Atlanta Ballet, Giselle, February 2026

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ATLANTA BALLET

Atlanta Ballet dancers Mikaela Santos and Erik Kim. Photo by Kim Kenney.
Atlanta Ballet dancer Jessica Assef.
by Rachel Neville. Artwork by Monica Lind.

February 13–15, 2026

Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre

With the Atlanta Ballet Orchestra Conductor, Ari Pelto

Music by Adolphe Adam

Choreography by Gennadi Nedvigin based on a revision of Marius Petipa after Jean Coralli and Jules Perrot

Staged by Angela Agresti, Rory Hohenstein and Eduardo Permuy

Costume Design by Galina Solovieva

Lighting Design by Ben Rawson

Arrangement By Lars Payne

Costumes provided by Orlando Ballet

Scenery courtesy of American Ballet Theatre

Performance underwritten by Katherine Scott

COMPANY BALLET REPETITEURS

Angela Agresti, Rory Hohenstein, Eduardo Permuy

CHOREOGRAPHER-IN-RESIDENCE

Claudia Schreier

DEAN OF THE CENTRE FOR DANCE EDUCATION

Sharon Story

THE COMPANY

Santiago Bedoya, Severin Brotschul, Khulan Burenjargal, Georgie Grace Butler, Valeria Chaykina, Catherine Conley, Larissa Dal’Santo, Talisson Farias, Brooke Gilliam, Jessica He, Gianna Horton-Sibble, Airi Igarashi, Darian Kane, Matoi Kawamoto, Milei Lee, Sojung Lee, Jordan Leeper, Guilherme Maciel, Juliana Missano, Miguel Angel Montoya, Marius Morawski, Mayu Nakayama, Denys Nedak, Carraig New, Sayron Pereira, Sophie Poulain, Ángel Ramírez, Júlio Santos, Mikaela Santos, Anderson Souza, Paxton Speight, Emanuel Tavares, Jonas Tutaj, Munkhjin Ulziijargal, Luiz Fernando Xavier, Rei Yamaguchi, Nicholas Yurkevich, Rachel Olivia Zinman

ATLANTA BALLET 2

Pierce Bevans, Santiago Gabriel Larronda Gil, Caroline Giltner, Daniel Gray, Sayaka Iwase, Camille-Margaret Jackson, Stacey Johnson, Jacob Lainchbury, Emily McAllister, Sakura Natorigawa, Avery Nelson, Isabela Oku, Leo O’Reilly Okuno, Dyhan Pierre, Ícaro Queiros, Gianni Salazar, Eliza Soto, Kahlen Wright

Atlanta Ballet 2 and Children’s Cast courtesy of Atlanta Ballet Centre for Dance Education

Scan QR Code to View Casting

PHOTOGRAPHY AND VIDEOGRAPHY STRICTLY PROHIBITED

Dorothy Moses Alexander - Atlanta Ballet Founder, 1929 - 1960

Robert Barnett - Artistic Director Emeritus, 1961 - 1994

John McFall – Artistic Director, 1994 - 2016

Denys Nedak. Photo by Kim Kenney.

ACT I

A Village in the Rhineland

Giselle, a delicate young girl who is adored by her fellow villagers, lives with her watchful mother, Berthe. Count Albrecht is bored with his noble duties and obligations and, as a distraction, he disguises himself as a villager named Loys. Albrecht has noticed Giselle and is attracted to her youthful, innocent beauty. He enjoys the simplicity of being just another villager, and as each day passes Albrecht grows fonder of Giselle. In the meantime, Wilfred, Albrecht’s squire reminds the Count that he is betrothed to the noblewoman, Bathilde. Albrecht refuses to be distracted by this commitment and determines he will resolve that situation later.

Unaware of Albrecht’s noble birth yet enamored with him, Giselle is at first overwhelmed by his zeal and persistence. He expresses to Giselle his eternal love and vows he will always be faithful to her. In her joy and enthusiasm she pauses, her frail heart interrupting her. Berthe pleads with Giselle to rest and calm her excitement, reminding her that her frail heart may fail.

Hilarion, the village gamekeeper who is deeply in love with Giselle, discovers Albrecht’s disguise and is consumed with jealousy. He proceeds to reveal his rival’s true identity to the village. At first, Giselle refuses to believe Hilarion, but when Bathilde claims Albrecht as her fiancé, Giselle loses her mind. Overwhelmingly distraught and horrified, Giselle dies of a broken heart.

ACT 2

Night in the Forest

As midnight approaches, Hilarion keeps vigil by Giselle’s grave. This is the hour when the Wilis, the ghosts of young girls who were jilted and died before their wedding days, materialize. They exact revenge upon men they encounter in the night by dancing them to their deaths. Hilarion’s destiny with the Wilis is realized as he is overcome with exhaustion. He succumbs to his fate as he is thrown into the lake.

Later, Count Albrecht visits Giselle’s grave, laden with feelings of guilt and remorse. He sees a vision of Giselle and follows her deeper into the forest. Myrtha, the Queen of the Wilis, discovers them together, and orders the Wilis to enact the same revenge on Albrecht as they did on Hilarion. Giselle tries to protect Albrecht and implores Myrtha to reconsider his fate. Myrtha is firm and orders the Wilis to pursue Albrecht in the dance of death. As the morning bells chime announcing the arrival of dawn, the Wilis vanish into their graves. As Giselle disappears, Albrecht recognizes her true love and is forever touched with the memory of his beloved – the delicate and beautiful village girl.

G E N NADI NE DVIGIN ( Ar tistic Director), in Februar y 2016 , was named

Atlanta Ballet’s fourth artistic director in the Company’s then 87-year history. Nedvigin, born in Rostov, Russia, began his training at age 5. At 10, he was accepted into the Bolshoi Ballet Academy. Upon graduating, he joined Moscow Renaissance Ballet, as a soloist, before he was invited to dance with Le Jeune Ballet de France in Paris. In 1997, while on tour in the U.S., San Francisco Ballet (SFB) Artistic Director Helgi Tomasson offered Nedvigin a soloist contract. After three years, he was promoted to principal dancer. While at SFB, Nedvigin won the International Competition’s Erik Bruhn Prize (1999). He has also received three Isadora Duncan Dance Awards (2001, 2010 and 2017). Along the way, Nedvigin was fortunate to work with many world-renowned choreographers. In addition to his dancing career, Nedvigin also taught master classes and staged ballets in the U.S. and abroad before becoming an artistic director. Recently, Nedvigin sat on juried panels at the World Ballet Competition in Orlando, the International Ballet Competition held in Jackson, Mississippi, and the Youth America Grand Prix. Under Nedvigin’s guidance, Atlanta Ballet has established the Academy training program, which includes a top-tier performance ensemble, Atlanta Ballet 2, representing his commitment to training for the next generation of professional dancers.

Atlanta Ballet’s fourth artistic director in the Company’s then 87-year history. Nedvigin, born in Rostov, Russia, began his training at age 5. At 10, he was accepted into the Bolshoi Ballet Academy. Upon graduating, he joined Moscow Renaissance Ballet, as a soloist, before he was invited to dance with Le Jeune Ballet de France in Paris. In 1997, while on tour in the U.S., San Francisco Ballet (SFB) Artistic Director Helgi Tomasson offered Nedvigin a soloist contract. After three years, he was promoted to principal dancer. While at SFB, Nedvigin won the International Competition’s Erik Bruhn Prize (1999). He has also received three Isadora Duncan Dance Awards (2001, 2010 and 2017). Along the way, Nedvigin was fortunate to work with many world-renowned choreographers. In addition to his dancing career, Nedvigin also taught master classes and staged ballets in the U.S. and abroad before becoming an artistic director. Recently, Nedvigin sat on juried panels at the World Ballet Competition in Orlando, the International Ballet Competition held in Jackson, Mississippi, and the Youth America Grand Prix. Under Nedvigin’s guidance, Atlanta Ballet has established the Academy training program, which includes a top-tier performance ensemble, Atlanta Ballet 2, representing his commitment to training for the next generation of professional dancers.

Atlanta Ballet’s fourth artistic director in the Company’s then 87-year history. Nedvigin, born in Rostov, Russia, began his training at age 5. At 10, he was accepted into the Bolshoi Ballet Academy. Upon graduating, he joined Moscow Renaissance Ballet, as a soloist, before he was invited to dance with Le Jeune Ballet de France in Paris. In 1997, while on tour in the U.S., San Francisco Ballet (SFB) Artistic Director Helgi Tomasson offered Nedvigin a soloist contract. After three years, he was promoted to principal dancer. While at SFB, Nedvigin won the International Competition’s Erik Bruhn Prize (1999). He has also received three Isadora Duncan Dance Awards (2001, 2010 and 2017). Along the way, Nedvigin was fortunate to work with many world-renowned choreographers. In addition to his dancing career, Nedvigin also taught master classes and staged ballets in the U.S. and abroad before becoming an artistic director. Recently, Nedvigin sat on juried panels at the World Ballet Competition in Orlando, the International Ballet Competition held in Jackson, Mississippi, and the Youth America Grand Prix. Under Nedvigin’s guidance, Atlanta Ballet has established the Academy training program, which includes a top-tier performance ensemble, Atlanta Ballet 2, representing his commitment to training for the next generation of professional dancers.

GENNADI NEDVIGIN (Artistic Director and Choreographer, Giselle), in February 2016, was named Atlanta Ballet’s fourth artistic director in the Company’s then 87-year history. Nedvigin, born in Rostov, Russia, began his training at age 5. At 10, he was accepted into the Bolshoi Ballet Academy. Upon graduating, he joined Moscow Renaissance Ballet as a soloist before he was invited to dance with Le Jeune Ballet de France in Paris. In 1997, while on tour in the U.S., San Francisco Ballet (SFB) Artistic Director Helgi Tomasson offered Nedvigin a soloist contract. After three years, he was promoted to principal dancer. While 19 seasons at SFB, Nedvigin won the International Competition’s Erik Bruhn Prize (1999). He has also received three Isadora Duncan Dance Awards (2001, 2010 and 2017). Along the way, Nedvigin was fortunate to work with many worldrenowned choreographers. In addition to his dancing career, Nedvigin also taught master classes and staged ballets in the U.S. and abroad before becoming an artistic director. Recently, Nedvigin sat on juried panels at the World Ballet Competition in Orlando, the International Ballet Competition held in Jackson, Mississippi, the Japan Grand Prix and the Youth America Grand Prix. Under Nedvigin’s guidance, Atlanta Ballet has established the Academy training program, which includes a top-tier performance ensemble, Atlanta Ballet 2, representing his commitment to training for the next generation of professional dancers.

TOM WEST (Executive Director)

assumed his role as Atlanta Ballet’s

assumed his role as Atlanta Ballet’s

TOM WEST (Executive Director)

assumed his role as Atlanta Ballet’s

Executive Director at the top of the 2021 | 2022 Season. West’s career in arts management spans for more than 20 years including leadership roles at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the Segerstrom Center for the Arts and American Film Institute. An actor and theatre director by training, West received a Master of Arts in arts administration from American University and began his career in arts management at the Kennedy Center in 1997, where he rose to the serve as Vice President of Development, overseeing all fundraising programs for the National Symphony Orchestra and the Suzanne Farrell Ballet, and leading the effort to fund a remount of Balanchine’s Don Quixote. In 2007, West served as Vice President of Development for the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa, California. From 2010-2021, West served as the Chief Advancement Officer for the American Film Institute in Los Angeles, where he championed the development of new programs to provide bridges to the film industry for under-represented storytellers in Hollywood. West also served on AFI’s senior leadership team, shaping organizational strategy for the Institute’s filmmaker training programs and working with major studios developing on targeted diversity initiatives, as well as its strategy for weathering the COVID-19 pandemic. West established the AFI National Council in 2011, a community of philanthropists from across the United States who serve as champions for excellence in the art of film and opportunities for the next generation of great storytellers.

Executive Director at the top of the 2021 | 2022 Season. West’s career in arts management spans for more than 20 years including leadership roles at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the Segerstrom Center for the Arts and American Film Institute. An actor and theatre director by training, West received a Master of Arts in arts administration from American University and began his career in arts management at the Kennedy Center in 1997, where he rose to the serve as Vice President of Development, overseeing all fundraising programs for the National Symphony Orchestra and the Suzanne Farrell Ballet, and leading the effort to fund a remount of Balanchine’s Don Quixote. In 2007, West served as Vice President of Development for the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa, California. From 2010-2021, West served as the Chief Advancement Officer for the American Film Institute in Los Angeles, where he championed the development of new programs to provide bridges to the film industry for under-represented storytellers in Hollywood. West also served on AFI’s senior leadership team, shaping organizational strategy for the Institute’s filmmaker training programs and working with major studios developing on targeted diversity initiatives, as well as its strategy for weathering the COVID-19 pandemic. West established the AFI National Council in 2011, a community of philanthropists from across the United States who serve as champions for excellence in the art of film and opportunities for the next generation of great storytellers.

Executive Director at the top of the 2021 | 2022 Season. West’s career in arts management spans for more than 20 years including leadership roles at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the Segerstrom Center for the Arts and American Film Institute. An actor and theatre director by training, West received a Master of Arts in arts administration from American University and began his career in arts management at the Kennedy Center in 1997, where he rose to the serve as Vice President of Development, overseeing all fundraising programs for the National Symphony Orchestra and the Suzanne Farrell Ballet, and leading the effort to fund a remount of Balanchine’s Don Quixote. In 2007, West served as Vice President of Development for the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa, California. From 2010-2021, West served as the Chief Advancement Officer for the American Film Institute in Los Angeles, where he championed the development of new programs to provide bridges to the film industry for under-represented storytellers in Hollywood. West also served on AFI’s senior leadership team, shaping organizational strategy for the Institute’s filmmaker training programs and working with major studios developing on targeted diversity initiatives, as well as its strategy for weathering the COVID-19 pandemic. West established the AFI National Council in 2011, a community of philanthropists from across the United States who serve as champions for excellence in the art of film and opportunities for the next generation of great storytellers.

TOM WEST (Executive Director) assumed his role as Atlanta Ballet’s Executive Director in 2021. West’s career in arts management spans more than 25 years, including leadership roles at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the Segerstrom Center for the Arts and American Film Institute. An actor and theatre director by training, West received a Master of Arts in arts management from American University and began his career in arts management at the Kennedy Center in 1997, where he rose to serve as Vice President of Development, overseeing all fundraising programs for the National Symphony Orchestra and the Suzanne Farrell Ballet, and leading Farrell’s effort to fund a remount of Balanchine’s Don Quixote. In 2007, West served as Vice President of Development for the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa, California. From 2010-2021, West served as the Chief Advancement Officer for the American Film Institute (AFI) in Los Angeles, where he championed the development of new programs to provide bridges to the film industry for under-represented storytellers in Hollywood. West established the AFI National Council in 2011, a community of philanthropists from across the United States who serve as champions for excellence in the art of film and opportunities for the next generation of great storytellers. Since joining Atlanta Ballet in 2021, West’s focus has been on Atlanta Ballet’s long-term financial health and prestige, expanding engagement in the greater Atlanta region and breaking down historic barriers to full participation in the artform of Ballet for all.

S HARO N S TO RY (D ean of the C entre for D ance Education) joined Atlanta Ballet after a professional dance career that spanned more than 20 years and included tenures with Joffrey Ballet, the School of American Ballet, Stars of New York City Ballet, Atlanta Ballet and 10 years with Boston Ballet. Her Boston Ballet tenure included international tours with Rudolf Nureyev. In 1996, along with her role as ballet mistress, Story became dean of Atlanta Ballet Centre for Dance Education (Centre), which has grown to become one of the largest dance schools in the nation. The Centre is nationally recognized for its programs and community initiatives. Under Story’s direction, the Centre achieved accreditation with the National Association of Schools of Dance (NASD). She serves on the board of directors for NASD. In 2021, Story received Atlanta Ballet’s Dorothy Alexander Award. She received the 2015 Women Making a Mark Award from Atlanta Magazine and was featured in the Arts ATL Legacy Series 2018. Story is committed to providing a noncompetitive atmosphere and access to dance education that is shaped by the community’s needs, is innovative and inspires the commitment and excellence that are the trademarks of Atlanta Ballet.

S HARO N S TO RY (D ean of the C entre for D ance Education) joined Atlanta Ballet after a professional dance career that spanned more than 20 years and included tenures with Joffrey Ballet, the School of American Ballet, Stars of New York City Ballet, Atlanta Ballet and 10 years with Boston Ballet. Her Boston Ballet tenure included international tours with Rudolf Nureyev. In 1996, along with her role as ballet mistress, Story became dean of Atlanta Ballet Centre for Dance Education (Centre), which has grown to become one of the largest dance schools in the nation. The Centre is nationally recognized for its programs and community initiatives. Under Story’s direction, the Centre achieved accreditation with the National Association of Schools of Dance (NASD). She serves on the board of directors for NASD. In 2021, Story received Atlanta Ballet’s Dorothy Alexander Award. She received the 2015 Women Making a Mark Award from Atlanta Magazine and was featured in the Arts ATL Legacy Series 2018. Story is committed to providing a noncompetitive atmosphere and access to dance education that is shaped by the community’s needs, is innovative and inspires the commitment and excellence that are the trademarks of Atlanta Ballet.

S HARO N S TO RY (D ean of the C entre for D ance Education) joined Atlanta Ballet after a professional dance career that spanned more than 20 years and included tenures with Joffrey Ballet, the School of American Ballet, Stars of New York City Ballet, Atlanta Ballet and 10 years with Boston Ballet. Her Boston Ballet tenure included international tours with Rudolf Nureyev. In 1996, along with her role as ballet mistress, Story became dean of Atlanta Ballet Centre for Dance Education (Centre), which has grown to become one of the largest dance schools in the nation. The Centre is nationally recognized for its programs and community initiatives. Under Story’s direction, the Centre achieved accreditation with the National Association of Schools of Dance (NASD). She serves on the board of directors for NASD. In 2021, Story received Atlanta Ballet’s Dorothy Alexander Award. She received the 2015 Women Making a Mark Award from Atlanta Magazine and was featured in the Arts ATL Legacy Series 2018. Story is committed to providing a noncompetitive atmosphere and access to dance education that is shaped by the community’s needs, is innovative and inspires the commitment and excellence that are the trademarks of Atlanta Ballet.

SHARON STORY (Dean of the Centre for Dance Education) joined Atlanta Ballet after a professional dance career that spanned more than 20 years and included tenures with Joffrey Ballet, the School of American Ballet, Stars of New York City Ballet, Atlanta Ballet and 10 years with Boston Ballet. Her Boston Ballet tenure included international tours with Rudolf Nureyev. In 1996, along with her role as ballet mistress, Story became dean of Atlanta Ballet Centre for Dance Education (Centre), which has grown to become one of the largest dance schools in the nation. The Centre is nationally recognized for its programs and community initiatives. Under Story’s direction, the Centre achieved accreditation with the National Association of Schools of Dance (NASD). She serves on the board of directors for NASD. In 2021, Story received Atlanta Ballet’s Dorothy Alexander Award. She received the 2015 Women Making a Mark Award from Atlanta Magazine and was featured in the Arts ATL Legacy Series 2018. Story is committed to providing a noncompetitive atmosphere and access to dance education that is shaped by the community’s needs, is innovative and inspires the commitment and excellence that are the trademarks of Atlanta Ballet.

ANGELA AGRESTI (Company Repetiteur) grew up in Indianapolis, Indiana, where she began her training at the Jordon College Academy of Dance and later transferred to North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA) for ballet. After UNCSA, Agresti danced with Cincinnati Ballet for one season before joining Het Nationale Ballet in Amsterdam where she danced a mix of classical ballets, Balanchine works, Hans van Manen repertoire, contemporary and neoclassical works, and new creations. Agresti has been featured in William Forsythe’s Second Detail, Alexei Ratmansky’s Don Quichot, Shen Wei’s Sacre du Printemps, and other notable ballets, such as The Dream, Paquita and Swan Lake. During her time dancing in Amsterdam, Agresti gained experience as a choreographic assistant for multiple choreographers’ stage, film, and festival works. She traveled to Riom, Switzerland, assisting works by Juanjo Arques and Peter Leung for the Origen Cultural Festival. She also worked with Peter Leung on the first ever virtual reality ballet entitled Nightfall. Upon returning to the U.S. in 2018, she assisted Annabelle Lopez Ochoa in the making of Tulips and Lobster for Kansas City Ballet and re-staged the work for the company the following season. Since joining Atlanta Ballet in 2022, she has worked with classical repertoire such as Don Quixote, La Sylphide, and Coppélia, as well as new works for Remi Wörtmeyer, Garrett Smith, Juliano Nunes, and Annabelle Lopez Ochoa. Agresti has had the privilege of guiding dancers in Tu Tu (Stanton Welch), Classical Symphony (Yuri Possokhov), 7 for Eight (Helgi Tomasson), and Prodigal Son (George Balanchine), and has staged the North American premiere of Coco Chanel: The Life of a Fashion Icon

RORY HOHENSTEIN (Company Repetiteur) was born in Washington D.C., where he began dancing at the age of six. Hohenstein furthered his training from the age of 12 at the Kirov Academy of Ballet. At 17, he joined Le Jeune Ballet de France in Paris. In 2000, he joined San Francisco Ballet as a member of the corps, being promoted to soloist in 2006. In 2008, he moved to New York, joining Christopher Wheeldon’s company, Morphoses, performing in its home seasons at New York City Center and at Sadler’s Wells in London. He spent a season dancing with the Lar Lubovitch Dance Company before joining the Joffrey Ballet in 2011, where he continued to be a leading artist with the company through the 2018-19 season. Some personal highlights include dancing the roles of Romeo in Krzysztof Pastor’s Romeo and Juliet, Riff in Jerome Robbins’ West Side Story Suite, Fancy Free, Red Man in Lar Lubovitch’s Elemental Brubeck, The Roper in Agnes De Mille’s Rodeo, Levin in Yuri Possokhov’s Anna Karenina, Forgotten Land from Jiří Kylián and Wayne McGregor’s Eden/Eden. As a Repetiteur Rory has staged several works from choreographers Helgi Tomasson, Lar Lubovitch, Liam Scarlett, and Justin Peck. He has been a Company Repetiteur with Atlanta Ballet since 2019.

EDUARDO PERMUY (Company Repetiteur) was born in Cuba, where he began his training at the age of seven at Laura Alonso’s ballet school Pro-Danza, later joining the National Ballet School of Cuba and finishing at Miami City Ballet School under the tutelage of Nancy Raffa. At the age of 17, Permuy started his professional career with Miami City Ballet as an apprentice and he went on to enjoy a career of 18 years also dancing for American Ballet Theatre Studio Company, Joffrey Ballet, Ballet West, Smuin Contemporary Ballet, Cincinnati Ballet, and appearing as guest artist with a few others. During this time, his repertoire included most of the classics and a vast number of ballets from the Balanchine repertoire, ranging from corps to principal roles. He also had the opportunity to perform ballets from Gerald Arpino, Robert Joffrey, Jiří Kylián, Kurt Joss, John Cranko, Frederick Ashton, Kenneth MacMillan, Twyla Tharp, Helen Picket, Nicolo Fonte, Antony Tudor, Ulysses Dove, Michael Smuin, Val Caniparoli, Alberto Alonso, Benjamin Millepied, Leonide Massine, and Amy Seiwert. Throughout his career, Permuy feels blessed to have learned from figures like Nancy Raffa, Fernanado Bujones, Martha Bosh, Sir Anthony Dowell, Christopher Carr, Eddie Villella and Clinton Luckett. In 2021, he joined Cleveland Ballet as a director of repertoire, where he had the opportunity not only to perform ballet master duties but also was able to return to the stage as a character dancer, performing the roles of Don Quijote in the ballet by the same name and Drosselmeyer in The Nutcracker. This is Permuy’s fourth season with Atlanta Ballet.

CLAUDIA SCHREIER (Choreographer-in-Residence) has choreographed, directed, and produced for dance, opera, and film across the U.S. and internationally. She has created over 50 works for various companies and organizations, including San Francisco Ballet, Boston Ballet, Miami City Ballet, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Vail Dance Festival, Richmond Ballet, Guggenheim Works & Process, ABT Studio Company, Juilliard Opera, New York Choral Society, and New York Choreographic Institute. Her works for Atlanta Ballet include The Rite of Spring, Nighthawks, Carnivale, Fauna, Pleiades Dances, and First Impulse, named a 2019 Standout Performance by Pointe Magazine. Schreier and Atlanta Ballet partnered with the Cathedral Choir Society in 2022 to present Berlioz’s Roméo et Juliette at the Washington National Cathedral. In 2021, Schreier released Force of Habit, a film commissioned by Guggenheim Works & Process and co-presented by Atlanta Ballet. She has contributed to programs at the White House, Jazz at Lincoln Center, and the Kennedy Center, including the Kennedy Center Honors. Her work is the subject of two documentaries, most recently PBS’s Emmy Award-Winning “Dancing on the Shoulders of Giants” (Capital Region). Schreier presented her TEDx talk “Thinking On Your Feet,” at Columbia University in 2018. She is a recipient of the Princess Grace Award, Toulmin Fellowship at the Center for Ballet and the Arts at NYU, Lotos Prize, and Suzanne Farrell Dance Prize.

LARISSA DAL’SANTO Chapecó, Brazil
SEVERIN BROTSCHUL Glen Arbor, Michigan
CATHERINE CONLEY Chicago, Illinois
GEORGIE GRACE BUTLER Roswell, Georgia
BROOKE GILLIAM Boulder, Colorado
JESSICA HE Rancho Cucamonga, California
AIRI IGARASHI Gunma, Japan
DARIAN KANE Lincoln, California
MATOI KAWAMOTO Tokyo, Japan
JORDAN LEEPER Jamestown, New York
GUILHERME MACIEL São Paulo, Brazil
JULIANA MISSANO Lloyd Harbor, New York
KHULAN BURENJARGAL Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
SANTIAGO BEDOYA Medellín, Colombia
GIANNA HORTON-SIBBLE Hornell, New York
SOJUNG LEE Chungju, South Korea
VALERIA CHAYKINA St. Petersburg, Russia
TALISSON FARIAS Resende, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
MILEI LEE Melbourne, Australia

Cali, Colombia

NEW Juneau, Alaska

JÚLIO

Araruama, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Fortaleza, Brazil

Atlanta Ballet dancer portraits courtesy of Kim Kenney.
LUIZ FERNANDO XAVIER São Paulo, Brazil
MARIUS MORAWSKI Łódź, Poland
SAYRON PEREIRA Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
REI YAMAGUCHI Hokkaido, Japan
MIGUEL ANGEL MONTOYA
DENYS NEDAK Odessa, Ukraine
CARRAIG
ÁNGEL RAMÍREZ Trinidad, Cuba
MIKAELA SANTOS Manila, Philippines
ANDERSON SOUZA Santo Angelo, RS, Brazil
MAYU NAKAYAMA Tochigi, Japan
SOPHIE POULAIN Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
PAXTON SPEIGHT Poquoson, Virginia
EMANUEL TAVARES
NICHOLAS YURKEVICH San Francisco, California
SANTOS
JONAS TUTAJ Chicago, Illinois
MUNKHJIN ULZIIJARGAL Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
RACHEL OLIVIA ZINMAN Montreal, Quebec, Cananda

creative team

ARI PELTO (Conductor). A masterful collaborator with dancers, Maestro Ari Pelto enjoys a longstanding relationship with Atlanta Ballet. He led the Atlanta Ballet Orchestra in world premieres of Twyla Tharp’s first story ballet, The Princess and the Goblin, and Helen Pickett’s Camino Real; he conducted Jean-Christophe Maillot’s ground-breaking production of Romeo et Juliette, as well as Atlanta Ballet’s production of Prokofiev’s Cinderella. He returns every year to conduct The Nutcracker, and his other recent Atlanta Ballet productions include Giselle and Coppélia. After earning his Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance at Oberlin Conservatory, Maestro Pelto studied conducting at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, the Rubin Academy in Jerusalem, and with Imre Pallo at Indiana University. At the age of 24 he was appointed Assistant Conductor at the Spoleto Festival, a position he held from 1994 to 1998, and from 2000 to 2002 he was Associate Conductor of Sarasota Symphony, then known as Florida West Coast Symphony. Maestro Pelto was a frequent guest with The Florida Orchestra and with Toledo Symphony. Appointed Music Director at Opera Colorado in 2015, Ari Pelto has conducted acclaimed performances of many titles for the company to date, including their world premiere of Lori Laitman’s longawaited work, The Scarlet Letter (also recorded for the Naxos label), and the world premiere of Gerald Cohen’s new opera, Steal a Pencil for Me, based on a true love story set in a concentration camp during WWII, also recorded. Appointed to Sacramento Philharmonic and Opera in 2023, Maestro Pelto’s recent symphonic concerts include Brahms’s Stormy Symphony, suite from Prokofiev’s Lieutenant Kijé, Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 with Michelle Cann, Sibelius’s Symphony No. 3, and Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition. Maestro Pelto joined Colorado Springs Philharmonic for a program including Bruch Violin Concerto No. 1 and Brahms’s Symphony No. 2

BEN RAWSON (Lighting Designer) is an Atlanta-based Lighting Designer for Theatre, Opera, and Dance, member USA 829. Theatrical/Opera design work can be seen at The Alliance Theatre (GA), Detroit Opera (MI), Florida Studio Theatre (FL), Glimmerglass Opera (NY), Utah Opera (UT), Atlanta Opera (GA), Theatrical Outfit (GA), Center Rep (CA), Aurora Theatre (GA), Actors Express (GA), and others. Dance design work includes choreographers Ana Maria Lucaciu, Troy Schumacher, Claudia Schreier, Remi Wörtmeyer, Bruce Wells, Danielle Agami, and Omar Roman De Jesus, as well as with Atlanta Ballet (GA), BalletCollective (NY), Terminus Modern Ballet Theatre (GA), Fly On A Wall (GA), and others. Ben has also worked across the country as an Associate & Assistant Lighting Designer for San Diego Opera (CA), The Alliance Theatre (GA), Berkshire Theatre Festival (MA), Atlanta Opera (GA), Utah Opera (UT), Glimmerglass Festival (NY), Playmakers Repertory Company (NC), and Atlanta Ballet (GA). benrawsondesign.com.

For the full creative team behind this production, visit www.atlantaballet. com/performances/giselle-2

20 board of trustees

Officers

Nancy Field, J.D., Chair

Nigel Ferguson, Vice Chair

Linda Morris, Treasurer

Cynthia Crain Ed.D, Secretary

Trustees

Elizabeth Adams

Emily C. Baker

Jan Beaves

Ginny Brewer

Chris Carlos

Lynn Cochran-Schroder

Lynda B. Courts

Vanessa Delmer

Lovely A. Dhillon, J.D.

Yelena Epova, CPA

William Fogler

Caroline B. Gottschalk

Joyce Houser, Ph.D

Barbara S. Joiner

Kathleen Knous

Kristen Manion Taylor

Sasha Morozova

Gennadi Nedvigin*

Kristy Rachal

Katherine Scott

Scott Wagner

Tom West*

Cristel Williams

Advisory Council

Jen Alewine

David M. Barnett

Mark R. Bell Ph.D.

Dr. Meria Carstarphen

Harvey Coleman

Elaine E. Davis

Erroll B. Davis

Anne-Laure Desjonquères

Raoul “Ray” Donato

Jake Evans

Linda Nau Givens

Mark Goldman

Robert L. Green

Susan S. Kettering

Allen Maines

Santiago Marquez

Janet L. Meadows

Juan Mejia

Allen W. Nelson

Rachel Lee Phipps

Eric Robbins

Arden Hess Rowland

Scot Safon

Bobby Schuckmann

Paige Schuckmann

Rebecca Christian Smith

Randi Warren

Dov Wilker

Preston Wilson, Jr.

Allen Yee

Honorary Board

Margaret Carton

David Crosland

Kenneth R. Hey

Wade Hooper

J. David Hopkins

Bill Huber, CPA

Sloan Kennedy-Smith

Edward Krugman

Amanda Shailendra

Michelle Sullivan

Trustees Emeriti

Lynda B. Courts

Lavona S. Currie †

Karen Vereb †

Patti Wallace †

Lifetime Board

Jane Dean

Carole Goldberg

Joseph Prendergast

Deen Day Sanders

Corps de Ballet Board

Jacqueline Flake, Chair

Nancy Flaherty, Vice-Chair

Jen Alewine, Secretary

Joanne Chesler Gross, Treasurer

Sharon Silvermintz, Immediate Past Chair

Elise Baumann

Sineet Berhane

Susan Currie

Kimberlyn Daniel

Jane Dean

Jessica DeHart

Christy Fiftal

Corrie Johnson

Mina Jooma

Amy Nelson

Aimee Nix

Ursula Reynolds

Gailen Rosenberg

Arden Hess Rowland

Erica Thomas

Marsha Taylor

Doug Weiss

Preston Wilson, Jr.

Mary Kathryn Winsett

*Ex-Officio

†In Memoriam

VIOLIN

Lisa Morrison Concertmaster

ATLANTA BALLET ORCHESTRA

Sally Gardner-Wilson Assoc. Concertmaster

Linda Pinner Principal Second

Patti Gouvas

Alison James

Kathryn Koch

Mao Omura

Patrick Ryan+

Elonia Varfi

Rafael Veytsblum

Ying Zhuo

Pete Ciaschini*

Chelsea Cline*

Felix Farrar*

VIOLA

Joli Wu Principal

Josiah Coe

Shadwa Mussad

Gina Calloway*

CELLO

Charae Krueger Principal

Alana Bennett-Garcia

Alexis Lee

InYoung Park

CONTRABASS

Adam Bernstein Principal

Jack Meisburg

Jonathan McWilliams*

FLUTE

Jeanne Carere Principal

Aaron Rib

OBOE

Alexandra Shatalova Prior Principal

Christina Gavin

CLARINET

Katherine White Principal

Greg Collins

BASSOON

Amy Pollard Principal

JT Holdbrooks*

HORN

Jason Eklund Principal

Eric Hawkins

Mackenzie Newell

Amy Trotz

TRUMPET

Kevin Lyons Principal

Anthony Barrington

Victor Pires

Jonathan Swygert*

TROMBONE

William Mann Principal

Ryan Black

Mark Spradley

TUBA

Don Strand Principal

TIMPANI

Scott Douglas Principal

PERCUSSION

Mike Cebulski Principal

Karen Hunt

Jeff Kershner

HARP

Nella Rigell+ Principal

Notes * Substitute Musician + Leave of Absence

administration 30

EXECUTIVE

Tom West, Executive Director

Connor Maguire, Executive Assistant & Board Liaison

ARTISTIC

Gennadi Nedvigin, Artistic Director

Angela Agresti, Company Repetituer

Rory Hohenstein, Company Repetiteur

Eduardo Permuy, Company Repetiteur

Claudia Schreier, Choreographer-in-Residence

COSTUMES

Colleen McGonegle, Costume Director

Susan Carter, Costume Construction Supervisor

Abigail Dupree-Polston, Patternmaker

Abby Thurman, Company Shoe Manager/ Wardrobe Supervisor

Erin Magner, Costume Technician

Briá Sanders, Costume Technician

Katherine Savage, Costume Technician

CENTRE FOR DANCE EDUCATION

Western-Li Summerton, Company Pianist

ARTISTIC OPERATIONS

42 | administration

Sicily Palms, Director of Artistic Operations

EXECUTIVE

Allison Cash, Artistic Operations Coordinator/ Assistant Stage Manager

Tom West, Executive Director

Nathan Jones, Executive Assistant

Katie Ude, Orchestra Operations Coordinator/ Music Librarian

FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION

Pamela Whitacre, Chief Operating O cer

FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION

Thomas Fowlkes, General Manager

Hana Miller, Controller

Pamela Whitacre, Chief Operating & Financial Officer

Amani Hill, Accounts Payable & Benefits Manager

Calla Kallina, Controller

Dana Hylton Calabro, Director, Data Services

Kimberly Jackson, Project Accountant/AP Manager

ADVANCEMENT

Natasha Harris, Director of Human Resources

Manda Wilhite, Senior Director of Advancement, Major Gifts and Board Liaison

Gennadi Nedvigin, Artistic Director

Sharon Story, Dean

Serena Chu, Atlanta Ballet 2 Repetiteur

Diane Caroll, Community Partnerships Director

CENTRE FOR DANCE EDUCATION

Gennadi Nedvigin,  Artistic Director

Sharon Story,  Dean

Kelly Tonina Cooper, Centre Administrative Director

Kelly Tonina Cooper , Centre Administrative Director

Ansilla Bearden, Buckhead Centre Manager & Summer Programs Manager

Ashley Suta, Virginia-Highland Centre Manager

Diane Caroll Sales,  Community Partnerships Director

Kate Gaul,  Buckhead Centre Principal

Mia Givens, Adult Dance Coordinator

Evan Rozier, Front Desk Manager

Nicole Adams,  Virginia-Highland Centre Principal Ansilla Bearden,  Satellite Manager

Brittney Flowers,  Centre Education Associate

Academy Faculty

Faculty

Serena Chu, Anna Penny, Natalya Vyashenko, Kirill Zaretskii

Sherren Sandy, Director of Advancement, Donor Engagement

Dana Hylton Calabro, Director of Technology and Sales Operations

PATRON SERVICES

Kelly Criss, Director of Advancement, Leadership Gifts

Megan Pearson, Patron Services Manager

Francesca Frederick, Director of Advancement, Institutional Gifts

Stephen Hall, Patron Services Associate

Part-Time Faculty

Marlena Abaza, Shirley Bennett, Sean Bennett

Sophia Doctoroff, Patron Services Associate

MARKETING & PUBLIC RELATIONS

Kate Biddle, Group Sales Manager

Tricia Ekholm, Chief Marketing O cer

Allison Kang, Director of Public Relations

ADVANCEMENT

Taylor Graves, Interim Graphic Designer

Brian Wallenberg, Video Content Producer

Nicole Pietro, Interim Chief Advancement Officer

Myredith Momongan, Associate Director of Group Sales

Brandon Brown, Senior Director of Individual Giving

Kelly Criss, Senior Director of Institutional Giving

Toni C. Vacinek, Associate Director of Marketing Communications

Ansleigh Brown, Individual Giving Manager

Kathryn Gutierrez, Special Events Manager

Zoey Fleck, Social Media Manager/Graphic Designer

Jasmine Atkins, Special Events Coordinator

PATRON SERVICES

MARKETING & PUBLIC RELATIONS

Lindsay Smith, Associate Director of Patron Services

Tricia Ekholm, Chief Marketing Officer

Desiree Houston, Patron Services Manager

Nicole Adams, Alice Balhatchet, Ansilla Bearden, Shirley Bennett, Haley Brink, Darby Burgess, Serena Chu, Harmony Clair, Kelly Tonina Cooper, Kameron Davis, Nardja el-Shabazz, Kate Gaul, Ashley Gibson, Nell Heflin Goza, Jennifer Inman, LaToya Princess Jackson, Aaron James, Malik Jenkins, Caroline Kraehe, Sergio Masero, Loren McFalls, Arneshuia Nelson, Anna Penny, Chantia Robinson, Diane Caroll Sales, Roscoe Sales, Erin Smith, Jasmine Stevenson, Abigail Tan-Gamino, Grace Thompson, Jennifer Van Meter, Calla Vaughn, Natalya Vyashenko, Martine Weber

Accompanists

Georgie Grace Butler, Diane Caroll, Kelly Tonina Cooper, Kameron Davis, Taia Galloway, Mia Givens, Jennifer Inman, Madelin Jamison, Courtney Johnson, Calla Kallina, Matoi Kawamoto, Stephany Kuzminski, Janan Mirza, Alyssa Myers, Arneshuia Nelson, Abi Pace, Andrea Pell, Chantia Robinson, Lay’la Rogers, Roscoe Sales, Ericka Shannon, Anderson Souza, Caitlin Spencer, Jasmine Stevenson, Ashley Suta, Abi Tan-Gamino, Emanuel Tavares

Elizabeth Grimes, Aleksandra Korshunova, Yulia Rice, Gretel Rodriguez, Kyla Zollitsch

Accompanists

Stephanie Kosarin, Yulia Rice, Kyla Zollitsch

Centre Education Associates

Imani Austin-Edwards, Shannon Geary, Flora Mangio, Hui-Wen Peng, Kaitlin Roemer, Jada Russell, Samantha Schuermann, Emma Seif

Centre Education Associates

Fiona Shaw, Marketing and Communications Director

Mallory Hazen , Patron Services Assistant

Jasmine Martinez , Patron Services Assistant

Alane Marco, Design Director

Josh Reynolds , Patron Services Assistant

Tumi Akin-Deko, Communications Coordinator

PRODUCTION

Henry Woods, Manager of Marketing Strategy and Data Analysis

Dave Smith, Production Manager & Technical Director

Atlanta Ballet Boutique

Leslie Campbell Judge, General Manager

Anna Ames, Imani Banks, Daniel Gray, Sidney Hall, Megan Leach, Emily McAllister, Rania Mirza, Ava Price, Evan Rozier

Nardja el-Shabazz,  Asst. General Manager, Atlanta Ballet Boutique

Atlanta Ballet Boutique

Louise Gordon, Retail Operations Manager

Alina Chaudhri, Boutique Coordinator

Sicily Palms, Company Manager

Amber Times, Social Media Manager

Nicole Walters, Production Stage Manager

PRODUCTION

Jane Kuipers, Assistant Stage Manager

Kristin Kelley , Assistant Stage Manager

Nicole Walters, Director of Production

Mia Givens, Boutique Merchandise Coordinator

Jonathan Fries, Technical Director

COSTUMES

Jai Auzenne, Production Stage Manager

Colleen McGonegle,  Costume Director

Abby Polston,  Draper

Susan Carter, Costume Construction Supervisor

Abby Parker, Company Shoe Manager/Wardrobe Supervisor/Costume Technician

Chloe Gervais,  Costume Technician

Maddie Simmons, Costume Technician

Ashleigh Dobrin,  Finisher

Concessions: Concession stands are located in the center of the lobbies. All sales are cashless - credit or debit card only.

Emergency Information: In the event of an emergency, please locate the nearest usher who will direct you to the appropriate exit.

Elevators: Elevators are located on each side of the lobbies on all levels.

Lost and found: Items are turned into Public Safety on the day of a performance. To inquire about a lost item, please call Public Safety at 770.916.2911.

Parking: Day of parking is available for $20 (credit or debit card only). There are 1,000 on-site parking spaces; 700 in a four-level deck and 300 more in a surface lot.

Restrooms: Located on house right and house left of all three lobbies. Family restrooms are located on house right of all three lobbies. Mobility-impaired patrons may use any of our restrooms.

Smoking: Smoking, vaping and e-cigarettes are prohibited inside the building.

Special assistance: Persons requiring access assistance are asked to contact the Ticketmaster at 800-982-2787 for advance arrangements. Audio clarification devices are available to our hearing-impaired guests at no charge. This is on a first-come, first-served basis. These are available at the Synovus Box Office. Wheelchairs are available upon request. All items require a form of identification to be held until the item is returned.

Prohibited items: The venue does not check items. Please visit https://www. cobbenergycentre.com/plan-your-visit/ prohibited-itemssecurity for more information.

ATLANTA BALLET REQUESTS

All patrons, regardless of age, must have a ticket to be admitted to the performance. Please be aware that not all events are suitable for children. Infants will not be admitted to adult programs. Parents will be asked to remove children who create a disturbance.

Late arrivals will be seated in alternative seating until intermission when you can then access your seats.

We recommend arriving at least 45 minutes early so you have time to visit concessions and get to the seats you purchased. Doors to Cobb Energy Centre open 90 minutes prior to the performance. •

Photography and videography of the performance is strictly prohibited.

Please turn off all cellphones before each performance.

Audio & video recording devices are not permitted.

Please unwrap all candies and cough drops before the perfomance.

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