Atlanta Ballet's Wabi Sabi graced Atlanta Botanical Garden on Sept. 18

Atlanta Ballet graced the Botanical Garden on Thursday Sept. 18, for "Cocktails in the Garden." As visitors sipped and strolled the Garden, they were treated to performances by the dancers of the Ballet's Wabi Sabi.

Atlanta Ballet dancer John Welker created Wabi Sabi in 2011 as a small "company within a company," designed to bring dance off the proscenium stage and to provide dancers with the opportunity to choreograph. The group takes its name "Wabi Sabi" from a Japanese aesthetic that finds beauty in the simplicity and transience of the natural world.

When ballet dancers step onto pointe in arabesque, they become a work of ideal geometry. I find that thrilling and I’ve loved it ever since I first saw ballet.  These Wabi Sabi performances were sensual and elegant, yet athletic.  The muscular, physical movement was artistry at its best.

Performances included:

1. Me in Your Fall

Choreography: Bennyroyce Royon 

Me in Your Fall - Kelsey Ebersold.

2. Lost Rite

Choreography: Heather Myers

Lost Rite - Heath Gill with Yoomi Kim & Brandon Nguyen.

3. Holding Ground

Choreography: Gretchen Alterowitz 

Holding Ground - Performed by Alessa Rogers & Benjamon Stone.

4. Rinopoche

Choreography: Ivan Pulinkala 

Rinpoche - Performed by Brandon Nguyen, Alexandre Barros, Jared Tan, Miguel Angel Montoya & Kelsey Ebersold.

To view the full gallery, click the link below:

www.flickr.com/photos/bisforbonnie/sets/72157648122950182

For more information about Atlanta Ballet or to purchase tickets for the 2014 -15 season, visit www.atlantaballet.com.