Atlanta Ballet today announced the culmination of a landmark season defined by record-breaking attendance, transformative fundraising milestones and a deepening commitment to arts education across metro Atlanta. The season marks Artistic Director Gennadi Nedvigin's 10th anniversary leading the company and the 30th year of the Centre for Dance Education, two milestones that together reflect decades of artistic excellence and community investment.

Atlanta Ballet closed its season with significant momentum, recording 10% year-over-year growth in total attendance across all company and Atlanta Ballet 2 performances. The growth was driven by virtual sell-out performances of classical revival "Giselle," the East Coast premiere of "Frida" and family ballet "Snow White," plus the perennial annual holiday hit "The Nutcracker."

The season concluded with "Frida," which became the best-selling one-weekend May performance in Atlanta Ballet's history at Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. This remarkable achievement underscores the company's ability to attract and captivate audiences with bold, original programming.

"The Nutcracker" continued its tradition of excellence, posting 3% year-over-year attendance growth, while season subscriptions grew 6% year-over-year across the board.

Atlanta Ballet 2, the company's pre-professional training ensemble, produced three dancer promotions into the main company this season, bringing the total number of Centre for Dance Education students elevated to the professional company to 19 dancers, a testament to the pipeline of world-class training the Centre provides.

The Centre for Dance Education, ranked among the top 10 ballet schools in the country, celebrated its 30th year under the visionary direction of Sharon Story, dean. The anniversary season brought notable growth and recognition:

• The Adult Dance Program, including Silver Swans, Dance for Life and the inaugural week-long Adult Dance Intensive held in June 2025, recorded 22% growth, reflecting expanding demand for accessible, high-quality dance programming for older students.
• Diane Carroll, Community Partnerships Director, was recognized for her work leading the Centre's community engagement programs with two distinguished honors: the Atlanta Cluster Game Changer Award from the Boys & Girls Club and the 2025 Ebon Dooley Legacy Award, recognizing extraordinary contributions to Atlanta's arts community.
• Centre for Dance Education Academy students performed in "Giselle," marking the first time dancers of that age were highlighted in the noted classic.

Two special events also attracted record attendance and funds:

• The 27th Annual Corps de Ballet Fashion Show & Luncheon was the most successful in the event's history, raising over $450,000 for Atlanta Ballet and the Centre for Dance Education. Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens attended and delivered remarks underscoring the critical importance of removing barriers for children to access arts education.
• The Golden Ball — Atlanta Ballet's signature gala — achieved the highest fundraising total in the event's 45-year history, raising over $688,000 for Atlanta Ballet and the Centre for Dance Education. The Golden Ball celebrated over a century of dance education in Atlanta, honoring the company's enduring presence as a cornerstone of the city's cultural and educational landscape.