In the span of only two weeks, South Georgia Ballet senior company dancers had the opportunity to take master classes with esteemed artists/choreographers Maria Angelica Caruso and Christopher Huggins. 

Maria Angelica Caruso is founder and director of Bodiography Contemporary Ballet. She has a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Florida State University and a Master of Science degree from Carlow University. Her dance career, spanning over two decades, is highlighted by work with some of the most distinguished dance companies, both classical and contemporary. 

Caruso is known for her impeccable classical ballet technique nuanced by strong roots in modern dance vernacular. She has a passion for education, evident in her esteemed positions at La Roche University, M-Train Productions, and Bodiography. Metamorphosis, one of her greatest solo performances to date, was born of a desire to create an expansive work showcasing her careers in different dance disciplines. It premiered in 2018 and has been performed worldwide, including a five-month run off-Broadway. Her work consistently uses dance as a means of drawing attention to significant subjects, particularly human rights. 

Caruso visited Thomasville in January to teach South Georgia Ballet’s senior company. SGB Artistic Director Melissa June described the class saying, “What a wonderful weekend of dance! Thank you Maria Caruso from Bodiography for coming to share your gifts with our students. You left us feeling inspired and motivated to work hard and chase our dreams!” The dancers finished the evening watching a performance of Metamorphosis, which June said allowed the dancers “to witness first hand the power and vulnerability it takes to connect with their audience.” This is one of the great benefits of having such incredible guests: dancers have the opportunity to work with the best and to see the dedication that professional performance takes. The application of these observations to individual dancers’ performances elevates the entire company and art scene. However, the night did not end with the performance. Maria Caruso generously offered three scholarships to SGB dancers to conclude a phenomenal night. Aniya Morris, Isabel Lewis, and Emily Grace Tuten each received $1,300 scholarships to the Bodiography Summer Intensive. Morris also received a $64,000 scholarship to La Roche University. These scholarships give these three dancers the opportunity to receive unmatched training and to be surrounded by dancers from all over who are similarly passionate and talented. 

Days later, world-renowned choreographer, teacher, and former member of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Christopher Huggins visited SGB. Huggins has an extensive repertoire of training and has learned from modern dance’s biggest names. He appeared as a guest artist and worked as a master choreographer for several dance companies in South Africa, Europe, Japan, Korea, and many high schools and universities in the U.S. 

Huggins is a sought-after choreographer, and he has created ballets for many different ensembles and companies including Ailey II and Broadway Dance of Tokyo. Huggins is a past recipient of the Alvin Ailey Award for Best Choreography and the Black Alliance Award in Chicago. He was also recognized as a silver medalist from the 4th annual Seoul International Contemporary Dance Competition. 

Huggins currently serves as resident choreographer at Duke Ellington High School of the Arts in DC, choreographer in Cape Town, South Africa, and faculty member of the Dance Convention Tour-ASH. 

Huggins has taught at South Georgia Ballet in the past; however, these senior company members were new to him. Therefore, this was a new experience for the dancers as well. His work is not only very different from the dance style that South Georgia Ballet is regularly exposed to but also unique because of Huggins’ own impressive training. 

These choreographers are some of the best in the field, and their visits are extraordinarily valuable for both the dancers who received instruction and for the town of Thomasville as a whole. Visits from artists such as Caruso and Huggins are uncommon for small towns like Thomasville, and these opportunities are a credit and a gift to the town’s incredible arts program.