Nashville Ballet and Belmont University Music Department Present THE SINGING TORTOISE 1/24

Nashville Ballet and the Belmont University Music Department present The Singing Tortoise, Sunday January 24, 2010 at 2:00 p.m. at Belmont's Massey Auditorium. Doors will open at 1:30 and admission is free with first-come, first available seating. Each child is encouraged to donate a new book to Book ‘Em to be distributed to local school children. The Ballet is proud to bring back one of our most popular children's ballets. In this West African folk tale, a hunter named Ama meets a magical singing tortoise. Once Ama befriends the tortoise, she tries to teach him that man is simply a visitor on earth who needs to respect all things. This cautionary tale about the connection of all living beings on our planet features elaborate masks that represent animals and chieftains.

The choreography by Paul Vasterling is set to an infectious percussion score composed by Belmont University professor Todd London. This performance will feature the dancers of Nashville Ballet 2, the pre-professional training company of Nashville Ballet, live musicians, and live narration by Brian Hull. After the ballet, children are invited to come onstage to participate in interactive activities with the dancers. This children's ballet, with four different casts, will then tour throughout Middle Tennessee, presenting over 200 performances and reaching over 42,000 people in the next 12 months.

Nashville Ballet recognizes the educational sponsors who provide funding for community engagement initiatives: Caterpillar Financial, Community Foundation, Cracker Barrel, Gaylord, HCA Foundation, Jack Massey Foundation, Memorial Foundation, MNAC, and the Tennessee Arts Commission.