Our Mission

The Griffin Ballet Theatre is a 501c3 non-profit organization dedicated to enriching the cultural life of the community by developing a deeper appreciation of ballet and other forms of dance. We provide an opportunity for talented young dancers to work and perform in a professional atmosphere, and perform as a company to present high-quality performances to our entire region.

Meet our Artistic Staff

Mitch Flanders

Founding Artistic Director

Ashley V. Barnes

Artistic Director

Mitch Flanders

Founding Artistic Director

Mitch Flanders began his dance journey with the Atlanta Ballet and earned a scholarship to the School of American Ballet in New York City. After graduation, he joined the Eglevsky Ballet, performing lead roles in Balanchine ballets such as "Serenade," "Four Temperaments," "Allegro Brillante," and "Swan Lake," partnering with NYC Ballet principal dancer Allegra Kent.

Mr. Flanders then joined the Chicago City Ballet under Maria Tallchief, performing with Suzanne Farrell, including the prince in Paul Mejia's "Cinderella" and in PBS's "Dance in America." He also guest danced with the Lyric Opera in Chicago.

As a principal dancer with the Los Angeles Ballet, he performed across the U.S. and internationally with stars like Mikhail Baryshnikov and Gelsey Kirkland. His career highlights include performances with the Metropolitan Opera alongside Luciano Pavarotti and Placido Domingo. His television credits feature "Live at the Met" and the Lyric Opera of Chicago's "Eugene Onegin."

Mr. Flanders has taught at The New Jersey Ballet School, New Dance Studio NYC, Providence Ballet, and served as ballet master for The Ballet Rotaru of Atlanta, the Georgia Ballet, and The Rock School. He was also a grant panelist for the Georgia Council for the Arts.

For the past 26 years, he has been the Artistic Director of Griffin Ballet Theatre and owner of Studio D School of Dance. He directs the Festival Dance Camp at the University of Georgia and has created numerous full-length ballets, including "Peter Pan," "Robin Hood," "Coppelia," "Cinderella," "The Little Mermaid," "The Armed Man," "The Love Project," and "Nutcracker." Under his leadership, many dancers have joined prestigious institutions such as the American Ballet Theatre, Houston Ballet, The Rock School, and Joffrey Ballet.

Ashley V. Barnes

Artistic Director

Ashley hails from Griffin, Georgia, where she began her dance journey at the age of four under the guidance of Mitch Flanders. What started as a love for movement quickly grew into a lifelong devotion to the art of ballet. For over eighteen years, she has shared that passion at Studio D and has been a cornerstone of The Griffin Ballet Theatre for twenty-five years serving as Ballet Mistress for a decade before stepping into her current role as Artistic Director. She has also directed the University of Georgia’s Festival Dance Camp and served as an adjudicator for the Governor’s Honors Dance Program, helping young artists find their own voice through dance.

Ashley’s continued pursuit of knowledge has led her to train with renowned teachers such as Kat Wildish, Patricia Miller, Paulo Manso De Sousa, Finis Jhung, David Howard, David Norwood, Carol Szkutek, and Anne-Sophie Rodriguez. These experiences have deeply shaped her teaching philosophy, that one that blends structure, artistry, and heart. She believes ballet offers something far greater than steps and technique; it teaches perseverance, humility, grace, and the courage to express one’s truest self.

Throughout her performing career, Ashley has embodied both classical and contemporary roles with authenticity and joy—appearing in Cinderella, Giselle, Firebird, Peter Pan, Alice in Wonderland, The Little Mermaid, Coppélia, Don Quixote, and The Nutcracker. She has also performed with the Savannah Danse Company and in Griffin Ballet Theatre productions such as The Love Project with “The Return”, The Armed Man, A Mother’s Tears with “The Griffin Choral Arts”, and “South Carolina Ballet”’s Dracula, Aladdin, and The Lion King. Her artistry has extended beyond the stage into commercial modeling, music videos, and seven years of service as a choreographer and Assistant Director at Oak Hill Baptist Church.

As Artistic Director, Ashley remains deeply committed to preserving and advancing the art of ballet within her community. She strives to ensure that every dancer who walks through the studio doors experiences the same joy, focus, and inspiration that first sparked her own love of dance keeping the beauty and legacy of the performing arts alive for generations to come.