OUR HISTORY

Ron Colton, a former member of George Balanchine’s New York City Ballet when The Nutcracker was first produced in 1953, brought the beloved classic to Augusta in 1971. Good friend and colleague Robert Barnett, then Artistic Director of the Atlanta Ballet, staged Augusta’s first production. The Atlanta Ballet danced the soloist roles and provided the sets and costumes in those early years. Since that time, hundreds of children and adults have been a part of The Nutcracker both on stage and off. There are now two generations of dancers who make The Nutcracker a part of their lives every fall. Each year, thousands of families are magically transported to the Land of the Sweets to behold little Clara’s dream of The Nutcracker.

In years past, Colton Ballet Company has presented classical works including Les Sylphides, Swan Lake Act II, Giselle Act II, and Don Quixote Pas de Deux. The company has presented works by renowned choreographers such as Peter Powlus, Jill Bahr, Victoria Uris, Andrew Kuharsky, Anthony Ferro, Stanley Zompakos, Valerie Greig, Jack Yantis, Catlin McCormack Phibbs and Eduard Forehand.