Editor’s note: This sponsored article is published as part of Atlanta Ballet’s annual partnership with Global Atlanta.
From Giselle to Frida, The Atlanta Ballet’s 2025–26 season blends classical masterpieces with fresh interpretations and global perspectives.
The Ballet’s continued partnership with Global Atlanta as Culture Channel sponsor highlights the role of the arts in deepening cross-cultural understanding and fostering a globally minded business community.
Readers of Global Atlanta can expect behind-the-scenes features, interviews with leaders and deeper insights into Atlanta Ballet’s international collaborations and community education efforts.
“Atlanta Ballet’s upcoming season showcases the universality of artistic expression,” says Gennadi Nedvigin, Atlanta Ballet’s artistic director. “From the timeless works of Balanchine to the vivid storytelling of Frida Kahlo’s life, we aim to connect with audiences on a profound and international level.”
The 2025–2026 season is a curated journey across continents, cultures and time periods.
Highlights include:
Balanchine & Peck, Sept. 12–14, 2025:
The season opens with a tribute to neoclassical ballet, featuring works by George Balanchine, the Russian-born choreographer who revolutionized American ballet, and Justin Peck, a Tony Award-winning American choreographer recognized globally for his innovation and energy.
- Prodigal Son (Balanchine / music by Prokofiev)
- Emeralds (Balanchine / music by Gabriel Fauré)
- In Creases (Peck / music by Philip Glass)
The Nutcracker, Dec. 6–27, 2025:
Tchaikovsky’s iconic score, performed live by the Atlanta Ballet Orchestra, is the backdrop of the Atlanta Ballet’s signature holiday production. With opulent sets and projections and choreography by Yuri Possokhov, this Southeast holiday tradition has earned praise as one of the most technically advanced in the country.
Four one-hour Kids In Step student matinees of The Nutcracker (Dec. 9, 10, 11, 16) tailored for public and private school groups will also introduce the magic of live ballet to local children.
The timeless romantic tale Giselle returns to stage from Feb. 13-15 after it was last performed by Atlanta Ballet in 2022. Staged by Artistic Director Gennadi Nedvigin based on a revision of Marius Petipa after Jean Coralli and Jules Perrot, and set to Adolphe Adam’s arrangement, the ballet follows the story of the beautiful village girl, Giselle, who is betrayed by her true love, Albrecht, and dies from a broken heart.
Forest spirits haunt Albrecht as revenge for his wrongdoing until Giselle saves him from a grim fate. Giselle is one of ballet’s iconic romantic ghost stories, known for its female heroine and for having one of the most famous and challenging scenes across all ballet works.
Snow White (performed by Atlanta Ballet 2), Mar. 28–29, 2026:
A perfect introduction for young audiences, this one-hour ballet choreographed by Bruce Wells presents an accessible, narrated version of the beloved tale. The showing includes two Kids In Step community performances for school children.
Golden Hour, Apr. 3–5, 2026:
A bold blend of contemporary work and original storytelling that will include:
- Within the Golden Hour by Christopher Wheeldon (music by Ezio Bosso and Antonio Vivaldi)
- A world premiere by Yuri Possokhov, and
- A world premiere by Claudia Schreier, Atlanta Ballet’s Choreographer-in-Residence.
Frida, May 8–10, 2026:
Culminating the season is a portrayal of Mexican artist Frida Kahlo, choreographed by renowned Belgian-Colombian choreographer Annabelle Lopez Ochoa.
This full-length ballet, performed to a Peter Salem score by the Atlanta Ballet Orchestra, delves into Ms. Kahlo’s personal and political legacy through powerful movement and emotion.
Following Ochoa’s success with Coco Chanel: The Life of a Fashion Icon, this production further cements her role as a visionary in modern dance.
An Invitation to Atlanta’s International Business Community
For Atlantans, the new ballet season offers not just entertainment but a cultural bridge – an opportunity to experience world-renowned artistic traditions in a local setting.
With choreographers, composers and stories hailing from Russia, France, Mexico, the United States and beyond, the Atlanta Ballet season is a reflection of the city’s own international profile.
“Art has the power to create dialogue across cultures – and that’s exactly what this season represents,” says Mr. Nedvigin.
For subscription information, performance schedules and ticketing, visit www.atlantaballet.com.
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