Nashville Ballet is pleased to announce the appointment of Adolpho Birch III as the newest Nashville Ballet Board Member and the return of Laurie Eskind, James “Jim” Munro, and Heather Thorne as they rejoin the Nashville Ballet Board of Directors for the 2023- 2024 term effective immediately.
NASHVILLE, TENN. – (June 26, 2023)- Nashville Ballet is excited to start its 2023-24 Season with the inaugural Nashville Dance Festival, featuring exceptional talent from across the country. This celebration will showcase classical and contemporary pieces performed by renowned guest artists from Dance Theatre of Harlem, Collage Dance Collective, Nashville Ballet company dancers, NB2, Nashville Ballet’s official second company, and Nashville Ballet’s Summer Intensive students. The festival will commence on Friday, July 21, at Belmont University’s state-of-the-art Fisher Center for the Performing Arts at 7 p.m. Nashville Ballet Artistic Director Nick Mullikin believes this festival is a step in the right direction toward establishing Nashville as a destination for dance.
“The Nashville Dance Festival is a celebration of creativity in Nashville and the dance community,” said Nashville Ballet Artistic Director and CEO Nick Mullikin. “Festival attendees have an opportunity to witness the festival’s inception and growth into an essential event. It was important to demonstrate the national reach of our collaborators, and to show the city of Nashville new work by some of today’s leading artists. Our objective is to promote more interaction and provide a wider perspective of Nashville Ballet to the community. The return of Alexandra Hutchinson, former NB2 dancer and current Dance Theatre of Harlem company artist, highlights how the NB2 program is providing opportunities for growth. We are fusing the classical foundation of ballet with new contemporary concepts in this production that is sure to captivate audiences.”
The inaugural celebration will kick off the 2023-24 season with unforgettable performances from a grand slate of talented artists. Audiences are invited to witness the incredible skills of the nationally acclaimed Dance Theatre of Harlem and Collage Dance Collective. Led by Artistic Director Robert Garland, Dance Theatre of Harlem, based in New York City, is known for promoting excellence, innovation, and creativity through inclusivity. This prestigious institution boasts a history of star ballet prodigies such as co-founder Arthur Miller. Memphis-based Collage Dance Collective, known for its diversity, advocacy, and evocative performances, is led by Artistic Director Kevin Thomas.
Festival visitors will experience a preview of Nashville Ballet’s upcoming 2023-24 Season through the performances on stage, a pre-performance conversation with Artistic Director Nick Mullikin, and a stunning display of costumes and accessories in the lobby. Nashville Ballet Company Dancers Jamie Kopit and Nicolas Scheuer will showcase the Romeo and Juliet Balcony Pas De Deux choreographed by Artistic Director Emeritus Paul Vasterling, set to return in full to the Tennessee Performing Arts Center in April 2024. Audiences can also enjoy extraordinary performances by members of NB2, and pre-professional dancers from the prestigious School of Nashville Ballet's Summer Intensive Program, all masterfully choreographed by Gabrielle Lamb, Norbert De La Cruz III, Yury Yanowsky, Penny Saunders, and Nashville Ballet Rehearsal Director Travis Bradley.
The Nashville Dance Festival is sponsored in part by Polsinelli Law Firm and the Fisher Center for the Performing Arts at Belmont University. Tickets for the inaugural event are on sale now and can be purchased here. To reserve seats or to learn more, visit nashvilleballet.com.
NASHVILLE, TENN. (March 23, 2023) Nashville Ballet will be concluding their 2022-23 Season April 21–23 at TPAC with New in Nashville. A celebration of long-time Artistic Director Paul Vasterling, who has been a part of the company for more than three decades, this unique sampling of music and movement will highlight the growth of the company under Vasterling’s leadership.
“Nashville Ballet is rapidly becoming one of the top artistic institutions in the country, and we owe a tremendous amount of that success to Paul,” shared CEO and incoming Artistic Director Nick Mullikin. “Over the last 34 years, he has built an organization that pushes boundaries, exceeds expectations, and inspires everyone to think bigger and do more. Because of him and his commitment to Nashville Ballet, we are going to be able to take this company to the next level. He has laid the foundation, and now we get to build upon it.”
Throughout his 30-plus years with Nashville Ballet, Vasterling has propelled the organization’s growth both physically and fiscally. Under his leadership, the company has grown from a troupe of 12 dancers to 32 full-time, professional artists from all over the world, toured to prestigious institutions both nationally and internationally, made regional and national broadcast television debuts, including on PBS’ Great Performances series, and has collaborated with artists such as Maren Morris, Rhiannon Giddens, Ben Folds, Twyla Tharp, Jennifer Archibald, and many more. Through this vast expansion of Nashville Ballet’s repertoire and national reputation, Vasterling has created a company that is both technically versatile, inherently collaborative, and rapidly becoming one of the top dance institutions in the country.
Aiming to celebrate these accomplishments, New in Nashville will highlight the company's growth under Vasterling’s leadership with a variety of classical and contemporary works that showcase the multiplicity of their artists. The program will include two never-before-seen-in-Nashville works, including creative visionary Cathy Marston’s Snowblind, based on Edith Wharton’s Ethan Frome, and a world premiere by the Tony-nominated choreographer of The Color Purple, Donald Byrd. In addition, audiences will get to experience Matthew Neenan’s Hilos, and one of Vasterling’s most beloved ballets, Appalachian Spring, set to Aaron Copland’s iconic score performed live by the Nashville Symphony.
Following Vasterling’s official retirement, current CEO and Associate Artistic Director Nick Mullikin will step into the role of Artistic Director for the 2023-24 season. In honor of his achievements over the years, Nashville Ballet’s Board of Directors has voted to name Vasterling Artistic Director Emeritus upon his retirement.
New in Nashville: A Tribute to Artistic Director Paul Vasterling will take place for one weekend only at TPAC’s Jackson Hall. For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit nashvilleballet.com.
NASHVILLE, TENN. (FEBRUARY 15, 2023) Ahead of the company’s final performance of the 2022-23 season, Nashville Ballet’s incoming Artistic Director, Nick Mullikin, has announced a blockbuster 2023-24 season. A unique blend of boundary-breaking contemporary productions and beloved classical favorites, the 2023-24 season will feature 2018 Tony Award winner Justin Peck’s Year of the Rabbit, world premieres by Mullikin, Jermaine Spivey, Mollie Sansone, and Yusha-Marie Sorzano, the return of their sold-out Live in Studio A program, and Artistic Director Emeritus Paul Vasterling’s fan favorite love story, Romeo and Juliet.
“This season highlights where we came from, where we are, and where we are going,” shared incoming Artistic Director Nick Mullikin. “The foundation of this work has been built by those that came before me, and we are going to continue to move forward with the ideas of work that make us one of the most unique ballet companies in the country. Audiences will have the chance to see things that they can easily recognize but also have the chance to see what the evolution of ballet looks like. We are maintaining who we are by creating 8 world premieres, and fostering creativity by giving our own artists a place to create.”
A Tony Award winner and acclaimed choreographer of Steven Spielberg’s 2021 West Side Story, Justin Peck will be making his Nashville Ballet debut with his Year of the Rabbit. His second work as Resident Choreographer of New York City Ballet, Year of the Rabbit is a collaboration with American singer-songwriter Sufjan Stevens and features a song cycle based on the popular Chinese zodiac. Hailed “thrilling,” “poetic,” and “brilliant” by The New York Times, Year of the Rabbit blends the athleticism of classical ballet with boundary-breaking movement for a performance that is both visually stunning and physiologically intriguing. Peck’s piece will be joined by Artistic Director Emeritus’ Paul Vasterling’s Firebird, set to Stravinsky’s iconic, full-length score, and Jirí Kylián’s Un Ballo.
In addition to contemporary masterpieces, Nashville Ballet will be presenting beloved classical stories, including Vasterling’s Emmy Award-winning Nashville’s Nutcracker and Romeo and Juliet. A long-time, audience favorite, Music City Review declared, “emotive technique to a score dense with meaning, wrapped in beautifully crafted lighting plan and set design leaves the Nashville Ballet’s Romeo and Juliet a voice to speak for itself.” Other highlights include the return of their twice sold-out Live in Studio A program, which will include Mullikin’s first world premiere as Artistic Director, and their annual Attitude production in February, featuring world premieres by multi-award winner Jermaine Spivey, Resident Choreographer Mollie Sansone, and former Alvin Ailey dancer Yusha-Marie Sorzano.
Season tickets for the 2023-24 season will go on sale in March. To learn more about Nashville Ballet and upcoming performances, visit nashvilleballet.com.
Nashville Ballet’s Full 2023-24 Season:
Firebird
With Justin Peck and Jirí Kylián
September 22–24, 2023
TPAC’s Polk Theater
Nashville’s Nutcracker
December 8–24, 2023
TPAC’s Jackson Hall
Attitude
Featuring new works by Mollie Sansone, Yusha-Marie Sorzano, and Jermaine Spivey
February 9–11, 2024
TPAC’s Polk Theater
Romeo and Juliet
April 19–21, 2024
TPAC’s Jackson Hall
Live in Studio A
Featuring Nick Mullikin’s first world premiere as Artistic Director
May 17–23, 2024
The Martin Center for Nashville Ballet, Studio A
NASHVILLE, TENN. (January 26, 2023) Nashville Ballet is thrilled to announce that nationally recognized choreographer Maria Konrad has been named their new Director of Nashville Ballet 2 (NB2), Nashville Ballet’s official second company. Recently named International Outstanding Choreographer in 2022 by Youth America Grand Prix, the world’s largest dance network, Konrad’s work has been showcased and recognized both nationally and internationally.
“We are elated for Maria to be joining our Nashville Ballet family,” shared incoming Nashville Ballet Artistic Director Nick Mullikin. “Our NB2 artists are the future of this company, and we pride ourselves in investing in their talent. For them to have the opportunity to work day in and out with a choreographer of this caliber is unprecedented, and we can’t wait to see how much this program continues to grow under Maria’s guidance.”
A graduate from A.W. Dreyfoos High School of the Arts in West Palm Beach, Konrad earned her BFA in Performing Arts at The University of the Arts in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As a teacher in Philadelphia, she created the early-dance-education curriculum for the school of the Koresh Dance Company, which has been featured in Dance Magazine. A nationally acclaimed choreographer, her work has been presented around the country at Pennsylvania Ballet, Next Generation Ballet, the 2022 Nervi Festival in Italy, the Mariinsky, the Spoleto Festival in South Carolina, The School of Colorado Ballet, The Harid Conservatory, Florida Atlantic University, and more. This season, she will create for Oklahoma City Ballet 2, NB2, and Kansas City Ballet’s main company. She has collaborated with artistic organizations such as Palm Beach Symphony and Palm Beach Pops, and her work has been picked up by several choreographic workshops. She has been recognized by organizations such as Young Arts and YAGP for Outstanding Choreography (2015, 2017) and International Outstanding Choreographer (2022) and has been a guest teacher for institutions such as The Colorado Ballet School, The Joffrey School, University of the Arts, Florida’s Young Dancers Workshop, The Art of Classical Ballet, Next Generation Ballet, St. Paul’s School, Florida Dance Festival, and YAGP.
Konrad will be joining Nashville Ballet full-time beginning in August. As the Director of NB2, she will work alongside incoming Artistic Director Nick Mullikin to expand NB2’s repertoire and programming for the 2023-23 season. A champion of the diversity of the art form, Konrad aspires to help NB2 artists develop their skills outside of just ballet by exploring contemporary, jazz, and modern movement. In addition, she will spearhead bringing in new choreographers, classes, and workshops for NB2 dancers.
“As an artist, I have always been intrigued by the curriculum of contemporary dance and how we can use it to support classical technique,” shared Konrad. “When we unite these styles of movement, we push the boundaries of the art form and create stronger, more versatile artists and programming. Nashville Ballet has created a space that fosters this sort of creativity and forward-thinking, and I’m so excited to continue bringing that vision to life through the second company.”
To learn more about Nashville Ballet and NB2, please visit nashvilleballet.com.
NASHVILLE, TENN. (January 5, 2023) Nashville Ballet will continue its 2022-23 season and kick off the new year with the world premiere of Anthology. Conceptualized by Emmy Award-winning Artistic Director Paul Vasterling, Anthology will highlight unexplored stories of Music City’s past. Inspired by his passion for community, music, and movement, Anthology will be Vasterling’s final world premiere as Artistic Director of the company.
“In my 34 years with Nashville Ballet, I’ve always been mesmerized by the city around us,” shared Vasterling. “It is full of artists, creators, musicians, and visionaries; new ideas, collaborations, and voices. But it’s important to remember that there are people that came before us that made all of this, and so much more, possible. My hope with Anthology is that it would give names, faces, and recognition to those whose influence, accomplishments, and sacrifices, are so often forgotten. Everyone’s story deserves to be told.”
A poignant exploration of Nashville’s rich cultural tapestry, Anthology will explore the stories of both well-known locals and everyday people of the past, including formerly enslaved philanthropist Lucinda Bedford, the first woman to serve on the Nashville Police Force, dance visionary Albertine Maxwell, the first peoples of Middle Tennessee, and more.
Known for his cross-disciplinary collaborations, Vasterling has enlisted a variety of choreographers, musicians, and composers to contribute to the project, including multi-award winner Sidra Bell, newly appointed Resident Choreographer Mollie Sansone, longtime Nashville Ballet Teaching Artist Shabaz Ujima, Windship Boyd, Company Dancer Aeron Buchanan, MORGXN, Jordan Lehning, and local composer Larissa Maestro. Similar in kaleidoscopic style to his nationally-acclaimed ballet, Lucy Negro Redux, which recently premiered on PBS’ Great Performances series as Black Lucy and the Bard, Anthology will highlight a variety of art forms on stage in addition to dance, including original songs, musical scores, and live projection.
Anthology is sponsored in part by Vanderbilt University, DANCE/USA, and the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation and will make its world premiere at TPAC’s Polk Theater February 10–12, 2023. To learn more about Nashville Ballet, upcoming performances, or to purchase tickets, please visit nashvilleballet.com.
NASHVILLE, TENN. (November 10, 2022) Fresh off its Emmy Award win for the televised adaptation, Nashville’s Nutcracker will return to TPAC December 9–24, 2022. Deemed Music City’s favorite holiday tradition, this year’s production will feature the beloved, unique-to-Nashville story, plus live music by the Nashville Symphony and a brand-new Snow Scene.
“When I created this ballet almost fifteen years ago, I wanted to make it something unique to our community- something we could be proud of,” shared Nashville Ballet Artistic Director Paul Vasterling. “Over the years, it’s become so much more than that. It’s a tradition our dancers look forward to, an experience we share with family and friends, and most of all, an opportunity for us all to come together to celebrate the magic of the holidays and the beauty of dance.”
Inspired by the 1897 Centennial Exposition, which celebrates its 125th anniversary this year, Nashville’s Nutcracker showcases the unique history and cultural innovation of Music City. The performance begins with Clara and her Uncle Drosselmeyer at the Exposition, where they experience inventions from across the globe and see the beloved Nutcracker for the first time. Along with the iconic land of sweets and sugar plum fairies, several Nashville treasures are featured throughout the performance, including Centennial Park and the Belle Meade Mansion.
Known for its eye-catching costumes and elaborate sets, this year’s attendees will get to experience the debut of a brand-new Snow Scene. Inspired by the company’s Emmy Award-winning film adaptation of the beloved production, the new Snow Scene is designed to look as if you are staring into a piece of dark mica stone—with reflections and sparkles inside that
make the dreamy costumes pop more to the audience. The new scene was created specifically for this production by renowned designer Campbell Baird.
Nashville’s Nutcracker will feature Nashville Ballet company dancers, the artists of NB2, a youth cast of students from School of Nashville Ballet, Rejoice School of Ballet, and the Hispanic Family Foundation, and live music by the Nashville Symphony. A complete holiday experience, guests will also be able to enjoy several pre-performance activities, including a commemorative photo booth, meet and greets with characters from the production, and story times hosted by Nashville Ballet teaching artists.
Nashville’s Nutcracker is sponsored in part by the Tennessee Titans. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased here. For more information, please visit nashvilleballet.com.
NASHVILLE, TENN. (October 24, 2022) As part of his final season as Artistic Director of Nashville Ballet, Paul Vasterling will debut his newest work, Anthology, on February 10–12 at TPAC’s Polk Theater. A poignant exploration of Nashville’s rich cultural tapestry, Anthology will blend music and movement to tell stories of Music City’s past.
Inspired by and set in the historic Nashville City Cemetery, Anthology is an homage to the Nashvillians, known and unknown, who have shaped the city we know today. Opened on January 1, 1822, The Nashville City Cemetery is the oldest continuously operated public cemetery in Nashville. By 1850, it was the final resting place for more than 11,000 people of every race, religion, and economic status. The ballet follows a young person as they explore the 200-year-old grounds and encounter the spirits of those buried there.
“I’ve always had a deep passion for community, and ours is so rich with people and stories that often get overlooked,” shared Nashville Ballet Artistic Director Paul Vasterling. “All of them are pertinent pieces to the life we live today, yet most of us are completely unaware. We often have the most to learn from those of which we know the least, and that’s exactly what Anthology explores.”
The ballet will feature stories of the first peoples of Middle Tennessee, formerly enslaved philanthropist Lucinda Bedford, the first women on the Nashville Police Force, and Albertine Maxwell, widely regarded as Nashville’s founder of ballet.
Known for his cross-disciplinary collaborations, Vasterling has enlisted a variety of choreographers, musicians, and composers to contribute to the project, including Nashville local and longtime teaching artist Shabaz Ujima, newly appointed Resident Choreographer Mollie Sansone, Windship Boyd, multi-award winner Sidra Bell, MORGXN, Jordan Lehning, Larissa Maestro, and more. Similar in kaleidoscopic style to his nationally-acclaimed ballet Lucy Negro Redux which recently premiered on PBS’ Great Performances series as Black Lucy and the Bard, Anthology will highlight a variety of art forms on stage in addition to dance, including original songs, musical scores, and live projection.
Anthology is sponsored in part by Vanderbilt University and will make its world premiere at TPAC’s Polk Theater February 10–12, 2023. To learn more about Nashville Ballet, upcoming performances, or to purchase tickets, please visit nashvilleballet.com.
