NASHVILLE BALLET AND BLOOD ASSURANCE PARTNER TO SAVE LIVES ACROSS MIDDLE TENNESSEE IN SEPTEMBER

Blood Assurance to Host Over 120 Blood Drives Next Month

Blood Donors Receive a 20% Discount on Tickets for

Nashville Ballet’s Dracula at TPAC

Nashville Ballet and Blood Assurance will team up to help save lives with a special promotion in September. Blood Assurance will host over 120 blood drives across Middle Tennessee next month and, as an incentive to drive more blood donations, donors will receive a 20% discount on tickets for Nashville Ballet’s season opener – Paul Vasterling’s Dracula with George Balanchine’s Serenade at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center from October 3 - 6.

Statistics show that every two seconds, someone in the United States needs blood. Blood donation saves the lives of patients of all ages – from accident or burn victims, surgery and organ transplant patients, to those battling disease. 

Blood Assurance’s mission is to provide a safe and adequate supply of blood and blood components, in a cost-effective manner, to every area patient in need. Donating blood is a safe, simple and rewarding experience, usually taking less than an hour, that makes a huge difference in the lives of others.

Nashville Ballet encourages Middle Tennesseans to donate blood and hopes donors will take advantage of their 20% off ticket offer to see the spellbinding production of Dracula.   Under the artistic direction of Nick Mullikin, audiences will delve into the dark, passionate world of Paul Vasterling’s Dracula, a ballet rich in love, lust, and eternal desire, set against a backdrop of Gothic mystery. Dracula is sure to captivate patrons with its tale of immortal yearning. In contrast, George Balanchine’s Serenade is a serene masterpiece, a testament to the beauty of classical ballet, danced to Tchaikovsky's haunting Serenade for Strings in C3 played live by The Nashville Symphony.  This double feature promises an unforgettable blend of a thrilling narrative and exquisite dance.  *This production contains mature content and is intended for adult audiences (recommend 13 years old and older).

The top mobile blood drive donation locations next month include:

Vanderbilt University Medical Center at 1211 Medical Center Dr, Nashville, TN 37232 will host several blood drives during these dates below from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day:

9/2/2024

9/5/2024

9/12/2024

9/13/2024

9/23/2024
9/27/2024

Other locations include:

9/2/2024 - 8 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Sumner County YMCA at 102 Bluegrass Commons Hendersonville, TN 37075

9/3/2024 - 11 a.m. 4 p.m. 

Lexus of Nashville at 2010 Rosa L Parks Blvd, Nashville, TN 37228

9/4/2024 - 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Lexus Cool Springs at 1636 Westgate Circle, Brentwood, TN 37027

9/5/2024 - 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Tristar Northcrest at 100 Northcrest Dr, Springfield, TN 37172

9/6/2024 - 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Tristar Southern Hills Medical Center at 391 Wallace Road, Nashville, TN 37211

9/6/2024 - 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Tristar Summit Medical Center at 5655 Frist Blvd., Hermitage, TN 37076

9/6/2024 - 6 a.m. - 10 a.m.

YMCA Brentwood at 8207 Concord Rd. Brentwood, TN 37027

9/7/2024 - 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Nashville Zoo at 3777 Nolensville Pike, Nashville, TN 37211

9/9/2024 - 2 p.m. - 7 p.m.

Robertson County YMCA at 3332 Tom Austin Hwy Springfield, TN 37172

9/10/2024 - 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Tristar StoneCrest Medical Center at 200 Stonecrest Blvd, Smyrna, TN 37167

9/13/2024 - 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Mainstead at Century Farms at 2141 Century Farms Pkwy, Antioch, TN 37013

9/24/2024 - 12 p.m. - 5 p.m.

Bone & Joint Institute at 3000 Edward Curd Lane, Franklin, TN 37067

9/27/2024 - 10:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Costco Hendersonville at 1101 Forest Retreat Road, Hendersonville, TN 37075

9/26/2024 - 1 p.m. - 5 p.m.

Stokes Brown Public Library at 405 White Street, Springfield, TN 37172

For more information about these and other blood drive events, visit www.bloodassurance.org.

NASHVILLE BALLET ANNOUNCES KEY AUDITION SCHEDULE AND EVENTS FOR YOUTH AND ACADEMY PARTICIPANTS

Community Youth Auditions for Nashville’s Nutcracker, Academy Auditions for Pre-professional and Professional Division Level Dancers 

Nashville Ballet has announced upcoming youth and Academy auditions along with special event dates. In addition, as announced earlier this year, renowned ballet instructors Dmitri and Jennifer Kulev will join Nashville Ballet’s leadership team in August as the new School Directors.  

Under the guidance of Jennifer and Dmitri Kulev, Nashville Ballet School will significantly enhance its performance opportunities, offering more comprehensive stage experiences for both the Academy and Pre-Professional divisions to showcase their skills and development in professional settings. School of Nashville Ballet is dedicated to providing an environment where students can thrive artistically and personally, promoting dance as a vital and inspiring part of the Nashville community. 

“We are thrilled to have the Kulevs join us next month as we continue our mission to foster a rich dance culture in Nashville,” said Nick Mullikin, Nashville Ballet’s Artistic Director and CEO. “The audition season is always an exciting time for us as we see fresh new talent through our training programs, community outreach, and educational efforts.”

August 1 - Sign up for Youth Cast Auditions for Nashville's Nutcracker

Nashville’s Nutcracker will again feature School of Nashville Ballet students and, for the first time since 2019, the community at large. Those interested can audition on Sunday, Aug. 25 or on Sunday, Sept. 8 at The Martin Center for Nashville Ballet.  Auditions are held in a light and fun environment, and no prior dance experience is required. Pre-registration link now available from August 1 - September 7, 2024.  For questions regarding the audition process, please email youthcast@nashvilleballet.com for more information.

August 3 - Academy Auditions (Ages 8 - 18)

Registration: 11 - 11:30 a.m. | Audition Class: 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.

School of Nashville Ballet's Academy Division students are instructed by our world-class faculty to help excel in their technical execution, artistic expression, and maturity. Through careful development and attention to the syllabus, our instructors implement a curriculum designed to produce dancers with expressiveness and clear classical lines. This guidance enables students to develop their own artistry, while pure classical technique provides the vehicle for their artistic expression.

School of Nashville Ballet will have expanded curriculum and increase the total class offerings to 240, accommodating a wider range of disciplines and skill levels. This expansion aims to nurture a larger student body, now capable of supporting up to 2,156 students, with enhanced opportunities for both beginner and advanced dancers. In addition, the school plans to grow their Young Men’s Scholarship Program, spearheaded by Dmitri Kulev, who is dedicated to transforming the skills and performance of male-identifying dancers of all ages. Working together, these men are able to push themselves and each other in a supportive environment that centers on athleticism, strength, camaraderie, and discipline. The curriculum mirrors elements of the Academy Division but with a special emphasis on developing specific male technique and addressing the unique challenges that face young men.

The new school year will also see the introduction of new optional disciplines including tap, jazz, hip hop, musical theater and contemporary. Additionally, the school will offer more comprehensive training programs and an increase in performance opportunities to include showcases for children and community youth, as well as a prestigious spring production for all academy levels.

For more information about these auditions visit the pre-registration link.    

August 10 - 10:30 a.m. - 12 p.m. - Children’s Open House

Join us for our Children's Division Open House at The Martin Center with FREE classes, crafts, and other fun activities for your children to enjoy! If you are enrolled for class, this is also a great way to see the studio space and possibly meet your teacher. Watch your child develop a love for movement while practicing cognitive skills, gross motor skills, creative problem-solving, balance, rhythm, coordination, social skills and more! Enrollment is not necessary to attend the Open House. For more information, email school@nashvilleballet.com. 

September 21 - National Dance Day - 4 - 7 p.m.

Nashville Ballet will celebrate National Dance Day in the community by offering free classes for all ages, and a performance! The day will feature a sample of Nashville Ballet's regularly-programmed Community Adult, Children’s Division, and Community Youth Classes. Capacity is limited, so we highly recommend signing up for classes prior to the event. For more information visit www.NashvilleBallet.com or email school@nashvilleballet.com. 

Nashville Ballet is committed to remaining accessible to the community while expanding their class offerings. The majority of these new classes will enhance the Children’s, Community Youth and Adult Programs, ensuring that foundational and recreational segments receive focused development and support. This strategic expansion is designed to make ballet more inclusive and available to everyone in the community, nurturing a passion for dance across all age groups and skill levels.

To inquire about placement or to schedule one-on-one sessions with the new School Directors at School of Nashville Ballet, email school@nashvilleballet.com. For more information about Nashville Ballet, visit their website at www.NashvilleBallet.com.

NASHVILLE BALLET TO HOST SECOND ANNUAL NASHVILLE DANCE FESTIVAL NEXT MONTH

Dynamic Dance Showcase Slated for July 19th at The Fisher Center for the Performing Arts at Belmont University.

Nashville Ballet proudly announces the second annual Nashville Dance Festival is slated to take place on Friday, July 19, 2024, at 7:30 p.m. The Fisher Center for the Performing Arts at Belmont University will serve as the enchanting backdrop for this community-centric celebration that will showcase a dynamic range of classic and contemporary live performances.

The 2024 event features special performances by Nashville Ballet company dancers who will take the stage to present a rich mosaic of dance. In addition, members of NB2, Nashville Ballet's official second company, will join dancers across the nation including esteemed guests from Lines Ballet and Collage Dance Collective, alongside students from School of Nashville Ballet's Choreographic Intensive.   

““The Nashville Dance Festival is an ideal opportunity to showcase the range of artists Nashville Ballet has to offer, and innovative works by some of today’s most talented artists,” said Nashville Ballet Artistic Director and CEO Nick Mullikin. “We will not only celebrate the vast creativity within our dance community, but fully engage audiences by providing a unique insight into the art of dance itself. We want attendees to witness the passion and collaboration our choreographers bring to each distinct piece of work.” ”

— Nashville Ballet Artistic Director and CEO Nick Mullikin

Festival attendees will also get a sneak peek of Nashville Ballet’s upcoming 2024-25 Season through the performances on stage, a pre-performance conversation with Artistic Director Nick Mullikin and a stunning display of costumes and accessories. Witness the future of dance in Nashville this July, where tradition meets innovation, in an unforgettable celebration of movement, creativity and community.

Nashville Dance Festival is sponsored in part by Polsinelli Law Firm. Tickets

for the event start at $30 and are on sale now at www.NashvilleBallet.com.