Nashville Ballet Announces 2014-2015 Performance Season

Nashville Ballet announced its upcoming performance season today, which includes the revival of audience favorites Swan Lake and A Midsummer Night's Dream, as well as the return of the company's defining contemporary collaborations, Attitude and Emergence.

"It's important for dancers and audience members to revisit our favorite ballets from time to time," Nashville Ballet Artistic Director & CEO Paul Vasterling said. "It gives our dancers an opportunity to develop a relationship with a work, and really grow as artists. It also allows our audience members to experience a work of art in a new way, perhaps finding fresh meaning or understanding. Combining established favorites with brand new works allows us to explore the poetry in our lives, in all of its forms."

Season tickets for Nashville Ballet's 2014-2015 performance season go on sale to the public on Thursday, May 1, 2014, and can be purchased at www.NashvilleBallet.com or by calling (615) 297-2966 x10.

Individuals attending Nashville Ballet's upcoming performance of Attitude, Feb. 14-16, 2014, can pre-order season tickets to the 2014-2015 season in the lobby outside of TPAC's Polk Theater. For more season ticket information, contact Nashville Ballet at (615) 297-2966 x10 or visit www.NashvilleBallet.com. Tickets to individual performances go on sale Monday, July 1, 2014.

Nashville Ballet's 2014-2015 season will include:

Swan Lake, featuring The Nashville Symphony

This quintessential, romantic ballet tells the story of a love so strong it transcends a sorcerer's curse. Accompanied by the mesmerizing, seamless formations of her charmed maidens, the Swan Queen comes to life through the grace and elegance of Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov's choreography and Pyotr Tchaikovsky's iconic score performed by The Nashville Symphony.

"The beauty, power and technicality of Swan Lake make it one of the most important ballets, both for the dancers to perform and the audience to experience," Vasterling said. "Its historical significance plays an important role in the origin of our art form and its elegance introduces new audiences to ballet each time we present it."

Swan Lake will be held at TPAC's Jackson Hall for four performances Oct. 17 - 19, 2014.

Nashville's Nutcracker, featuring The Nashville Symphony

Nashville's Nutcracker celebrates the wonder of the holidays with young Clara as she goes on a fantastic adventure through magical destinations, including the Land of Snow and the Kingdom of Sweets. Experience the grandeur of yesteryear and travel back to 1897 Nashville for what has become Nashville's own beloved holiday tradition.

With more than 200 dancers performing on stage, including an extensive youth cast, Nashville's Nutcracker introduces new audiences every year to the Sugar Plum Fairy, the Mouse King, the Nutcracker, the Dancing Bear and many other beloved characters.

"The Nutcracker is all about making memories," John Pitcher said in his ArtsNash.com review of Nashville's Nutcracker in 2013. "Nashvillians who want something magical to remember should plan to attend one of Nashville Ballet's repeat performances."

Nashville's Nutcracker, presented by the Mall at Green Hills and ELAN Hair and Skin, will be held at TPAC's Jackson Hall for 12 performances Dec. 6 - 21, 2014.

Attitude, featuring Matthew Perryman Jones

This production combines contemporary dance from three cutting-edge choreographers with live music from respected, local artists resulting in an evening of innovative art. Choreographer Gina Patterson will revive her celebrated 2012 creation ...but the flowers have yet to come, featuring music from Nashville singer-songwriter Matthew Perryman Jones and visual art from local artist Emily Leonard, who will create an original painting on stage during the performance. Vasterling will curate this combination of contemporary artists by including two additional choreographers for an evening of inspiration and art.

Attitude will be held at TPAC's Polk Theater for three performances Feb. 13 - 15, 2015.

Peter and the Wolf

With choreography by Vasterling and sets by Nashville artist Norris Hall, Nashville Ballet brings this classic children's story to life as it follows Peter on an adventure with his fun-loving animal friends. Bright colors, live music, narration and an abbreviated run-time make this production perfect for even the youngest audience members.

Peter and the Wolf will be held at TPAC's Polk Theater for one performance Feb. 14, 2015.

A Midsummer Night's Dream, featuring The Nashville Symphony

William Shakespeare's classic comedy of errors takes the stage, complete with the mischievous Puck, a host of fairies and a sprightly youth cast. Entangled love runs wild in this family friendly performance as A Midsummer Night's Dream features visually stunning costumes and scenery by frequent Nashville Ballet designer Campbell Baird, who also created last year's Peter Pan.

"Dancing A Midsummer Night's Dream again means that we get to see things that we didn't see before," Vasterling said." We have a different perspective, whether it's because of an audience member's seat location, choreographic additions or even a unique situation in their life at the time. The work is a living, breathing entity and there's always something new to see."

A Midsummer Night's Dream will be held at TPAC's Jackson Hall for three performances April 24-26, 2015.

Clowns and Others

This whimsical ballet follows frolicking dancers through a series of sweet, silly encounters, using dance and music as a way of interpreting life's everyday moments. Appropriate for even the youngest budding art aficionados, Clowns and Others is the perfect introduction to the world of ballet.

Clowns and Others will be held at The Martin Center for Nashville Ballet for four performances May 10 - 17, 2015.

Emergence

Emergence provides a space for artists to create without risk or expectation. Vasterling hand-selects choreographers and then allows each choreographer to create his or her own original artistic work in this unique collaboration. Held in the intimate home of Nashville Ballet, Emergence offers audiences a behind-the-scenes look at how art is created from the first steps.

Emergence will be held at The Martin Center for Nashville Ballet for four performances May 14 - 16, 2015.

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) serve nearly 30,000 adults and children annually through performances and our outreach and community engagement programming. Curriculum-based outreach programs bring dance education to community centers, colleges, public libraries and public elementary, middle and high schools across the state. The School of Nashville Ballet provides world-class instruction in ballet and other forms of dance for dancers of all ages.

Nashville Ballet is funded in part by Ingram Charitable Trust, The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, Metropolitan Nashville Arts Commission, Tennessee Arts Commission, Bridgestone Americas Trust Fund, The Shubert Foundation, Caterpillar Financial, ELAN Hair and Skin, The Memorial Foundation, Publix Super Market Charities, Cracker Barrel Foundation, Dollar General Corporation, Ryman Hospitality Properties, The HCA Foundation, SunTrust Banks, Inc., Tennessee Orthopaedic Alliance and thousands of individuals who contribute to our annual operating fund.