Aaron Atkins is originally from Lancaster, South Carolina and gained notoriety at an early age as a contemporary ballet dancer before attending the prestigious Greenville South Carolina's South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities.

 

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As a contemporary ballet dancer, Mr. Atkins debuted at the young age of 17 with Classical Contemporary Ballet Theatre and Ballet Savannah as a principal dancer in 2007. Mr. Atkins also performed with South Carolina’s Columbia City Ballet; and York County Ballet that same year. Additionally, he worked as choreographer, co-director, and make-up artist for the Lancaster Community Playhouse and received The Director’s Choice Award and Best Make-up Artistry in 2006 for his work in stage play version of Oliver. Mr. Atkins relocated to New York in 2010 continuing his artistic and performance endeavors. He worked with Ballet Hispanico and was a founding company member of BH Dos the second company of Ballet Hispanico.

 

As an emerging choreographer, Mr. Atkins was has received the 2014-2018 Jamaica Performing Arts Center Emerging choreographer’s award, 2015 Rider University Emerging Choreographer’s Award, 2015 Lounsbery Choreography Award, was a 2015 Finalist of the Hubbard Street Choreographer Competition, 2014 & 2015 YCF Young Choreographer’s Award recipient and was an Finalist in 2013 & 2014 for the Joffrey Ballet – Choreographers of Color Award. Mr. Atkins has been commissioned for creation of new work  by Jamaica Performing arts center, 92Y, Rider University, Winthrop University, SC School District to note a few. Atkins’s choreography has become internationally and nationally critically acclaimed as “Beautiful, Quirky, Lush and Expansive” - Critical Dance -. Mr. Atkins combines an eclectic accessible range of genres of dance to create an individual contemporary ballet esthetic that showcases each artist’s uniqueness and prowess.

 

In 2012 Mr. Atkins Founded Ballet Inc. Since Ballet Inc.’s founding by Mr. Atkins, his artistic vision and choreography has led Ballet Inc. to commendable, international credibility and groundbreaking success.  Ballet Inc. annually appears Nationally and International in Prestigious Dance Festivals, self-produced full length productions during the  spring, winter and fall seasons  to sold out success. annually reaches over 10,000 Patrons to the arts via social media, touring engagements and self-produced productions; becoming Critically acclaimed as “Hard-hitting..Powerful..Beautiful..Sensual” -Broadway World Dance-

 

In 2016 Ballet Inc. curated an Artist Exchange festival entitled The Series. The Series's Annual mission is to choose 25 Emerging choreographers with 1 to 5 years of professional experience as a choreographer to share their artistic voice on a professionally recognized live performance platform. In hopes, of creating choreographic opportunities for emerging contemporary dance artist to collaborate, cultivate and present their work.

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Most Recently, Ballet Inc. has opened Ballet Inc. Studios, located in the heart of  Rock hill South Carolina, near the home town of Mr. Atkins. It has been his life mission to bring Ballet Inc.'s Mission back to his hometown.