Iris Hensley (1934–2003) founded The Georgia Ballet (originally named the Cobb/Marietta Ballet) in 1960 and served as the Artistic Director until her death in August 2003.
[1] In addition to directing The Georgia Ballet and teaching at The Georgia Ballet School (The Georgia Ballet's associated ballet school),[2] Mrs. Hensley was the former director and co-chairman for the Board for the Southern Regional Ballet Association, a member of the dance panel for the Georgia Council for the Arts, and a guest instructor for the Governor's Honors Program.
Iris Hensley's The Nutcracker is still performed every December by The Georgia Ballet, which is currently directed by Gina Hyatt Mazon,a former principal dancer with John Neumeir's Hamburg ballet.
Iris Hensley is the mother of Shuler Hensley who performs on Broadway and tours professionally.
The Georgia High School Musical Theatre Awards, part of the National High School Musical Theatre Awards – The Jimmy Nederlander Awards, are named in Shuler Hensley's honor.