Dance Foundry

Dance Foundry is a dance school at 2977 East Ponce de Leon Avenue, Suite C, Decatur, Georgia, in a purpose-fitted studio across the street from the DeKalb Farmers Market. Ballet is its core offering, taught to toddlers, children and adults at all levels, with creative movement, jazz, modern, tap and hip hop also in the class catalogue. The school is co-owned by Kelly Oakes Dent, an artistic director, choreographer and teacher of more than 30 years who has been a registered Royal Academy of Dance teacher since 1991, and Jennilee Garcia, who trained in Puerto Rico and is certified in Ballet Teaching Studies with the Royal Academy of Dance in London. Its stated mission is to build an exemplary dance foundation with consistency and accountability in a safe and friendly environment while providing performing opportunities. Students appear in an annual production of The Nutcracker and in a spring show and recital, and there is a separate performance group. Readers of Decaturish Ink voted it Best Dance Studio in 2025.