Nena Gilreath: Dancing Beyond Boundaries
Nena Gilreath, a retired professional ballerina, is a visionary leader, culture-shifter, and one of the few women to found and lead a ballet company for over three decades. A proud graduate of the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, she performed with Ruth Mitchell Dance Theater, the Atlanta Ballet, and the Dance Theatre of Harlem. Her greatest impact came from addressing what was missing in the ballet world—representation, access, and opportunity. In 1990, alongside her husband, Waverly T. Lucas II, she co-founded Ballethnic Dance Company and Academy of Dance, pioneering a distinctive style of classical ballet fused with African dance concepts danced sur la pointe.
Through original storytelling, like their signature production The Leopard Tale, Gilreath has redefined what ballet can look like and who it is for, building a nationally recognized institution with a global footprint. Her legacy is rooted in mentoring and transforming lives through dance—from young children to college students and seasoned elders. As the original “Brown Sugar” in Ballethnic’s Urban Nutcracker, her innovation sparked cultural change throughout the South. Today, Gilreath continues building pipelines of opportunity for future generations on the East Point, Georgia street renamed Ballethnic Way.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN:
- How representation in the arts creates lasting cultural and generational change.
- Why perseverance and long-term vision build institutions that outlive individual careers.
- How to transform passion into a mission-driven organization with global impact.
- That leadership in traditionally exclusive spaces can redefine industry standards.
- Why access, inclusion, and opportunity are essential to sustainable community empowerment.
- How dance and creative disciplines become tools for education, workforce development, and healing.
- That innovation often comes from challenging traditions while honoring cultural heritage.
- How building opportunities for youth and elders strengthens entire communities.
- Why authentic storytelling through art can shift perspectives across generations and cultures.
- That lasting influence comes from creating pathways others can continue long after you.
about the show
Next Level CEO is a high-impact business educational series hosted by Daymond John, designed to spotlight the world’s most elite and insightful entrepreneurs.
In each episode, Daymond’s handpicked expert CEOs, founders, and industry leaders who’ve built powerful brands, scaled successfully, and led with vision, share their story and expertise. From disruptive startups to billion-dollar empires, Next Level CEO gives viewers a front-row seat to the real strategies, mindset shifts, and leadership moves behind business excellence.
This is what works.
It’s a rare look inside the minds of those who’ve actually built something that lasts.
Whether you’re an entrepreneur looking to grow, a business owner ready to level up, or a leader who’s hungry to learn from the best, Next Level CEO delivers the playbook from those who’ve already won.
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