Happy New Year! We hope your holidays were full of joy and quality time with family and friends. As we head into a very exciting 2012, we don't want to forget some of the greatest Atlanta Ballet moments from 2011. Check out our "Best of 2011" list:

• February - Dancer Kristine Necessary retires after nine seasons
• February - Centre for Dance Education enrolls 1000 students
• March - World Premiere of Christopher Hampson's Rite of Spring
• March - 11|12 Season Announcement: The world's greatest choreographers assemble for star-studded season
• March- Dancer Brian Wallenberg retires after thirteen seasons
• May - Launch of OFF STAGE
• May - National Black Arts Partnership for New Choreographic Voices
• May - Inaugural performance of New Choreographic Voices, featuring three world premiere
• August - Twyla Tharp announces The Princess and the Goblinand wraps up preliminary rehearsals for the world premiere
• September - Nutcracker Characters take on Twitter: @NutcrackerATL, @RatKingATL, @SugarPlumATL
• September - Announcement of New 11|12 Company Members
• October - Inaugural performance of Wabi Sabi at the Atlanta Botanical Garden
• October - Atlanta (Ballet) Celebrates Photography
• October - 11|12 Season Opener The Four Seasonsfeatures Atlanta Ballet Veterans
• December - Belk renews its sponsorship for Atlanta Ballet's Nutcracker
• December - Dancer Rachel Van Buskirk named "25 to Watch" and the cover girl for Dance Magazine's January 2012 edition
• December - Goizueta Foundation awards $2 million grant to Atlanta Ballet