Mohnani's CARMEN Opens Inaugural Season for Dance Theatre of Tennessee

Dance Theatre of Tennessee launches its inaugural season this weekend with Carmen, October 16-17, at the Ingram Performance Theater at Vanderbilt University's Blair School of Music.

DTT artistic director Christopher Mohnani offers his adaptation of Carmen based on the famous opera of the same title. In Mohnani's adaptation, Seville's vibrant beauty serves as the background for this tragic story of a fiery gypsy girl whose seduction of a naïve officer leads to rejection, jealousy and ultimately death.

"I have always enjoyed story ballets," Mohnani explains. "It always gives dancers the challenge of carrying a story without compromising the technical demands of their dancing. It is extremely difficult to be able to act and dance at the same time, but when done right, the feeling for both the performer and the audience is exhilarating!"

Mohnani says that DTT's Carmen stays true to the storyline and dramatic liturgy of the opera. Condensed to one act, DTT's Carmen allows audience members to become immersed in this intriguing world of seduction, betrayal and death "as we follow Carmen and her naïve officer Don Jose in their journey of passion, distrust, rejection and murder."

"I want the audience to leave the performance empathizing with the lead characters rather than hating them and know that love truly is a rebellious bird that no one can tame." Mohnani adds.

Opening this weekend's program is a restaging of Chopiniana (Les Slyphides), as staged by Royal Ballet principal coach and DTT Artistic Associate Elaine Thomas in honor of the bicentennial of musical genius, Chopin. Finally, the company stages the premiere of Tzigane by Tom Pazik, artistic director of Atlanta Ballet II.

According to Mohnani, Carmen provides the perfect showcase for the new Dance Theatre of Tennessee: "Our international group of dancers possesses the perfect balance of drama and technique. I am very excited to be able to show the company to the community. I believe Nashville will be very surprised and impressed with the caliber and level of technique and artistry these dancers have to offer and this program shows that very well."

Curtain is at 7 p.m. on Saturday, with a 2 p.m. performance on Sunday, with a pre-show discussion and a cast meet-and-greet following each performance.

 Dance Theatre of Tennessee (DTT) is the performing arm of Asian American Performing Arts Society (AAPAS), which was founded in 2004. Located in the heart of the historic Donelson/Hermitage/Opryland area, DTT recently launched as Tennessee's newest professional dance organization.

Tickets are available by visiting www.ticketsnashville.com. General admission tickets are $20 ($12 for students with valid ID, plus ticketing fee) if bought online and are $25 at the door. A pre-show discussion is held 30 minutes prior to curtain. For further details, visit the company website at www.dancetheatretn.org.