Christopher Stuart News

Celebrate your love of Nashville this Valentine's Day, as Nashville Ballet's Attitude marries two very uniquely Nashville past times: live music and dance. Nashville Ballet presents Attitude at TPAC's Polk Theater February 14-16, sponsored by SunTrust Bank and Nashville Scene. This special presentation of innovative art combines contemporary dance from three cutting-edge choreographers with live music from various local artists. Tickets start at $35 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.

Nashville Ballet has announced that season tickets for the upcoming 2013-2014 performance season go on sale today, June 3. This on-sale offers the highest discounted ticket prices available - up to 50% off.

Nashville Ballet announced today that season tickets for the upcoming 2013-2014 performance season go on sale June 3. This on-sale offers the highest discounted ticket prices available - up to 50% off.

Nashville Ballet announced its upcoming performance season today, which includes a new partnership with pop musician extraordinaire Ben Folds and a world premiere of a new production of Peter Pan.

Theater people from throughout Tennessee gathered at Belmont University's Bill and Carole Troutt Theatre on Sunday night for the 2013 First Night Honors to pay tribute to a group of eight remarkable people who have made indelible marks on the theater scene throughout their storied careers. Hosted by Holly Shepherd and Joel Diggs, the gala evening honored the eight leading lights of Tennessee theater as they were recognized as members of the First Night Class of 2013 Honorees.

What better way to kick off Sunday-and to celebrate Father's Day!-than with the latest installment of Music City Confidential! Here's where you'll find all the news that's fit to print (or not-depending on your perspective) from Nashville's ever-growing, ever-fascinating live theater industry. Amid the florid prose and flowery praise, you'll find all the stories that don't quite fit anywhere else, some of 'em kind of gossipy, some of 'em stone-cold serious, some of 'em just lists of names you need to know. You'll also find photos from our new "Intermission@" series, details about the latest cast parties and various and sundry minutiae-the veritable flotsam and jetsam-from backstage, onstage, offstage and beyond…

Let's face it: You have to give Paul Vasterling, the grand poobah (as both artistic director and CEO of Nashville Ballet, what other title suits him best?) of all things musical/dancical/theatrical in Music City, a whole bunch of credit for the imaginative-heretofore unexperienced-heights he has helped his company achieve and his city to claim as its own. The man has redefined the idea of collaboration while giving human form to the term "synergy" with his continuing efforts to push the creative envelope in a city filled with artistic types and their sometimes conflicting sensibilities.

Paul Vasterling along with our guest choreographers have been working hard the last couple weeks putting together their pieces for Emergence. We put together a little 'behind the scenes' glimpse for you of the creative process and we hope to see you at the performance next weekend!

What happens when you put a choreographer in the same room with visual artists and musicians and tell them to come up with "something original"? It remains to be seen, but those creative collaborations will be the focus of Nashville Ballet's upcoming Emergence, presented May 17-19.

Inspired by the original work choreographed by Vaslav Nijinsky and performed to the glorious music composed by Igor Stravinsky for the original Ballets Russes production, Nashville Ballet's rendition of Rite of Spring further underscores the company's artistic range and the depth of artistic director Paul Vasterling's bench, which is exemplified by Kayla Rowser and Jon Upleger in his thrilling, stirring Firebird that opens the evening's twin-bill of ballets.

If there is an onstage moment more breathtaking, more purely theatrical, than the one during Nashville's Nutcracker when the green upstage curtain falls at the end of the exquisitely danced "Waltz of the Flowers," I simply cannot recall it nor would I want to-for it is during that brief respite from an evening filled with stunning artistry and the revelatory staging of this time-honored holiday classic that you find yourself thoroughly done in, overwhelmed by the riches of the production that once again proves Nashville Ballet the city's leading arts entity.

With new and expressive choreography by Paul Vasterling - set to Prokofiev's timelessly beautiful 1944 score - Nashville Ballet opens its 26th season with a sumptuous remounting of Cinderella which captures, once more, the sheer artistry of the company's dancers while giving audiences exactly what they want when they go to the ballet: flights of fancy wrapped up in a gorgeously adorned, artistically crafted package.

Photographer Martin E. O'Connor captures the artistry of Nashville Ballet with his collection of works highlighting the 2011-12 season offerings.

To celebrate the opening of the exhibit Warhol Live: Music and Dance in Andy Warhol's Work at the Frist Center for the Visual Arts, Nashville Ballet will perform a short ballet inspired by Warhol's aesthetic and artistic style.

Nashville Ballet announces its upcoming season line-up today, expanded to include more performances than previous years and a variety of artistic styles that showcase the city's diverse dance and musical talents.

Nashville Ballet today announces its 2011-2012 season line-up, expanding its offerings to include more performances than in previous years, thus showcasing a variety of artistic styles that exemplify the city's diverse dance and musical talents.

Something tells me Nashville Ballet's Chris Stuart is having a particularly good Tuesday. After a dark and stormy Monday in Music City, the sun is brightly shining, his team claimed the NCAA championship last night and, well, today (Tuesday, April 5) is his birthday. So if you should run into the talented dancer and choreographer, you might wish him many happy returns of the day and offer up some congratulations.