After more than 20 years with the company, Atlanta Ballet artistic director John McFall retired.

San Francisco Ballet principal dancer Gennadi Nedvigin becomes the company’s new director for the 2016-2017 season. Fans and Atlanta Ballet dancers are excited to see what fresh energy Nedvigin will bring to Atlanta.

“Atlanta Ballet is really good about training well-rounded dancers,” sophomore Grace Semler said. “I think having a new director will allow the company to continue expanding and exploring new styles.”

Semler has shown her interest in dance at Grady performing in several theater productions, including “Secret Garden” and the original musical “Half-Step,” and has been to several Atlanta Ballet shows in the past. She is hopeful Nedvigin will bring new choreographers to Atlanta to showcase their work and diversify the Atlanta Ballet performances.

Atlanta Ballet Board of Trustees member Allen Nelson is confident Nedvigin will be a strong leader who can follow the legacies of past directors McFall, Robert Barnett and Dorothy Alexander.

“We believe [Nedvigin] has the artistry and innate understanding of excellence needed to develop high-quality, balanced and accessible programming, establishing an artistic vision that will position Atlanta Ballet to become one of the preeminent dance companies in the country and the world,” Nelson said.

Nedvigin, who will join Atlanta Ballet in its 87th year, has studied in some of the most prestigious facilities known to the ballet world. At age 10, Nedvigin began training at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy in Russia which prepared him as a soloist for his first professional company, the Moscow Renaissance Ballet. The San Francisco Ballet offered him a contract while he was on tour in the United States in 1997 and ever since, he has been a standout in the company.

Nedvigin was appointed artistic director in February 2016, giving his final professional performance July 2016. Nedvigin is excited for the new season, and he hopes this year’s lineup will give Atlanta a taste of his style.

“We decided we would do some of the ballets from previous years and programs,” Nedvigin said. “I’m shooting for programs to have traditional works, classical pristine works that will help to communicate to the audience and slowly move them from classical works to more contemporary works.” 

The company currently is in its rehearsal period, but starting after Atlanta Ballet’s annual “The Nutcracker” at the Fox Theater Dec. 9-24, Nedvigin will bring a range of modern-infused works to the Cobb Energy Center.

“You always know when you go [to an Atlanta Ballet performance] you will see a good show,” Semler said. “Atlanta Ballet is good about having a mix between classical and more contemporary exhibitions. I am most excited for ‘Firebird’ because the music is so beautifully composed.”

From Feb. 2-11, the company presents David Bintley’s “Carmina Burana,” an adaptation of the classic tale set to Carl Orff’s musical score, performed live by the Atlanta Ballet Orchestra and the Georgia State University Singers and Master Singers. The showing will be a restaging of Atlanta Ballet’s vastly popular 2013 performance.

Gennadi’s Choice, which runs March 17-19, features excerpts from Marius Petipa’s “Paquita,” a world premiere by American Ballet Theatre’s Gemma Bond, and the Atlanta debut of Liam Scarlett’s “Vespertine,” originally created for the Norwegian National Ballet.

April 14-16 will bring a collection of pieces: Yuri Possokhov’s restaging of “Firebird,” George Balanchine’s classic “Allegro Brilliante,” and Ji?í Kylián’s “Petite Mort.” Nedvigin wants the three physically and artistically challenging compositions to highlight the Atlanta Ballet company’s strength and range. The San Francisco dancer commented on how impressed he was by Atlanta Ballet dancers when he staged last season’s “Classical Symphony.”

Finally, Helen Pickett’s “Camino Real,” based on Tennessee Williams’s play will show from May 12-14 and close the 2016-2017 season. The Atlanta Ballet Orchestra plans to perform the ballet live at the Cobb Energy Center. The full length story ballet follows former boxing champion Kilroy as he brings new hope to the discouraged town of Camino Real.

Nedvigin’s lineup reflects his strong dance background and new artistic vision. He is looking forward to taking a lead over the company and hopes to take it in a new but powerful direction.  p