Just became a huge fan of the arts in Atlanta. The Golden Hour and Frida Kahlo performances were amazing!! Great idea for girls night or date night. read more

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I've seen so many shows over the years. The Atlanta Ballet is filled with so many talented people. I love how each ballet tells a story. I try to attend 2-3 shows a year. They do a great job walking you through the history of the show and how it came about. read more

Box office is never open at the Marietta location. Why have a box office if the only way to access is via phone. I don't know.

Beautiful holiday outing. Wish they published a dress code though, some people don't get it, but they also post "no good" and that didn't stop that woman behind me digging into and snacking on popcorn during the performance. read more

It was a lovely production of The Nutcracker with talented dancers. The first act was a little bit slow, but they definitely made up for it in the second act! The costuming and staging was very intricate and beautifully done. read more

I went to see the Atlanta Ballet's 53rd production of The Nutcracker on Saturday night. Big thanks to Tom E. for hooking us up with great tickets (2nd row)! The Nutcracker is currently showing at The Fox Theatre. December 7-26, 2012. As I stated in my original review for the Atlanta Ballet (which you can read below), ballets aren't really my thing. I prefer a good movie or sporting event instead. I was a bit worried I might be bored to tears with The Nutcracker, but it actually turned out to be mostly entertaining. Don't get me wrong -- I have a lot of respect for everyone involved in the production: the cast, the directors, the orchestra, choir, etc. It was a high quality, first class production. I enjoyed The Nutcracker much more than the last Atlanta Ballet performance I saw, Moulin Rouge. The show consisted of two acts with a 25-minute intermission. Including the intermission, the performance lasted about 2 hours. What made The Nutcracker enjoyable for me was the music (composed by Tchaikovsky). The Atlanta Ballet Orchestra did a superb job. Also, the costume design (and set design) were intricate from the rats to the sugar plum fairy to the mother matrushka. When combined, the entire show felt whimsical and magical. The first act ended with fake snow falling from the ceiling into the theater below. Another nice touch to The Nutcracker is the cast includes over 250 school children from the metro Atlanta area. All in all, if there was ever an Atlanta Ballet performance to check out, it would be The Nutcracker. It's one of those classic holiday traditions, so if you're looking for a nice night out on the town (in December), certainly go check it out. read more

This was my 1st time seeing the Nutcracker and not knowing much about it, I was extremely confused. Luckily I was with a friend who has seen the ballet at the Fox for many years. She was able to explain the story line to me but she was also confused. She kept saying "I have never seen anything like this", and not in a good way. We asked for a program which would have helped and would have been nice to see the names of the dancers but no programs, maybe cost saving measure-no idea. I know nothing about ballet(Opera is my thing) but I was not impressed with the dancing. It was ok but really not what I expected after hearing all my life how wonderful the Nutcracker is. There was NO set only 3 or 4 backdrop drapes. There were a lot of children-which was cute but gave the feel of a school production. That would have been fine if we hadn't spent $260 for 2 tickets(not to mention parking which was only $30 because we parked many blocks away. My friend remembers when the Atlanta Orchestra played live at the show and she said that it was amazing. Even the dancing looked like they phoned it in. Now I'm not a ballet expert but I have seen it on TV and it is usually very crisp and precise, but this looked like a high school production. I'm sure that the dancers are well trained and a few were good but the couple that received the most applause looked like they were from Cirque de Soleil. It was mildly entertaining but sadly not the spectacle that I was expecting. I certainly don't expect to come next year unless things change. Don't waste your money-go to a concert or see a good movie instead. read more

How you rate this ballet is probably going to be dependent on what you are comparing it to and what other ballet's you be seen. Compared to Russian (Bolshoi ballet) and European ballets, this will feel like a lackluster performance, but of course it's Atlanta, so a one to one comparison would not be completely fair. Talent is limited in a smaller city. MOULIN ROUGE. The story was great and costumes were very interesting. However, it felt very repetitive. Not the story itself, but the composition and the dances. I got to a point where I was wondering, when is this going to be over? That should never happen at a ballet performance. SOME WANT-TO-BE BALLERINAS. I have to comment on the fitness and body of many of the ballerinas. Several had very disproportionate legs and far from straight, something that would never be tolerated in a world class ballet company. It does take away from the experience overall, but given the theme of Moulin Rouge, it was tolerable. SIMPLE. There was no complex dances, maneuvers and anything interesting really. Only the main dancer couple had some acts that would qualify as ballet, the rest was more of a theater show than a ballet in my opinion. GREAT DATE NIGHT. It makes a great date night, make sure to dress well. A blazer would be recommended. read more

Atlanta Ballet - Moulin Rouge - Opera & Ballet Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

I feel pretty bad leaving a 3 star review before, as I am now the Yelp duchess of a place I rated so averagely. Especially when I have been enjoying the classes I've been to recently. Atlanta Ballet Centre for Education provides a great way for nonprofessional dancers to move. It's intimidating at first, especially when you see some budding pre-professional dance students running around the building. The lady at reception is friendly and helped me get set up in the dressing room and the proper studio. Using my class card, I had her sign off on my card as I signed in for the beginning/intermediate ballet class. The studio is large and open, although bar space seemed a bit limited. No matter, as the class is relatively small. Harmony was the instructor on Monday night, and she was very friendly and gave me some great constructive criticism. There are three Atlanta ballet locations, with one located in Sandy Springs(ish) and another in Buckhead. There are many different classes at various times of the day, so sometimes location does matter. However, there is a class for everyone, from introductory or beginning classes to intermediate and advanced. So don't be scared, and get out and dance! read more

Review for Atlanta Ballet-Center for Dance Education. I took a Ballet Intro class today at the Buckhead location and I loved the class! Do bring: water, wear contact lenses, ballet shoes. Some people wear leotards + tights, others wear t-shirt+ shorts. Just wear what is comfortable for you. Location: good neighborhood. The studio is located in a plaza and parking spaces are abundant. Facility: super clean, very well renovated. Large classroom. I took the Monday evening ballet intro class and I had no ballet experience at all. The instructor was Ms. Harrison. I loved the class, the atmosphere was warm and the Ms. Harrison was very friendly and patient. The skills she taught were quite basic. I feel the class is truly for "absolute beginners" like me. She demonstrated all poses and explained each ballet position well. I feel quite encouraged after the class. I paid $10 (student price) for the 90 mins class. I plan to come back every week. Compare with Studio Dionne, Dance 411 and Gotta dance Atlanta: Studio Dionne: Pros: The instructor I had was very patient. Well renovated facility. Cons: 1, expensive. 2, small classroom with a lot of students. Hard time to find a parking space. Dance 411: Pros: Runs a lot of deals. The instructor I had was very patient. Cons: Hard time to find a parking space, I had to park at a nearby Chinese takeout each time. They discontinued the ballet drop in class and the instructor was teaching only kids classes now. Gotta dance Atlanta: Pros: Runs a lot of deals. Cons: I took the explore ballet class, and the instructor was not very experienced and not quite patient. I do not recommend explore ballet class taught by Nikki. Also the facility is not as well renovated as Studio Dionne. read more

Tradition is tradition and you have definitely broken with tradition. After reviewing many reviews on various sites tonight, I am not alone in my opinion. I was not impressed with this latest version of the Nutcracker at Cobb Energy Center. Both my daughters and myself were totally disappointed after attending many performances at the Fox. At times it seemed as though the stage was too small or maybe it was all of the animation. The show lacked pizzazz, energy and finesse. I struggled to stay awake after intermission for a performance which lacked previous years upbeat, colorful and engaging tempo. Thanks but no thanks, I will save my money for something else next year unless things change. Oh and it needs to be back at the Fox Theatre at least the venue will look full. read more

Saw the Nutcracker this year at the Cobb Energy Center and I can't understand the bad reviews. It was amazing. Technically challenging choreography was executed flawlessly by the dancers and the awe-inspiring sets added to the dancing and storyline. One of the best Nutcracker performances Ive seen in a long time. Possokhovs choreography is ridiculously difficult but the Atlanta Ballet dancers make it look like a walk in the park. Forget the old fashioned Nutcracker-this version is spicier and more tantalizing-I'll take it anyday over vanilla Balanchine! read more

I took my daughter to see the Atlanta Ballet's Nutcracker on Dec 9, 2021. I have gone to see the Nutcracker about 20 times in my life with my daughter- she is 23. . This performance by far was the worst I've ever seen. The story was so warped, I barely recognized it. The Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies was totally ruined by dancers in bathing caps covered in feathers. The dancing was horrible- minimal lifts, broken wrists, incomplete turns. Cossack dancers couldnt jump- I could go on and on - it was just weird and totally lacking in talent. We hated it!!!! read more

I went to my first ballet here in Atlanta on 2008.04.12 My mother and I went to see "big". I loved it. The Ballet started out with a little Avant-garde/experimental flair that i honestly did NOT get...my mom told me later she was secretly wondering how she was going to tell me she didn't like the ballet, but thankfully the ballet just got better and better. It included a 20 minute intermission where people downed whine, champagne, beer, popcorn (yes, that's right...beer & popcorn at a ballet) & cigarettes. @nd act opened with a couple of dancers doing graffiti & ballet at the same time...yea, wrap your mind around that... Opening: It opened with a beautiful solo performance by Tara Lee (she was great...so jealous of her body). Lee would be seen throughout the various scenes/vignettes. Then Big Boi comes out in long baggy jean shorts & large button down top with one of his mega-hits from Speakerboxxx while the dancers performed in the background - side...Speaking of side, out seats were to the left of center-stage & the ballet "played" towards that direction during most of the performances. Go to know if the show goes on tour. Ending: Bows & encores...introduction of each musician...yes the music was live...artist who each should their musically talent...then the band & artist performed "The Way You Move" the crowd started dancing in their seats and the isle Music Audio: Outkast and Sleepy Brown songs (...yes that includes Kryptonite & Bombs over Baghdad) with some classical, Rock, Rap, Soul, by a LIVE band....& a Spoken-word piece with a live band & ballet dancer in the background Visiual effects: ...strob lights, soft-screens, trapdoors, wirework, video project imagery, traditions stage props..etc Crowd: diverse audience...From surfer to wannabe hip-hop star Dress: clubbing to church...long formals to PJs...I saw Baby Phat crop jeans & designer formal gowns My Fav: Janelle Monae - she did ballet WHILE singing...she is PHENOMENAL (not just in the ballet... www.myspace.com/janellemonae)...Diddy has a class-act artist http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1585201/20080410/big_boi.jhtml http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1585050/20080408/monae__janelle.jhtml Artists on stage: Big Boi, Sleepy Brown, Joi, Janelle Monae, Scar, Konkrete, Big Rube, Khujo Goodie and The Purple Ribbon All Starz BEAWARE: Big Boi did curse in some of his songs. Some of the dancing was very sensual (but i liked it) Example of some songs that were in the production: http://www.bluemaze.com/big/ read more

OK, so I'm not one for ballet, but we actually have a very good company here in Atlanta. If you guys are looking for something to impress the girls, suck it up and take her (remember who puts up with your endless football-game-watching). They're also putting on a really cool show as part of their new season that features music from Big Boi from Outkast- now that's what I call opposites attracting. read more

If you ever want to feel like a completely unattractive giant, visit the Atlanta Ballet Complex right as a dance practice is getting out. Thankfully, I was there to pick up a pair of free of tickets that Atlanta Ballet had offered as promos to a few of us lucky yelpers. They had two staffers working the ticket counter, so the process was a breeze. Kudos to them also for embracing unique marketing opportunities like yelp and twitter. Our orchestra level seats in row U at the Cobb Energy Centre were the perfect spot to watch "Moulin Rouge" from. Far enough away that you could see the whole stage and appreciate the unity of the dancers, but close enough that you could zero in on the technical skill of the leads. The dancers were excellent and the costumes were stunning. I've always rotated between the opera, symphony, and whatever Broadway musical is in town when I have the money and/or time for the performing arts, but I will definitely be adding ballet into that rotation. The audience was also really well dressed which added another something special to the evening. Unlike the last few musicals I've seen where it seems like jeans are becoming more and more acceptable, ballet patrons were dressed to the nines. I like getting dressed up to go see a show, and I enjoyed being around the company of others who felt the same way. My one suggestions for the Atlanta Ballet: Please, please, PLEASE cut out the opening remarks by the artistic director or benefactors or whomever. It just *screams* community theater and took away greatly from the professionalism of the performance. read more

I've never been a big fan of the ballet. Nothing against it, it's just never been my thing. However, for a friend's birthday, I went to the Atlanta Ballet's production of Moulin Rouge and I was VERY impressed. Everything about it was just wonderful. I saw the movie but I couldn't remember the exact plot, but that wasn't a problem at all as the performance was very easy to follow. I laughed, I cheered, I was touched! It was wonderful! All of it! I was particularly impressed with the costumes. Very nice! The dresses inspired me to try to find some place where I can wear a can-can dress...and flash my ruffles! All in all, it was a surprisingly delightful evening at the ballet. Look at me...I'm all cultured now! read more

I was raised by two professional ballet dancers, so I've probably been to the ballet about 10 times a year ever since I was born. Since I've lived in Atlanta, I've only been to the ballet a handful of times. I was very excited to go see Sleeping Beauty. It is one of my favorite ballets. Petipa's choreography is technically challenging, which is probably only noticeable for a trained eye, and stunningly beautiful. The music is SO captivating!! Some of Tchaikovsky's best!! I was a little disappointed by the performance of the Atlanta Ballet. The lead was danced by Kristine Loveless Necessary who is retiring at the end of the season. I guess they wanted to give her one last role to dance. She did ok, but she did not shine by any means. I think the role was just too big for her. She's no Carla Fracci, for sure! The lilac fairy - another big role in the ballet was performed by a rather inexperienced dancer who gave a boring performance and couldn't seem to find her balance all evening long. The only shining star was Tara Lee who played Carabosse, the evil witch. She took over the stage with her tiny little frame. I couldn't take my eyes off her. I think this ballet performance really suffered from poor casting. Either that - or Atlanta is slowly running out of talented dancers? I've seen very good performances by this company in the past, so I'm not sure what happened here...? read more

My 666th review...maybe a little ominous. I've been a little disappointed with Atlanta Ballet in their last few shows, with the exception of one production. I hate to give a lower rating, as I want this city to continue to support the arts, but their shows need to warrant the support. The Princess and the Goblin (Mar 2012): A surprise- Twyla Tharp as a guest choreographer, in collaboration with the Winnepeg Ballet..this ballet was whimsical, well-produced, and well-danced. Costumes and scenery were fabulous, and fit the story well. Twyla herself made a curtain call appearance, which was thrilling, as I've been a long time fan of her work. My least favorite of any ballet I've seen (in my life, ever) is Atlanta Ballet's production of The Nutcracker (Dec 2011) If you've never seen another company's production of The Nutcracker, you'll like it just fine. But if you're like me, where my favorite part of the ballet (Russian trepak dance, which is famous for flying leaps and fast feet) is ruined by changing the characters into neon wearing clowns that yell, you'd be horrified too. And their telemarketing department really does not let up...I have them marked as "Do not answer" on my phone, as they keep calling me with ticket subscription offers, even after I firmly tell them to remove me from the call list. I'm never buying a ticket from their website again...cash only from the ticket window is the only way to go anonymously. I've seen many ballets in my lifetime, so at this point, it's really all about seeing how different ballet companies interpret traditional works and what new choreographers they apply to new shows...i'm not really sure i like their takes on traditional ballets (though those traditional full length ballets are what i prefer to see over new works). I do admire their continual attempts to balance their season calendar with creativity (a ballet using the music of Johnny Cash comes to mind), balancing with popular traditional ballet shows for the masses (Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella...the ticket sales from these shows are what pays the bills). read more

I love the Atlanta Ballet. I've been going to shows off and on since I was in high school. Being a former dancer myself, there was plenty to appeal to me about the company. They're all incredibly talented and wonderful to watch. My favorite show of theirs has to be Dracula. It's making another appearance over the next two weeks for Valentine's Day (Love sucks?). The first time I saw it, I was in awe. The choreography was amazing, the costumes were to die for, and while color blind casting can lead to some humorous visuals, the show is a don't miss. Even people who think ballet is boring and stuffy will be converted when they see this show. It's that good. There's some particularly impressive corps work at the end in the graveyard. While Dracula is far and away my favorite show of theirs, any show will be enjoyable. Also with their new home at the Cobb Energy Center, the experience is even better. read more

Last night I saw Atlanta ballet's world premiere of Carmina Burana. It was performed to a live orchestra and live choir and was breathtakingly fantastic. Everything from the dancing to the costumes to the sets and lighting was just gorgeous. Several years ago I was an Atlanta ballet season ticket holder and was not disappointed by any of the shows. In particular I was blown away by their performance of Dracula. It was eerily fantastic - I highly recommend it. They usually perform at the Cobb Energy Center which is a beautiful venue. I just feel sophisticated being able to attend events there. Parking is $10 valet and $6 for self-park but is right next to the theater so there is no long walk to your car after the performance. They sell all kinds of concessions in the lobby from pretzels and dinners to drinks from the full bar. Tickets generally start around $20. My ticket last night was $15 with a student discount. But consider yourself warned - if you are purchasing your ticket online the fees along with each ticket add up to around $15. Atlanta Ballet is truly a gem of our city. If you have not seen any of their performances I highly recommend you take the short trip up I-75 to check one out. read more

Saw Moulin Rouge last weekend at the Cobb Energy Centre & it was beautiful! I haven't been to the ballet in such a long time. To be honest I've never actually seen Moulin Rouge the movie all the way through because it just didn't hold my attention. This ballet was the complete opposite. I couldn't take my eyes off of the dancers. The story line was so easy to follow & it just pulls you in. The crowd was an interesting mix as well. Young, old, black, white & in between, people wearing jeans, cocktail dresses, suit, & ballgowns. I struggled a bit figuring out what to wear, but from the looks of it... just go in whatever makes you feel comfortable. read more

Thanks for the comment-back, Katherine. It's been six months since the last call and memories of the show have far exceeded the calls. I hope to come back to see the Nutcracker again the holiday season. I hope that everyone in the Atlanta area gets the chance to do the same! read more

Seeing "Big" (Big Boi's collaborative project with the Atlanta Ballet) and "The Nutcracker" made me a big fan of the Atlanta Ballet, as both productions were awesome... so I purchased '08-'09 season tickets. They were the best season tickets I've ever bought. "Swan Lake" just isn't my favorite ballet/story (it bores me), but the Atlanta Ballet still did a great job with it. "Dracula," on the other hand, was one of the best performances - not just ballet performances, but ALL performances - that I've ever seen on stage! It's mysteriously beautiful, it's sinful and sexy and delightfully scary... your attention is held 100% of the time, and you're sad when it's over (and, ladies, you can drag your men out to this one! - my boyfriend loved it, and he's the last man on earth to really love a ballet). I can't wait to see the production of "Don Quixote" this May. As a sidenote - the Atlanta Ballet now performs at the Cobb Energy Centre, which is a big plus to checking out a performance. I originally was sad when it was announced that it was to be the new home of the Atlanta Ballet, as I'm in love with the Fox and practically grew up there... But the CEC is impressively elegant and has an airier, more 'performance hall' feel... definitely a fun new Atlantan venue. read more

I love Atlanta Ballet. I have been involved with Atlanta Ballet from my young years with the Centre of Dance Education for summer camps where I learned a lot to attending performances over the course of many years to interacting with them in the partnership with Kennesaw State University. Atlanta Ballet is a wonderful dance company and I am happy to have them nearby. They perform beautiful classics such as 'The Nutcracker' and 'Swan Lake' but then always give us a taste of variety with unique and exploratory pieces as well. The dancers are beautiful and talented-- I always look forward to watching them perform. If you have never been to watch them, check for tickets and go see a show today. Whether you prefer classical stories or more upbeat, Atlanta Ballet will have a show for you! read more

Have not seen Atlanta Ballet rating entirely on customer service. Recently lost a child and called to let them know we could not attend for medical reasons. Not only would the manager not issue a refund they went on to tell us about all the incredible upcoming shows we could exchange our tickets for. Have a heart Atlanta Ballet- it's not all about profits. read more

The only reason this isn't a 5 star review is that one of their 4 shows was cancelled with no make up. It was Wonderland, which I was very excited to see. I understand in this world that things happen, but it still made me sad. Still, support Atlanta Culture!! read more

My wife and I went to see Dracula at the Cobb Energy Center on Valentine's Day and it was wonderful. I have never been to a ballet before but my wife has seen several of them and told me that Dracula was very masculine and by far her favorite ballet she has seen. The costumes were very well done and the stage setting was equally impressive. I never thought I would care much for ballet dancing but this show was so enjoyable I would pay to see it again. The orchestra was fantastic and the sound quality at the CEC is in my opinion the best in the Atlanta metro area. I look forward to seeing another ballet here, I believe that Don Quixote will be back in May and we are planning to see it. read more

Not nearly as good as past years. I have been 6 straight years and will unlikely go next year. Prior shows were much more upbeat.

My wife and I went for the AB's latest production of Michael Pink's Dracula and as a non-ballet person, I was completely blown away. The performance was spectacular, the lead dancers in the ballet moved with such grace and sincerity that my attention was completely theirs. The story was easy to follow even for meathead like me. Highly recommended, please take the time to see this performance if you can. read more

I've been to the Atlanta ballet school a total of 6 times. And yet i've only been able to take class 3 times. The first two times they left incorrect information in their voicemail, and the third time they had changed the schedule without posting an updated version online. If you are thinking about attending one of their classes I strongly recommend calling in advanced to make sure the class is actually happening. Also, the staff is highly unapologetic and instead of apologizing for the misinformation, told me that it was my fault (all three times) for misreading or misunderstanding the information I was given. Once you do get to take a class, there seems to be only one teacher for the advanced level. She is great, but it seems odd to me that a school thats basically the largest in Atlanta can only get one teacher to teach all their advanced classes. All in all, I am highly disappointed in the quality of their dance education center. read more