Atlanta Ballet: Your Guide to Atlanta’s Premier Dance Company

Atlanta Ballet is one of the city’s most recognizable arts institutions and a major part of Atlanta’s cultural identity. Whether you’re a resident looking for a night out, a parent exploring ballet classes, or a visitor planning your trip, understanding how Atlanta Ballet works in Atlanta can help you make the most of what it offers.

Where Atlanta Ballet Is and What It Does

Atlanta Ballet is based in midtown Atlanta, with performances, rehearsals, and training centered around two main locations:

• Performance home:
  Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre
  2800 Cobb Galleria Parkway
  Atlanta, GA 30339
  (Just northwest of downtown, near the I‑75/I‑285 interchange)

• Company & school headquarters (Michael C. Carlos Dance Centre):
  1695 Marietta Blvd NW
  Atlanta, GA 30318
  (Upper Westside / Northwest Atlanta)

From these locations, Atlanta Ballet:

• Stages major professional ballet productions
• Runs the Atlanta Ballet Centre for Dance Education
• Offers community outreach and educational programs across metro Atlanta

Attending an Atlanta Ballet Performance

What Kinds of Shows You’ll See

During a typical season in Atlanta, you’ll see:

• Full-length classical ballets
  Think story ballets like Nutcracker, Swan Lake, or Giselle.
• Contemporary and modern works
  Shorter, mixed-repertory programs featuring new choreography.
• Family-friendly programming
  Often around the holidays or special times of year.

Most mainstage productions are performed at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, though you may also see smaller shows or special events at other Atlanta venues.

When the Season Runs

Atlanta Ballet’s season usually runs:

• Fall through spring (roughly September–May)
• With summer programs more focused on education and training

📌 Tip: Performance schedules change year to year. For Atlanta planning, it’s a good idea to check the season calendar before buying other event tickets or making dinner reservations in the area.

Ticket Buying Basics

You can typically buy tickets:

• Online or by phone through the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre box office or the Atlanta Ballet box office
• In person at the venue box office when it’s open

Typical options for Atlanta audiences:

• Single tickets – good if you’re trying ballet for the first time
• Season packages – for frequent arts-goers in metro Atlanta
• Group tickets – often available for schools, companies, and social groups

Many local patrons look for:

• Weeknight vs. weekend pricing
• Matinee options (usually more family-friendly and easier for those dealing with Atlanta traffic)

What to Expect on Performance Day in Atlanta

Getting to Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre

Address:
2800 Cobb Galleria Parkway
Atlanta, GA 30339

Driving:

• Convenient to I‑75 and I‑285 on the northwest side
• Popular with residents of Smyrna, Vinings, Marietta, and Buckhead, as well as in-town neighborhoods

Parking:

• The venue has an on-site parking deck and surface lots.
• Many Atlanta audiences plan to arrive 30–45 minutes early to manage parking and walking time, especially for sold-out shows.

Public transit options:

• MARTA does not go directly to the door, but you can:
  • Take MARTA rail to Arts Center or Civic Center, then use a rideshare
  • Use CobbLinc bus routes that service the Cumberland/Galleria area (subject to change, so check schedules)

Dress Code and Atmosphere

There is no strict dress code, and Atlanta audiences tend to be a mix of:

• Business casual (especially for evening shows)
• Dressy for special events or opening nights
• Comfortable neat attire for weekend matinees and family performances

Comfortable shoes are helpful because of parking-lot-to-theatre walking distance, and the theatre is usually well air-conditioned.

Timing and Logistics

• Lobby usually opens about an hour before curtain time.
• Seating begins 20–30 minutes before the performance.
• Late seating may only be allowed during specific pauses to avoid disrupting the dancers and audience.

Common Atlanta routine:

1. Arrive early to avoid rush-hour traffic delays on I‑75/I‑285.
2. Park and pick up tickets (if needed).
3. Grab a drink or snack in the lobby before the show.

Atlanta Ballet Centre for Dance Education

If you or your child live in or around Atlanta and are interested in taking ballet classes, you’ll likely interact with the Atlanta Ballet Centre for Dance Education.

Main School Location

Michael C. Carlos Dance Centre
1695 Marietta Blvd NW
Atlanta, GA 30318

This facility houses:

• Professional company rehearsal studios
• Training studios for children, teens, and adults
• Administrative offices

Atlanta Ballet has also maintained satellite school locations in other parts of metro Atlanta, so residents of areas like Buckhead, Virginia-Highland, Decatur, and the northern suburbs often have options that reduce driving time. These satellite locations can change, so it’s wise to check current offerings before registering.

Types of Classes Atlanta Residents Can Expect

The school typically offers:

• Children’s ballet programs
  For young dancers, often starting as creative movement and progressing to formal technique.
• Pre-professional training
  For serious students who may consider a dance career.
• Teen and adult ballet classes
  Including beginner to advanced levels; many Atlanta adults enroll for fitness, coordination, and enjoyment rather than performance careers.
• Summer intensives and camps
  Popular with local students and those traveling to Atlanta for training.

🍑 Local note: Families in neighborhoods like East Cobb, Sandy Springs, Brookhaven, and Midtown often weigh drive time on I‑75/I‑85 or surface streets when choosing class times, especially on weekday afternoons.

Registration and Placement

Common steps for Atlanta families and adults:

1. Review age and level guidelines for classes.
2. Some levels require a placement class or evaluation, especially for older children and pre-professional students.
3. Register and pay tuition according to the session (school year or summer).

Schedules often take into account:

• Local school calendars (Atlanta Public Schools, Cobb County, Fulton County, etc.)
• Major Atlanta events that can affect traffic and parking

Community Outreach and Education in Atlanta

Atlanta Ballet is not just about mainstage shows; it also has a strong community presence around metro Atlanta.

Programs may include:

• In-school performances and workshops
  Often in partnership with metro Atlanta school districts, including public, private, and charter schools.
• Field trips to the theatre
  Especially around popular productions like The Nutcracker.
• Community events and demonstrations
  At festivals, parks, libraries, and cultural centers across Atlanta.

If you’re an educator, community organizer, or parent:

• Look for student matinee performances and educational resource materials tailored to Georgia curriculum standards.
• Many Atlanta schools coordinate buses to Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre or to studio visits at the Carlos Dance Centre.

Planning a Night Out Around Atlanta Ballet

Because Atlanta Ballet performances are part of the broader city experience, many people plan an entire evening:

Near Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre

The theatre is close to:

• Cumberland Mall and The Battery Atlanta
  Offering plenty of restaurants, from casual to upscale, plus shopping and entertainment.
• Hotel options
  Convenient for visitors staying in Cumberland/Galleria or for out-of-town guests.

A typical Atlanta Ballet night for locals might look like:

1. Leave early to beat rush-hour traffic on I‑75.
2. Have dinner at a restaurant near Cumberland Mall or The Battery.
3. Attend the ballet performance at Cobb Energy.
4. Optionally grab dessert or a drink nearby after the show.

Atlanta Ballet for Visitors vs. Locals

If You’re Visiting Atlanta

Atlanta Ballet can be a strong cultural highlight of your trip:

• Check performance dates early if your visit is short.
• Consider staying in or near the Cumberland/Galleria area, Midtown, or Downtown, where you’ll have easier access to:
  • Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre
  • Other arts venues (like Woodruff Arts Center)
  • MARTA and main interstates

If You Live in Metro Atlanta

You might interact with Atlanta Ballet in several ways:

• Season tickets or frequent attendance if you’re an arts lover
• Children’s classes or summer programs for your family
• Adult ballet classes if you want a structured, artistic workout
• School field trips and outreach events if you’re connected to local education

Many Atlanta residents appreciate that the company offers a mix of traditions (like holiday favorites) and new contemporary works, making it appealing across age groups.

Quick Reference: Atlanta Ballet in Atlanta

How to Decide If Atlanta Ballet Is Right for You

Atlanta Ballet may be a good fit if you:

• Live in or near Atlanta and want high-quality live performance close to home
• Have children or teens interested in structured, reputable ballet training
• Are visiting Atlanta and want an evening arts experience that reflects the city’s culture
• Work in education and are looking for arts-based programs tied to state standards

By understanding where Atlanta Ballet is located, how its season works, and what options exist for both audiences and students, you can better fit it into your life in Atlanta, Georgia—whether that means a single holiday show or an ongoing relationship with the school and community programs.