney Bromwich was named the succeeding Artistic Director. Ms. Bromwich strives to continue the legacy of providing high quality dance training and performances, expanding not only SBT’s classical repertoire, but jazz, modern, and contemporary dance as well.

Sawnee Ballet Theatre is housed in the studios of Sawnee School of the Arts formerly named Sawnee School of Ballet and produces three major productions a year. SBT provides the Forsyth community with cutting edge dance works, family-oriented ballets and its wildly popular production of The Nutcracker. The company has also proudly produced many dancers who have been accepted in prestigious summer intensive programs such as The Rock, North Carolina School of Arts, Boston Ballet, Bolshoi Ballet, School of American Ballet, Orlando Ballet, and the American Ballet Theatre. Dancers have also received scholarships to pursue dance collegiately at Belhaven University, the Joffrey School of Ballet, Kennesaw State University, Point Park University and Brenau University. Several alumni have gone on to dance with Carolina Ballet, Alonzo King Lines, and Terminus Modern Ballet Theatre as trainees and company members.  Sawnee Ballet Theatre aims to continue celebrating life through dance for many more years to come.