Atlanta Ballet’s 2016/17 season begins in December with its annual Nutcracker and two of its six programs were chosen by incoming artistic director Gennadi Nedvigin, formerly of San Francisco Ballet.
Nedgivin succeeds John McFall, who retires in August after some 22 years with the Atlanta company and a tenure that saw the ballet take large leaps in terms of excellence and artistry. Nedgivin, who calls the 2016/17 season “transitional,” begins officially Aug. 1. He is only the fourth artistic director in Atlanta Ballet’s 87 years.
“’We didn’t have much time to prepare for it,” Nedvigin said in a statement. “So we decided we would do some of the ballets from previous years and programs that will give you a hint of the direction I would like to take the company. I’m shooting for programs to have traditional works, classical pristine works that will help to communicate to the audience and slowly move them from classical works to more contemporary works.”
Subscription packages are available HERE or at 404.892.3303. Single seats will go on sale in late summer. Except for The Nutcracker, which is danced at the Fox Theatre, all Atlanta Ballets performances are at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre.
Here’s a look at the lineup, in chronological order.
DEC. 9-24 | Atlanta Ballet’s Nutcracker. With the Atlanta Ballet Orchestra. Marya, the Nutcracker and the Rat King return in this version of the tale favored by McFall.
FEB. 3-11 | Carmina Burana. With the Atlanta Ballet Orchestra. A lush, modern reimagining of the classic parable in which the pleasures of the flesh challenge the resolve of three young seminarians. Set to a score by Carl Orff and choreographed by David Bintley, director of the Royal Birmingham Ballet. For age 13 + up.
FEB. 11-12 | Family performance. An hourlong program by the Atlanta Ballet Fellowship Ensemble.
MARCH 17-19 | Gennadi’s Choice. A triple bill that explores the evolution and transformative nature of dance. It features selections from Paquita, choreographed by Marius Petipa and staged by Nedvigin; a company premiere by Liam Scarlett; and a world premiere by emerging choreographer Gemma Bond.
APRIL 14-16 | Firebird. A modern masters program showcasing three of the most inventive choreographers of the 20th and 21st centuries. Scheduled: Firebird by Yuri Possokhov, Allegro Brillante by George Balanchine and Petite Mort by Jiří Kylián.
MAY 12-14 | Camino Real. A repeat of the 2015 world premiere based on the Tennessee Williams’ play and choreographed by Helen Pickett. The story of survival and good versus evil fuses dance, theater and live music. For ages 12+.
