As we commemorate 250 years since the founding of our nation with the dazzling spectacle of pride that is George Balanchine’s Stars and Stripes, we also take a moment to recognize the service and sacrifice of our veterans.

Stars and Stripes holds a particularly special significance for Atlanta Ballet. Our Artistic Director Emeritus, Robert Barnett, was a member of the original cast when the ballet premiered with New York City Ballet on January 17, 1958. Barnett performed as the male soloist and regiment leader in the Second Campaign, Thunder and Gladiator.

The regiment leader is the commanding presence at the center of this powerful, high-energy all-male ensemble. Each dancer must bring the precision and technical prowess of a soloist while moving together with the discipline and unity of a military formation. The choreography demands explosive jumps, split jumps, and lightning-fast double tours en l’air, all performed with remarkable speed, strength, and precision.

“The choreography was very technical and physically demanding,” Barnett recalls. “My opening was a sauté assemblé from the wings to center stage. I routinely danced three ballets a night, so conditioning was not an issue.”

Barnett’s ability to embody the regiment leader came naturally in some ways: Before his distinguished career in ballet, he served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. Yet he says he did not draw directly on his military experience when approaching the role. “It was Mr. Balanchine’s choreography and the power of the music that created the energy of Stars and Stripes,” he explains. “He let the marches of John Philip Sousa really influence that energy.”

Offstage, Barnett formed close friendships with several of the ballet’s legendary original cast members, including Allegra Kent, Diana Adams, Melissa Hayden, and Jacques d’Amboise. When he wasn’t performing, he could often be found watching and supporting his fellow dancers from the wings.

Decades later, Barnett’s legacy in the role continues to inspire a new generation of dancers. Balanchine repetiteur Paul Boos remembers Barnett as a “powerhouse in the role of regiment leader.” Today, Boos is in Atlanta helping prepare Atlanta Ballet dancers Ángel Ramírez and Júlio Santos to take on the demanding role themselves.

From one generation to the next, the regiment leader remains a role defined by strength, precision, discipline, and extraordinary artistry. As Atlanta Ballet celebrates Stars and Stripes, we are proud to honor not only the legacy of Balanchine’s choreography, but also the veterans whose service and sacrifice give this celebration of American spirit an even deeper meaning.

You can read more about Robert Barnett’s life and service here.

Balanchine’s Stars and Stripes is one of three extraordinary visions of artistry converging in Atlanta Ballet’s season-opening program, Passion & Pride, alongside Significant Others by Remi Wörtmeyer and Plagued Houses, a world premiere by Melissa Hough.

Join us for an unforgettable weekend of music, movement, and artistry, September 18–20, 2026, at the Cobb Energy Centre — and experience the first glimpse of an extraordinary 26|27 season.