Atlanta Ballet was founded in 1929 by dancer and choreographer Dorothy Alexander (1904-1986). Founded as the Dorothy Alexander Dance Concert Group, the company became the Atlanta Civic Ballet in 1940, and was subsequently named the Atlanta Ballet in 1967. In 1958, Ms. Alexander invited Robert Barnett and Virginia Rich Barnett from the New York City Ballet to join the Atlanta Company as principal dancers. With them, they brought ballets previously unseen in the South, such as George Ballanchine's Serenade and the Nutcracker. With Alexander's retirement in 1963, Barnett was named permanent artistic director and held that position until he was replaced by John McFall in 1994. In 1996, the Atlanta Ballet Centre for Dance Education opened, offering children opportunities to perform with the professional company. In 2002, the Centre collaborated with Several Dancers Core, Moving in the Spirit and Dance educators of Georgia, to create The Teacher Training Institute (TTI). The mission is to develop skills in children who are challenged by traditional cognitive learning models. Atlanta Ballet is the oldest professional dance company in America, and the largest self-supporting arts organization in Georgia. Additional historical information about the Atlanta Ballet has not been determined.