Nashville Ballet

Anaïs Chalendard
Ballet Faculty and Professional Programs Manager

Originally from Roanne, France, Anaïs Chalendard trained with Carole Bentolila, a student of Paris Opera School's Max Bozzoni, and at the National School of Dance in Marseille under the direction of Roland Petit and Dominique Khalfouni.

At the age of 17, after graduating with a baccalaureate in Economics and Political Science, she received her first professional contract with the Deutsch Oper am Rhein under the direction of Youri Vamos. Shortly after, she was offered a contract with the Berlin State Opera under the direction of Vladimir Malakov.

In 2003, Chalendard joined the Badische Staatstheater Karlsruhe under the direction of Birgit Keil, where she became a principal dancer. There, among other leading parts, Chalendard premiered the leading role in Terence Kohler's Anna Karenina and Gamzatti in his La Bayadère. In 2008, she joined English National Ballet under the direction of Wayne Eagling, where she was promoted to first soloist following performances in Manon and The Dying Swan. She also appeared in performances organized by Carlos Acosta, dancing a pas de deux created by Adam Hougland especially for her and Junor de Oliveira Souza. 

In 2009, she received the Emerging Dancer Award after dancing “Nikiya's Death” from La Bayadère. In 2012, Chalendard appeared at the Nureyev Festival in Russia as Giselle with Principal dancer Jozef Varga from Het National Ballet, and as Odette/Odile in Derek Dean's Swan Lake with English National Ballet.  Shortly after, she was listed among the 100 Best Dancers in the World by Dance Europe Magazine. In June 2013, she was invited to dance Erik Brühn's La Sylphide with Friedemann Vogel, principal with the Stuttgart Ballet, and Rolando Sarabia, international guest artist, at the Teatro dell Opera di Roma. 

Chalendard joined Boston Ballet in 2013 as a second soloist, was promoted to soloist in 2014, and principal in 2016. During this time, she performed in works such as Florence Clerc’s La Bayadère, George Balanchine’s Violin Concerto, Miko Nissinen’s Swan Lake, Val Caniparoli’s The Lady of the Camélias, John Cranko’s Romeo and Juliet, and more.

Chalendard has been invited to dance at the World Ballet Competition Star’s Gala in Orlando, FL, has served as a jury member at the World Ballet Competition, and has taught summer intensives with Dance Theater International, Allen Conservatory, and Boston Ballet School.

 In 2019, Anaïs was invited to dance with Kammer Tänzer and Flavio Salamanka during the Mozart Foundation’s Salzburg Festival and performed as a guest artist with the Joburg Ballet in the role of Princess Aurora in Maina Gielgud’s production of The Sleeping Beauty. She officially retired from the stage in October 2019 after performing the title role of Giselle in a special and last guest appearance with Joburg Ballet.

Kate Kastelnik
Ballet Faculty

After retiring from a ten-year performance career with Nashville Ballet in 2009, Kate Kastelnik taught and choreographed at Franklin School of Performing Arts, Middle Tennessee State University and Classic Steps in Clarksville, Tenn. before returning to Nashville Ballet as a faculty member in 2015. She received early training with Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, where she still frequents as a guest teacher, before pursuing a bachelor’s degree from Point Park University’s Conservatory of Performing Arts. Kastelnik studied and performed with Laura Alonso’s Centro Pro Danza in Havana, Cuba in 1996 and joined Nashville Ballet in 1999 after completing her college degree. Throughout her career, Kastelnik was featured as a soloist in many classical and neoclassical roles including notable works by George Balanchine and Frederick Ashton. Additionally, she performed in over two dozen ballets by Nashville Ballet’s Artistic Director Paul Vasterling, many of which Kastelnik was a part of the original choreographic process and cast. As a result, one of her greatest passions is having the privilege to pass on choreography to the next generation preserving it for years to come as a stager and coach for Professional Division, NB2 and Nashville’s Nutcracker youth cast performances. Among her favorite memories as a school faculty member, Kastelnik especially enjoyed staging Swan Lake Act II for NB2’s Future Artist Showcase in 2017. She grew up in a family of musicians, so her love of and connection to music serve as a driving force in her career, too. As a certified Pilates instructor, Kastelnik also incorporates this practice into her ballet teaching. She encourages students to learn and grow each day, and enjoys the challenge of finding creative ways to help each student reach their goals and potential.  

Nicole Koenig
Ballet Faculty and Practical Teaching Supervisor & Syllabus Manager

Nicole Koenig danced professionally with Nashville Ballet for over a decade, performing numerous soloist and principal roles in ballets by Balanchine, Petipa, Choo San Goh, Lynne Taylor-Corbett and original roles by Paul Vasterling. A passionate teacher, Ms. Koenig received her Certificate in Ballet Teaching Studies from the prestigious Royal Academy of Dance in London in 2007 and attended the teacher’s seminar of Canada’s National Ballet School in 2008. Emphasizing anatomical correctness, musicality and artistry, Ms. Koenig’s philosophy fosters longevity and artistic success in her students’ careers. She has received an outstanding teacher award from the Tennessee Governor’s School as well as the Outstanding Dance Educator award from the Tennessee Association of Dance. She has coached dancers for Youth American Grand Prix, Boston International Ballet Competition and the Jackson International Ballet Competition. She has also coached principal couples in Nashville Ballet’s productions of Sleeping Beauty and Nashville’s Nutcracker.

Lydia McRae
Ballet Faculty

Lydia McRae is from Kernersville, NC and began her dance training at the University of the North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA). After graduating from UNCSA, she continued her studies at the Richmond Ballet. She has danced professionally with Complexions Contemporary Ballet, Oakland Ballet, and Ballet Memphis. Lydia spent the last two years of her career with Nashville Ballet. Her repertoire includes works by Paul Vasterling, Graham Lustig, Mark Godden, Jennifer Archibald, Alonzo King, Trey McIntyre, and Dwight Rhoden. During her dance career, Lydia took online courses through the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and received her Bachelor’s in Business Administration with a minor in Information Technology.

Lydia has taught for several dance schools including Greensboro Ballet, Dance Dynamics Memphis, Fellowship School of Dance, and Rejoice School of Ballet (Nashville Ballet’s official sister school). When she is not teaching, you can find her behind the camera photographing a dance rehearsal or performance.

Melissa Mangold
Ballet Faculty

Melissa Mangold has been in Nashville for two years following a move from New York City. Ms. Mangold has taught across SNB's Children's Division through Academy Levels 1 and 2. Nashville Ballet has truly made her feel at home!  After many years of dancing competitively in her home state of New Jersey, Melissa earned her BFA in Commercial Dance from Pace University in New York City. After graduation, when she wasn’t auditioning, she was teaching children of all ages dance, theatre, and movement. She has toured the country as Oscar the Grouch in Sesame Street Live Lets Party, and has performed in numerous musicals in California, New York and New Jersey. Sharing the magic of dance and art with children is Melissa’s greatest passion, and she feels incredibly lucky to be doing that here in Nashville.

Shabaz Ujima
Contemporary Faculty

Shabaz Ujima first studied dance at Nashville School of the Arts (1995-1996) and Nashville Ballet (1996-1999). He continued his training at New World School of the Arts (1999-2001) in Miami, Fla. and went on to dance in Nashville Ballet’s Second Company (2002-2003) before enjoying a successful career in contemporary dance with Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble (2003-2007) and Dayton Contemporary Dance Company (2008-2014) under his stage name, Hershel Deondre Horner III. Mr. Ujima has performed works by choreographers such as Alvin Ailey, Donald McKayle, Milton Myers, Matt Maddox, Susanna Linke, Jose Limon and Christopher Huggins. Upon his professional dance retirement in 2014, Mr. Ujima returned to Nashville Ballet. He is currently a full-time faculty member in modern and contemporary dance at School of Nashville Ballet. Mr. Ujima is also a teaching artist for Nashville Ballet’s Community Engagement Program, which introduces the art of dance to 40,000 community members each year through visits to schools, libraries and more. Outside of his work at Nashville Ballet, he teaches mindfulness and yoga to local youth and in the Davidson County Juvenile Detention Center.