SFB's Gennadi Nedvigin Named New Artistic Director of Atlanta Ballet

Atlanta Ballet announced today that Gennadi Nedvigin, principal dancer with San Francisco Ballet, will join the 87-year-old company as only its fourth artistic director.

The announcement comes just seven months after John McFall, the Ballet's current artistic director, announced his retirement after more than 20 years with the Company. McFall will officially end his tenure June 1, following the close of the Company's 2015-16 season, and Nedvigin will assume the post August 1.

"We are thrilled to welcome Gennadi to Atlanta Ballet," said Allen W. Nelson, chair of Atlanta Ballet's Board of Trustees. "This is a pivotal time for our organization, and we are confident that Gennadi will be a leader who can build on the rich legacies of John McFall, Robert Barnett and Ms. Dorothy Alexander, but also carve out his own legacy within our organization."

Nelson continued: "Gennadi has received some of the best ballet training in the world and has flourished as one of the great dancers of our time. We believe he has the access, artistry and innate understanding of excellence 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."

Nedvigin will join Atlanta Ballet after 19 seasons with San Francisco Ballet where he has been one of the most celebrated dancers of the Company's current era. He will now be one of three former San Francisco Ballet principal dancers who currently lead a major ballet company in the United States, including Mikko Nissinen at Boston Ballet and Ashley Wheater at Joffrey Ballet.