Author: Gillian Anne Renault

“The Nutcracker” is back in town. The first version of the Christmas classic to be performed in Atlanta this season was Ballethnic Dance Company’s “Urban Nutcracker,” at the Ferst Center for the Arts from Thursday through Sunday. Billed as showcasing “the rich history of Atlanta’s own African-American community,” “Urban Nutcracker” is set in the Sweet Auburn district…

(Updated) Meeting Lauri Stallings, co-curator of the new Tanz Farm performance series, is a physical experience. Dressed one Saturday morning in multi-colored knitted wrist warmers, a blue-and-white-striped T-shirt, brown flounced skirt, sneakers and navy blue and green knee-length socks, with a huge dark yellow bag slung over her shoulder, she greets you with a generous touch on…

What does it mean to be French? What does it mean to be an American, or a citizen of any ethnically and racially diverse nation in the 21st century? French choreographer Pierre Rigal tackles this knotty theme in his latest work, “Standards.” Featuring eight hip-hop dancers, “Standards” will be performed one night only on Sunday,…