Atlanta Ballet Incorporated

Now in its 30th year, the centre for dance education (cde) is the sixth-largest dance education program in the country and one of the strongest arts education programs in atlanta. Fully accredited by the national association of schools of dance, the cde is one of only nine professional dance schools accredited schools in the country and the only dance organization in georgia with this distinction. Across its three satellite locations, the cde's world-class faculty teaches over 1200 students ranging from three-year-olds to adults with a challenging and comprehensive curriculum designed to inspire future dancers. Students also receive the special benefit of being able to rehearse with and observe the ins and outs of being a professional dancer. Atlanta ballet's second company, atlanta ballet 2 (ab2), provides students at the top level of the cde with opportunities to develop technically through intense training as well as artistically through extensive performance experience. Ab2 represents atlanta ballet's continued commitment to training dancers for professional careers and serves as a pathway to becoming an atlanta ballet company member. By serving the atlanta community with balanced, quality performances and nurturing the next generation of young dancers, ab2 will support the growth of atlanta ballet's professional company and the organization at large.

At atlanta ballet, we recognize that often communities with high levels of poverty donot have access to dance training. The cde's community engagement programs are designed to bring quality dance education and experiences to over 15,000 children each year, who might not otherwise have access to the arts. Through the community programs, the cde incorporates dance classes into the academic curriculum in public schools and community centers across metro-atlanta; provides over $100,000 in scholarships to promising students to attend cde dance classes; and presents free and reduced price performances of atlanta ballet's the nutcracker and family ballets for public, charter, and home schools. The cde acts as a catalyst for artistic enrichment of all people and encourages arts development through its education initiatives, providing unique artistic programs and quality dance education to develop atlanta's home talent of artists and fuel support for the arts.