I have always been interested in the process of dreaming and how dreams relay messages to the dreamer. With such a wide-open and surreal concept, there are no limitations to where the story and work can go. Each audience member, like a dreamer, can find unique symbolism and meaning in the choreography, staging, and characters.

The ballet THREE explores the reflections of the subconscious that affect our feelings and behavior. The process can be bewildering, even terrifying. It can include déjà vu, out of body experiences, astral travel, and other disquieting events.

Dreams significantly impact our life experience for the better or worse.

We are the Dream. Our attitude and thoughts participate in designing our dream. The subconscious is a partner in determining and shaping ourselves.

THREE is my endeavor to have a dialogue with you, the audience. To stimulate your own thoughts and feelings when having a conversation with yourself. To engage and get acquainted with the undercurrent of the subconscious that influences you and everything around you.

In the work, there are three Dreamers: Dreamer of Love, Dreamer of Mind and Intelligence, and Dreamer of Will and Action. The ways in which they interact with three suitors illustrate their desires for relationships in the outside or real world. It is then the Dream or the Subconscious, made up of eight dancers, that influences the transformation and the dreamer’s journey to another level of consciousness.

It has been six years since my last world premiere, and the MAYhem program this season presented the perfect opportunity to present a new work, THREE, and tackle such an interesting and ethereal theme as dreams. As artistic director, it also gives me a chance to showcase the range of talented dancers that we employ at Atlanta Ballet. I have worked with them very closely, so I know their strengths and personalities, which I have, in turn, infused into the piece. THREE is as much inspired by the power of dreams and the subconscious as by the talents of the dancers that I have carefully selected and brought together to form the Atlanta Ballet Company.

ENTER TO WIN

I hope you will join me May 16-18, 2014 for the premiere of THREE during our MAYhem program. I am also giving you a chance to win a pair of tickets to show and an invitation to a studio rehearsal of THREE with me and Company dancers! That could be you in the photo below experiencing the thrill of a Company rehearsal firsthand.

Share a photo of what inspires you on a daily basis on Instagram and win an exclusive “Making of a Ballet” package from Atlanta Ballet. We're ready to show you how a world premiere is created in our studios and makes its way to the stage!

It’s super easy to enter the contest and no purchase is necessary! Just follow these simple steps:
1. Snap a shot of what inspires you.
2. Upload the photo to Instagram with @AtlantaBallet and be sure to use the hashtag #ABinspiration to officially enter our contest by April 22nd at 11:59 pm.
3. Atlanta Ballet will randomly select a winner on Wednesday, April 23rd and reach out to him or her the same day!

Check back next week to learn about the music for THREE and another chance to win!

Best,

John McFall
Atlanta Ballet Artistic Director & choreographer of THREE

*The winner can choose between the following performance dates and times for MAYhem at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre: Friday, May 16 at 8pm; Saturday, May 17 at 2pm or 8pm; or Sunday, May 18 at 2pm. Click here for the official rules.

Atlanta Ballet artistic director John McFall rehearsing his world premiere, THREE, in studio with Company dancer Heath Gill and apprentice Kiara Felder. Photo by Charlie McCullers.