I recently found myself marveling at a collection of inspiring photos; in fact, they’re still in exhibition for a few more weeks as part of a gallery show at Spalding Nix Fine Art. These intimate images by Charlie McCullers, Atlanta Ballet’s principal photographer for more than two decades, capture vivid and vulnerable moments of Atlanta Ballet’s professional dancers in rehearsals and backstage.
For those of us in the performing arts, we relish a stage set for success: The curtain rises, spotlights illuminate subjects in motion and all eyes gaze at some of the top dancers in the world. The emotions felt by these dancers who perform for our city’s company, the longest continually running ballet company in the U.S., are matched by the reactions of audiences leaning in to experience their artistry.
Today, Atlanta Ballet is a leading company in the dance world – fresh from giving life to international smash hits like our world premiere Coco Chanel: Life of a Fashion Icon, co-produced with the Hong Kong and Queensland Ballet, to leading the industry in equitable compensation for professional artists, to championing a more diverse future for this artform, to expanding our reach in arts education across the region, Atlanta Ballet is on the precipice of a new golden era.
If you haven’t been to the ballet lately, you must go. Growing crowds of younger and more diverse audiences fill our performances. Experience our large-scale production of “The Nutcracker” at Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre this holiday season, complete with intricately designed costumes, mammoth sets, high-tech lighting, immersive video projections and the iconic Tchaikovsky score performed live by the Atlanta Ballet Orchestra.
More than 1,500,000 people have seen Atlanta Ballet perform three different versions of “The Nutcracker” over the past 65 years, with today’s families gathering for this annual tradition to an exciting production choreographed by Yuri Possokhov that is worthy of the finest stages in the world. In fact, the year after it premiered in Atlanta, it was invited to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in our nation’s capital and received rave reviews.
As much a premier holiday arts tradition, Atlanta Ballet’s “The Nutcracker” is an opportunity for the students in our Centre for Dance Education to showcase their talents. More than 150,000 community children have performed as partygoers, soldiers, chicks and mice – performing alongside professional dancers from across the world in the past 65 years. The experience builds their capacity for focus and discipline, healthy habits and coordination, and most importantly self-confidence and self-esteem. The thrill of performing on a professional stage with world-class artists and experiencing the applause this production always garners is a rare gift to a young person.
We live by a mantra at Atlanta Ballet: “Dance for All!” Dance is a universal expression of joy. We all dance, in small ways, among family and friends, and at events throughout our lives.
Have any of you ever wanted to explore dancing for yourself? It’s never too early or late to do so! We encourage those of all ages to break that fourth wall and pursue their interest in taking the next step into the world of dance.
In 1996, Atlanta Ballet opened the Centre for Dance Education, which is dedicated to nurturing young dancers and providing an outlet for adults to express their creativity. Our Centre for Dance Education offers classes ranging from “Tiny Dancer and Me” learning locomotion as early as age 2 to “Silver Swans,” a beginner-friendly 55+ adult dance program exclusively for those looking to learn about the art of ballet as an adult. Atlanta Ballet’s roots remain firmly grounded in the Atlanta community and continue to play a vital role in the city’s cultural growth and revitalization.
And for those whose talents don’t involve tutus, there are myriad opportunities for volunteer service in the context of our arts organization! For instance, the “Corps de Ballet” is a group of dedicated individuals who support our mission through advocacy, volunteerism and fundraising. Group members experience an insider’s perspective on what it takes to produce world-class performances. The “En Pointe Society” supports our institution’s ongoing success by cultivating the next generation of ballet patrons through advocacy and exclusive events. Membership is open to dynamic young professionals ages 21 to 40 with a passion for dance and comes with specialized benefits and experiences throughout the season.
Like photographer Charlie McCullers’s famed stilllife images of ballet artists in action, there is tremendous motivation and purpose beneath the surface at our organization.
Founded in 1929, Atlanta Ballet is one of the premier dance companies in the country and the official state ballet of Georgia. After 95 seasons, Atlanta Ballet continues its commitment to share and educate audiences on the empowering joy of dance. To discover top talent, Artistic Director Gennadi Nedvigin, Sharon Story, Dean of Atlanta Ballet Centre for Dance Education, and their teams travel the world to assemble an exquisite company worthy of any big city. Our hard-working staff, company of dancers, orchestra members and arts workers may endeavor to always make it look graceful and smooth, but we can’t do all this alone as we eye a second century of our program on the near horizon.
As Georgia remains last in per-capita funding for the arts, we must champion institutions like the Atlanta Ballet and push for more funding to support and sustain major arts and cultural entities and events. Getting involved now is more important than ever, and we’d love for you to experience us in close-up!
