Atlanta Ballet, the Nation’s Oldest, Opens 2025–2026 Season

Blending tradition with modern performances for audiences of all ages

By Daniela Cintron

Last Updated September 15, 2025

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Artículo disponible en español.

Just days before the season opener, I walk into the Atlanta Ballet studio on the Westside, where history, industrial past and new trendy developments meet. At the heart of it all sits Atlanta Ballet’s Michael C. Carlos Dance Centre. This is where professional dancers from around the world come to be inspired, create and share their talent. Atlanta is their muse. Atlanta is their stage.

The center is alive with energy. Music spills from one of the studios. Dancers line the hallways, adjusting their shoes. Wooden floors echo with thumps and everywhere there is movement – constant, beautiful movement.

In one particular studio, Ángel Ramírez, a Cuban-born dancer with several awards under his belt, is rehearsing George Balanchine’s “Prodigal Son.” Alongside Júlio Santos, Anderson Souza and Jordan Leeper, Ramírez repeats every step, jump and gesture with relentless focus. Overseeing the rehearsal is stager Paul Boos, whose distinguished career spans dancing with the New York City Ballet to staging ballets across the globe, from the Paris Opera to the Bolshoi and Mariinsky. Boos sharpens every detail – whether it’s the millisecond pause before a leap or the emotion behind a single breath.

The jumps are high, the landings are firm, the turns look effortless. It’s mesmerizing.

From the audience’s perspective, it’s easy to forget these are human beings pushing their bodies beyond the imaginable. Inside the studio, though, the sweat, breath and sheer strength remind you: They are not only artists but also extraordinary athletes.

It is such a delight to see the Atlanta Ballet dancers perform. 

(Photographed Ángel Ramírez rehearsing. Photo courtesy of Atlanta Ballet.)

History of Atlanta Ballet

The Atlanta Ballet is the oldest ballet company in America, founded by Dorothy Alexander.
Recognized by the National Endowment for the Arts, Alexander pioneered the “regional ballet movement,” advocating for companies to thrive outside traditional cultural hubs.

Under the leadership of Artistic Director Gennadi Nedvigin over the past decade, Atlanta Ballet has attracted world-renowned choreographers such as Yuri Possokhov (“The Nutcracker”), Annabelle Lopez Ochoa (“Frida,” “Coco Chanel: The Life of a Fashion Icon”), Christopher Wheeldon and Justin Peck.

These choreographers, who often work with the world’s top ballet companies, are drawn to Atlanta Ballet for its versatility and artistic quality. Lopez Ochoa, for example, has committed to multiple seasons despite her packed international schedule.

(Photographed Atlanta Ballet dancers with Claudia Schreier, rehearsing “Rite of Spring” during season 2024-2025. Photo by Shoccara Marcus, courtesy of Atlanta Ballet.)

2025–2026 Season

The upcoming season sets the tone for “contrast” and “athleticism,” with “arresting performances,” as described by Tom West, executive director of Atlanta Ballet.

In the opener, “Balanchine & Peck,” dancers like Ramírez exhibit superhuman feats of strength and grace, making complex movements appear effortless. 

Ramírez’s lead role in “Prodigal Son” is particularly demanding, requiring a performance that evolves from innocence to rage, seduction and, ultimately, abandonment and regret.

He personally relates to his character’s journey, drawing parallels to his own experience “coming out of Cuba, getting a sense of wanting to go out there, explore the world and see different things,” he said. “And then, you have a sense of realization that you miss your family and home.” He finds the scene where the son returns to his father particularly emotional.

The rest of the season continues this emphasis on acting and storytelling through powerful narrative ballets.

Schedule

• “Balanchine & Peck” — Sept. 12–14, 2025. Featuring “Emeralds” and “Prodigal Son” by George Balanchine, plus “In Creases” by Justin Peck.
• “The Nutcracker” — Dec. 6–27, 2025. Choreographed by Yuri Possokhov, accompanied live by the Atlanta Ballet Orchestra.
• “Giselle” — Feb. 13–15, 2026. Choreographed and staged under the supervision of Gennadi Nedvigin, artistic director and accompanied live by the Atlanta Ballet Orchestra.
• “Golden Hour” — April 3–5, 2026. Featuring Christopher Wheeldon’s “Within the Golden Hour,” a world premiere by Yuri Possokhov, and a world premiere by choreographer-in-residence Claudia Schreier.
• “Frida” — May 8–10, 2026. Choreographed by Annabelle Lopez Ochoa and accompanied live by the Atlanta Ballet Orchestra.

All performances take place at Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre.

Dancers and Opportunities

Atlanta Ballet attracts dancers from across the globe. Ramírez, for example, admired Nedvigin as a child in Cuba, watching videos of him through flash drives, since internet access was scarce. This season marks his fifth year with the company, during which he continues to take on leading roles.

Unlike many companies with hierarchical ranks (principal, soloist, corps de ballet), Atlanta Ballet is unranked. This structure creates dynamic energy and encourages dancers to be prepared and to audition for any role. It also creates a playground for choreographers where they can discover and highlight new talent. 

Multiple casts often are employed, giving more dancers the chance to shine and offering audiences varied interpretations of each production.

The company also develops talent from within. Since Nedvigin’s tenure began, 20 dancers from the Atlanta Ballet Academy have advanced into the main company.

Diversity and Access

Atlanta Ballet actively works to reflect the diversity of its city, both on stage and in the audience. A purposeful pipeline supports Black and brown dancers, with diversity shining especially in productions like “The Nutcracker,” which includes up to 180 students from a wide range of backgrounds.

The audience itself is younger and more diverse compared to other arts organizations in the city, thanks in part to affordability programs like $20 college rush tickets and the donation of more than 5,000 free tickets annually to veterans’ organizations (through the Home Depot Foundation), schools and community groups. 

Ramírez praises the company’s commitment to accessibility. “Art in general is a good way to get out of your everyday,” he says. Ballet, he adds, is not just a display of athleticism and grace, but also a “refresh” for the soul. “Art gives us hope, and I think that is very important to support.”

Learn more about Atlanta Ballet dancer Miguel Angel Montoya in the docu-series “Atlanta con Sabor Latino” and check out Anderson Souza as he talks (in his native language, Portuguese) about the fantastic annual performance, “The Nutcracker“.

See you at the ballet!

Daniela Cintrón is an award-winning journalist, editor, and producer passionate about storytelling at the intersection of food, art, and culture. She is the content manager and bilingual editor for Discover Atlanta and contributes to publications like the Los Angeles Times, Atlanta Magazine and Eater.

Originally Published September 12, 2025