Samara Michelle founded Journey Performing Arts Center in 2004 to provide quality dance instruction in the heart of Atlanta. A native of Detroit, she studied and performed varied dance forms such as ballet, jazz, modern and hip-hop.
Dance has taken Samara Michelle across the country, where she has toured and performed in a number of venues. She has been honored at the Michigan Youth Arts Festival for her choreography, performed in the acclaimed All City Dance concerts across Michigan, appeared at Detroit’s premier Music Hall, and been featured at Detroit’s Cobo Hall .
In January 2007, Samara founded the Journey Dance Company. This ensemble of professionally trained dancers fuses classical ballet technique with modern, jazz, and nuances of street hip-hop. The JDC has performed throughout the metro Atlanta community including The Sweet Auburn Festival, the Independent Black Film Festival, Oglethorpe University, Morris Brown College and Georgia State University.
Samara received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Health and Physical Education from Clark Atlanta University and her Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Georgia State University. She went on to serve in Cobb County School’s Central Alternative as a teacher and behavior interventionist.
Samara became the director of Operations for Dance 411 Studios in 2012. She helped triple the size of the children’s programming and launch an elite award winning competition team.
Her passions for youth and the arts are at the heart of YES!. While leading the YES! team, Samara combines her natural business sense, artistic training and formal education to achieve success and works tirelessly to position the YES! as a premiere resource for Atlanta’s artistic youth. Samara stays grounded by surrounding herself with close friends and family.
Samara’s motto is “Live the life you always imagined.”