ABOUT US & FACILITY
In June 1994, Bernadette Campbell's childhood dream of owning her own ballet school came to life as she opened the Buford School Ballet. As the years went on, BSB outgrew its former homes & Ms. Bernadette decided to build a building dedicated to ballet & dance!
The home of Buford School of Ballet is an 11,000 square foot building complete with a prayer room, five professional studios, viewing windows for each studio, five public bathrooms, a company study room, dressing rooms for dancers, huge lobby for families with siblings, a costume and prop room, administrative offices, teachers lounge, & a large parking lot for parents with a safe and convenient circular drive that gives access to the studio's main entrance.
Ms. Bernadette & Buford School of Ballet are proud to produce three full-length performances a year held at the Infinite Energy Center in Duluth - our Star of Wonder performance complete with the Nutcracker, Evening at the Ballet produced by the Georgia Christian Dance Theatre, & our spring recitals. We also have participated in International Dance Acclaim for over 20 years which gives our dancers the opportunity to perform and improve their technique starting at age 5.
ABOUT THE FOUNDER
MISS BERNADETTE
Ms. Bernadette & family arriving at Houston Ballet's Summer Intensive in 2017
Ms. Bernadette with her family - Husband Mark of 25 years and their two children, Joseph (21) and Mary Grace (16)
Ms. Bernadette's parents - Grandma Grace & Grandpa Mike with Mary Grace arriving at Nashville Ballet's Summer Intensive 2019
Bernadette Campbell, or Ms. Bernadette, founder and former artistic director of Buford School of Ballet, danced professionally with the Lexington Ballet and grew up as a scholarship student with the Gwinnett Ballet Theater under the founder and artistic directorship of Lynne Snipes. As a 12-year student of the Gwinnett Ballet Theatre, she was blessed to be taught by Stanley Zompakos, Pennie Able, Jane Bradshaw, Tom Pazik, Rose Barile, Victoria Vittum, Kathy Thomas, Nicholas Pacana, and Lynne Snipes. She was also a Joffrey Ballet scholarship student and the 1988 recipient of the Governor's Excellence Award in Dance Education for the state of Georgia. Bernadette was engaged by Lexington Ballet in her senior year of high school at the 1989 SERBA convention in Montgomery, Alabama.
Bernadette danced professionally with the Lexington Ballet under the direction of Karl Kaufman and Kirt Hathaway. Her repertoire included: Dawn in Coppelia alongside Elizabeth Nesi, soloist for the Cincinnati ballet. Cupid variation from Don Quixote in which she received rave reviews from the Lexington Herald-Leader: "the most lively performance was turned in by Bernadette Mathis as Cupid. Her quick footwork and precise technical execution combined to make her sparkle on stage." Pas de Trois in The Sleeping Beauty, Rival Ballerinas in Graduation Ball, Clara, Spanish, Russian, and Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker, and Cinderella in Cinderella. As well as roles in Romeo and Juliet, Idylle staged by Marjorie Tallchief, Dracula, Ballet Under the Stars, Les Sylphides, and La Fille Mal Gardee. Bernadette's professional credits also include guest appearances as The Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker with the Intercity Ballet Company of Kingsport, Tennessee, and the Gwinnett Ballet Theater. She has also trained, and danced professionally, with the Lancaster Ballet in Ohio, and the Ruth Page production of The Nutcracker in Chicago.
Ms. Bernadette taught professionally for 35 years and started with the Lilburn and Snellville Schools of Ballet in Gwinnett County. She was a full-time faculty member at the School of the Lexington Ballet, official School of the Lexington Ballet Company, and teacher with the Gwinnett Ballet Theatre. She has also been a guest teacher with The London Ballet School in London, Kentucky, and the Baker Ballet School in Ohio, Praise In Motion in Georgia, Alabama Christian Dance Theatre, South Carolina Christian Dance Theatre, along with guest teacher and choreographer at Peachtree Ridge High School.
In 1994, Ms. Bernadette established Buford School of Ballet and 3 years later she founded the Georgia Christian Dance Theatre, the official Company of the Buford School of Ballet. The program is a pre-professional dance company that strives to create a Christian environment for the dancers, non-profit recognizing that the gift of dance comes from God.
Bernadette and the Buford School of Ballet have been affiliate members of the American Academy of Ballet, founded by Mignon Furman, for over 17 years. She has studied alongside Ms. Furman at SUNY Purchase College in Westchester, NY. Ms. Campbell has received an honorary teaching certificate from Dance Teacher Magazine presented by Mignon Furman. Ms. Campbell has had the most participants in the history of the American Academy of Ballet Performance Awards and the International Dance Acclaim than any other studio in the world. She has produced hundreds of gold medal recipients over the last decade. She has studied with some of the most notable and renowned teachers in the world such as, Galina Samsova of Birmingham Royal Ballet, Brian Loftus, Governor of the Royal Ballet and former Principal Dancer, Mignon Furman, David Howard, Violet Verdi, Olga Dvorovenko, Bobby Barnett, Merle Sepel, Andrea Pell, and Pamela MCray.
Miss Bernadette stepped down as artistic director in 2025 and sold the studio to Savannah Botts who grew up dancing at Bufored School of Ballet. She is excited to spend time at the studio talking to parents in the lobby and enjoying retirement with her husband!
ABOUT THE OWNER
MISS SAVANNAH
Miss Savannah as Dew Drop in BSB's Production of Star of Wonder
Miss Savannah with her family - Husband Oliver and their two children, Audrey and Autumn
Miss Savannah dancing in college at Brenau University
Savannah Botts is the Artistic Director of Buford School of Ballet and currently serves as the Assistant Director of Georgia Christian Dance Theatre. A passionate educator and leader, Savannah began her dance journey at the age of three after being inspired by Atlanta Ballet’s The Nutcracker. This early introduction sparked a lifelong dedication to the art of dance.
At age ten, Savannah and her family moved to Buford, Georgia, where she joined Buford School of Ballet. Her talent and commitment quickly stood out, earning her opportunities to volunteer as a demonstrator for instructors. As she progressed through Georgia Christian Dance Theatre, she was cast in numerous lead roles and during her senior year of high school was entrusted with teaching her first class independently.
Savannah continued her education at Brenau University, where she received a $90,000 scholarship for her combined excellence in dance and academics. At Brenau, she performed in faculty, guest artist, and student works, while also remaining active as a dance instructor and student leader. She graduated magna cum laude in 2015 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Performance and a Minor in Small Business. By her senior year, Savannah had earned placement in the university’s highest levels for ballet, jazz and modern dance.
Following graduation, Savannah’s mentor, Bernadette Campbell, provided her with opportunities that allowed her to step into leadership roles, including Co-Director of Happy Feet-Buford School of Ballet’s preschool outreach program and Company Coordinator for Georgia Christian Dance Theatre. She later advanced to her current role as Assistant Director.
With more than fifteen years of teaching experience, a strong academic foundation, and a deep passion for inspiring the next generation of dancers, Savannah brings both artistic excellence and business insight to her leadership. Her journey from student to Artistic Director is a testament to her dedication to the dance community and her continued commitment to serving alongside the exceptional team and Buford School of Ballet.
Savannah is prepared to take this new path that God has laid out for her and is excited to carry on the legacy of Buford School of Ballet and its solid foundation of faith, love, and excellence expressed through the art of dance.