When Was the Atlanta Ballet Founded?

Ballet

The Atlanta Ballet is a professional ballet company based in Atlanta, Georgia. The ballet has been an integral part of the city’s cultural landscape since its inception in 1929. Founded by dance teacher Dorothy Alexander, the Atlanta Ballet was one of the first professional companies to be based in the South.

The company originally started as an amateur troupe which performed at local schools, churches and theatres throughout Georgia and the surrounding area. In 1939, Dorothy Alexander left the company to pursue a career as a dance instructor in New York and was replaced by her former student, Helena Anderson. Under Anderson’s leadership, the company became a professional troupe and began touring nationally.

In 1966, Robert Barnett took over as artistic director and led the company on its path to becoming one of the foremost dance companies in America. Barnett helped to expand the repertoire of ballets performed by introducing pieces from renowned choreographers such as George Balanchine and Antony Tudor.

He also established an education program to educate students about ballet and its history. Under Barnett’s leadership, the Atlanta Ballet began performing works from some of ballet’s most famous composers including Tchaikovsky and Prokofiev.

In 1996, John McFall became artistic director of the Atlanta Ballet and has continued to lead it into new realms of excellence. McFall has introduced works from contemporary choreographers such as Christopher Wheeldon and Jiri Kylian while still staying true to traditional classics like ‘Swan Lake’ and ‘The Nutcracker’. Under his direction, The Atlanta Ballet has become one of the most respected companies in America with national tours, critically acclaimed performances, and numerous awards for excellence in dance.

The Atlanta Ballet has been an important part of Georgia’s cultural landscape since it was founded in 1929 by Dorothy Alexander. Through its commitment to excellence under directors like Robert Barnett and John McFall, it has become one of America’s premier ballet companies with a repertoire that includes both traditional classics like ‘Swan Lake’ as well as works by modern choreographers like Christopher Wheeldon.

Conclusion: When Was The Atlanta Ballet Founded? The Atlanta Ballet was founded in 1929 by dance teacher Dorothy Alexander making it one of the first professional companies based in the South. It is now one of America’s premier ballet companies with world-renowned performances that have earned them multiple awards for excellence in dance.