Amanda M. Usher | The Valdosta Daily TimesMiss Georgia 2017 Alyssa Beasley's platform is to impact others through dance.  

QUITMAN — Her reign soon coming to a close, Miss Georgia 2017 Alyssa Beasley brought her platform of love and admiration for dance to Brooks County.

“I love to be able to share the art of dance and my passion for it,” she said. “To be able to come here and teach is a wonderful opportunity for me because it’s something I love to do and to share my gift with other girls who have the same passion.”

Held at Quitman Elementary School’s gymnasium, Beasley choreographed a routine and taught it to a youth class consisting of 20 Sweete’s Dance students ranging from 5-14 years old.

The young girls leaped, twirled and tried to imitate Beasley’s every dance move asking questions along the way.

An aspiring dance school owner, 12-year-old Elizabeth “Elle” Scruggs said she was excited to meet Beasley and tap into Miss Georgia’s dance experience.

“I really like how she incorporates working with other students with dancing, like special needs and Girl Scouts and Boys and Girls Club students with dancing,” Scruggs said.

Beasley has been choreographing for the last five years, earning both state and national accolades. She said choreographing for kids with no traditional exposure to the art is her gift.

“Working with kids who have disabilities, working with kids who have at-risk situations,” she said. “That’s just something I’ve been passionate about and have been blessed to be able to work with.”

Her marriage to dance lies within storytelling, depicting both her tale and the tale of others.

“It’s more than just me, but I’m giving something back. I’m emotionally connected with those around me,” she said, “and that’s where I find the passion is just to be able to connect with my audience and with those who are watching.”

The Brunswick native said her original plan was to dive heavily into gymnastics which later transformed into becoming a professional dancer.

After severely damaging both her hamstring and femur while in high school, she had to decide how her next chapter should be written.

“I had an injury my senior year of high school at a dance intensive in New York,” she said. “Was out for a whole year, and I didn’t know what to do with my time.”

At age 19, she entered into pageantry and won Miss Georgia with a lyrical routine that she choreographed.

“Through this injury, I’m learning that I’m wanting to teach; it’s selfless,” she said. “I’m able to give my gifts back; it’s a selfless job instead of selfish.”

She is currently a junior at University of Georgia studying exercise and sports science. She hopes to incorporate physical therapy and dance, and she would like to open a studio.

Amanda Usher is a reporter at The Valdosta Daily Times. She can be contacted at 229-244-3400 ext.1274.