Skip to main content
My Shows
News on your favorite shows, specials & more!

Photos: Nashville Ballet Kicks Off 40th Ruby Season With IF I CAN DREAM

Performances ran at TPAC, marking the company’s milestone year with five standing-ovation shows.

By:

Nashville Ballet launched its 40th anniversary Ruby Season with If I Can Dream, a triple bill featuring choreography by George Balanchine, Jiří Kylián, and Travis Bradley. Check out photos of the production.

The program, performed with The Nashville Symphony, blended classical and contemporary influences — from Balanchine’s Rubies to the Elvis Presley-inspired If I Can Dream. The weekend of performances drew five standing ovations, celebrating the company’s artistic legacy and spirit of renewal.

The evening opened with the sparkle of George Balanchine’s Rubies (© The George Balanchine Trust), followed by the lyric intimacy of Jiří Kylián’s Un Ballo, performed with the award-winning Nashville Symphony. Several performances featured the triumphant return of principal dancer Lily Saito, who made her first appearance since sustaining a serious injury last year.

The program culminated with If I Can Dream, choreographed by Travis Bradley and set to the timeless music of Elvis Presley. Fusing classical ballet with the heart and rhythm of rock ’n’ roll, the piece offered a stirring reflection on hope, humanity, and the enduring power of dreams — a fitting beginning to Nashville Ballet’s milestone Ruby Season.

Photo Credit: Nashville Ballet

Photos: Nashville Ballet Kicks Off 40th Ruby Season With IF I CAN DREAM Image

Photos: Nashville Ballet Kicks Off 40th Ruby Season With IF I CAN DREAM Image
If I Can Dream

Photos: Nashville Ballet Kicks Off 40th Ruby Season With IF I CAN DREAM Image
If I Can Dream

Photos: Nashville Ballet Kicks Off 40th Ruby Season With IF I CAN DREAM Image
If I Can Dream

Photos: Nashville Ballet Kicks Off 40th Ruby Season With IF I CAN DREAM Image
Balanchine?s Rubies* *Choreography by George Balanchine The George Balanchine Trust

Photos: Nashville Ballet Kicks Off 40th Ruby Season With IF I CAN DREAM Image
Balanchine?s Rubies* *Choreography by George Balanchine The George Balanchine Trust

Photos: Nashville Ballet Kicks Off 40th Ruby Season With IF I CAN DREAM Image
Balanchine?s Rubies* *Choreography by George Balanchine The George Balanchine Trust

Photos: Nashville Ballet Kicks Off 40th Ruby Season With IF I CAN DREAM Image
Kyli n?s Un Ballo

Photos: Nashville Ballet Kicks Off 40th Ruby Season With IF I CAN DREAM Image
Kyli n?s Un Ballo

Photos: Nashville Ballet Kicks Off 40th Ruby Season With IF I CAN DREAM Image
Kyli n?s Un Ballo

More on Nashville Ballet
Upcoming Shows
Live in Studio A
9/11 - 9/20/2026
Día de los Muertos
10/28 - 11/1/2026
Recent Articles
School of Nashville Ballet to Open Enrollment for 2026-27 Academic Year
School of Nashville Ballet to Open Enrollment for 2026-27 Academic Year
6/17/2026
Don't Miss a Nashville News Story
Sign up for all the news on the Summer season, discounts & more...


BroadwayWorld TV


Leanne Morgan in Nashville Leanne Morgan
Bridgestone Arena (12/11-12/11)
The 49th Annual Art Auction in Nashville The 49th Annual Art Auction
Playhouse on the Square (4/24-4/24)
Hunting the Irish Heiress in Nashville Hunting the Irish Heiress
Marquee Theater (8/23-8/23)
Jack Johnson at Ascend Amphitheater in Nashville Jack Johnson at Ascend Amphitheater
Ascend Amphitheater (8/25-8/25)
Playhouse Pours in Nashville Playhouse Pours
Playhouse on the Square (10/08-10/08)
The Secret Garden in Nashville The Secret Garden
Hendersonville Performing Arts Company (12/03-12/20)
Mean Girls the Musical in Nashville Mean Girls the Musical
Playhouse on the Square (8/21-9/13)
Dial M for Murder in Nashville Dial M for Murder
Hendersonville Performing Arts Company (3/19-4/04)
Gunhild Carling at City Winery Nashville in Nashville Gunhild Carling at City Winery Nashville
City Winery Nashville (11/01-11/01)
Ain't Too Proud in Nashville Ain't Too Proud
Playhouse on the Square (3/26-4/18)