Complexions Contemporary Ballet Is Moving

This has already been a huge news week for the ballet world, and it just got even huger:

After 20 years in NYC, Complexions Contemporary Ballet—that extraordinary company pretty much every dancer we talk to dreams of joining—is making a big move. As of spring 2016, the troupe will call Atlanta home, according to a report in ARTSAtl.

The stunning dancers of Complexions (photos by Jae Man Joo)

The decision took a lot of dance fans by surprise, but it also makes good sense. Yes, NYC is the dance capital of the country, but that means it’s crawling with dance companies, who compete for audiences and funding. Dwight Rhoden told ARTSAtl that he and his Complexions co-director Desmond Richardson were looking for a “less saturated” dance community, and Atlanta fits that bill. Pretty much anywhere on the planet is less expensive than NYC, too; in Atlanta, the company will be able to afford its own studio space for classes and rehearsals, a major plus. And Rhoden and Richardson have made diversity a central part of Complexions’ mission from the beginning, something Atlanta’s multicultural (and increasingly artsy) population will definitely appreciate.

Complexions will perform in Atlanta this October before launching its first official ATL season in the spring. But never fear, NYC fans: The company will continue to mount its annual two-week season at the Big Apple’s Joyce Theater. It’ll still offer its popular NYC intensives, too, and there are plans to start up similar programs in Atlanta and Los Angeles.

It’s an exciting time for the company—we’re eager to see how it grows and changes in its new home!