Nashville Ballet Sparkles to Life with CINDERELLA

Nashville Ballet brings the magical fairytale Cinderella to life September 16-18, 2016, at TPAC's Polk Theater as the opening performance of its 2016-2017 season. The family friendly classical ballet features a Cinderella who's not afraid to take fate into her own hands, two stepsisters hilariously played by men and an adorable youth cast of 5 to 7 year olds.

"Cinderella exists in cultures all over the world, but the version we're most familiar with in America is a leading lady who's a victim of her circumstance," Paul Vasterling, Nashville Ballet Artistic Director & CEO, said. "In other interpretations, Cinderella is a more proactive participant in her fate. I'm more interested in telling this story-of an empowered Cinderella who knows her own intelligence and worth."

First presented in 2011, Vasterling's original choreography showcases men in the roles of the evil stepsisters. Nashville Ballet company dancers Christopher Stuart, Jon Upleger and Judson Veach will alternate playing the roles, dancing in pointe shoes for the first time in their careers.

"Female dancers begin developing the technique and muscles to dance en pointe in their adolescence, but we are learning how to do it in just a few months," Veach said. "It's an interesting challenge because we want to dance correctly, but also incorrectly so it's comical for audiences."

Nashville Ballet's professional company dancers will be joined on stage by more than 40 youth cast members age 5 to 7 years old from the School of Nashville Ballet as bumble bees, snow angels and other whimsical characters. The dancers will perform to the romantic and beautifully surprising sounds of Sergei Prokofiev's classic score presented live by the Nashville Symphony. The large-scale production is capped off by 18th century period costumes, impressionist sets and even an on-stage carriage.

Cinderella is presented by Bridgestone Americas Trust Fund, Tennessee Orthopedic Alliance and Nfocus. Tickets start at $28 and can be purchased in person at the TPAC box office in downtown Nashville, by phone at (615) 782-4040 or at www.nashvilleballet.com. A complete performance schedule and more information can be found online.

About Nashville Ballet
Nashville Ballet is the largest professional ballet company in Tennessee. Nashville Ballet presents a varied repertoire of classical ballet and contemporary works by noted choreographers, including original works by Artistic Director & CEO Paul Vasterling. Nashville Ballet and the Second Company, NB2 (a pre-professional training company), provide more than 75,000 arts experiences to adults and children annually through season performances and its Community Engagement programming. Curriculum-based Community Engagement programs bring dance education to community centers, colleges, public libraries and public elementary, middle and high schools across the state. School of Nashville Ballet brings world-class dance instruction to students age 2 to 70.

Nashville Ballet receives public funding from Metropolitan Nashville Arts Commission, Tennessee Arts Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts. Additional private support provided by Bridgestone Americas Trust Fund, Caterpillar Financial, Dollar General Literacy Foundation, The HCA Foundation, Ingram Charitable Fund, Inc., The Mall at Green Hills, The Memorial Foundation, New York Choreographic Institute, Publix Super Market Charities, The Shubert Foundation, SunTrust Bank, other community partners and hundreds of generous individuals who provide ongoing annual support.