"Boston Ballet Artistic Director Mikko Nissinen announces the retirement of company soloists Jared Redick and Melanie Atkins. Redick and Atkins joined Boston Ballet in 2002 and each has danced with the company for seven seasons. Both will make their final performances with Boston Ballet in George Balanchine’s Prodigal Son in the upcoming Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes Centennial Celebration program at the Citi Performing Arts CenterSM Wang Theatre May 14-17.
“Jared and Melanie have been big assets to this company for many seasons; their tireless work and commitment to artistry have benefitted the company on stage and off,” said Nissinen. “As versatile, engaging artists, they truly exemplify the building and development of Boston Ballet over the past decade and it has been my pleasure, and I think Boston’s, to watch them grow as dancers.”
Jared Redick began his training at the Conservatory Ballet in Reston, Virginia, North Carolina School of the Arts, and the Mikhail Baryshnikov’s School of Classical Ballet. Redick danced with San Francisco Ballet, where he first met Nissinen, and Fort Worth Dallas Ballet prior to joining Miami City Ballet as a soloist. He joined Boston Ballet in 2002 as a member of the corps de ballet and was promoted to soloist after one season. From 2003-2007, he also danced as a soloist with the Suzanne Farrell Ballet, highlighted by the reconstruction of George Balanchine’s Don Quixote, in addition to dancing many leading roles. Redick has excelled in various works by classical and contemporary choreographers during his 18 year career. The New York Times wrote of his performance in George Balanchine’s Rubies, “with Mr. Redick, the ballet becomes itself.” Redick will continue his role as Principal of Boston Ballet School’s Norwell Studio. Since his appointment as studio Principal in spring 2008, Redick has increased enrollment and choreographed and directed the studio’s first major public performance in April 2009 with Peter and the Wolf. Redick is married to Assistant Ballet Master, Shannon Parsley.
Melanie Atkins trained at Walnut Hill School of the Arts in Massachusetts after her family moved from England. She danced with Fort Worth Dallas Ballet before joining Miami City Ballet in 1997 where she rose to the rank of principal dancer. Next, she joined Alberta Ballet where she met Nissinen. Atkins joined Boston Ballet in 2002 and has danced countless roles in ballets by Marius Petipa, George Balanchine, and James Kudelka, among others. In her recent performance in The Sleeping Beauty, The Boston Herald said, “Atkins as the evil Carabosse owned her mimetic role, one of ballet’s greatest.” Atkins is married to soloist Sabi Varga and the couple had their first child, Sophie, in November 2008. She will retire to spend more time with Sophie as well as continuing with the Company in a new role as Children’s Ballet Mistress for Boston Ballet School.
Redick and Atkins will make their final performances with Boston Ballet in the roles of the Son and Siren in George Balanchine’s Prodigal Son, part of the company’s Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes Centennial Celebration program. Redick will perform Saturday, May 16 at 2pm and 8pm and Sunday, May 17 at 7pm. Atkins will perform Thursday, May 14 at 7pm, Friday, May 15 at 8pm and Sunday, May 17 at 2pm."
Founded in 1963, Boston Ballet is one of the leading dance companies in North America. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Mikko Nissinen, the Company maintains an internationally acclaimed repertoire of classical, neo-classical and contemporary works, ranging from full-length story ballets to new works by some of today's finest choreographers.
Boston Ballet's second company, Boston Ballet II, is made up of pre-professional dancers who gain experience by performing with Boston Ballet and as an independent group, presenting lecture-demonstrations and unique programs to audiences throughout the Northeast. The Boston Ballet Center for Dance Education is the largest ballet school in North America. In service of its mission to bring the highest quality arts education to all, it reaches and instructs more than 10,000 students of all ages each year through Boston Ballet School, Summer Dance Workshop, Summer Dance Program, Citydance, Taking Steps, and Adaptive Dance. The wide array of dance education programs are held at four major ballet studio locations, in community centers, and throughout the Boston Public Schools.
