Paul Vasterling News

Nashville Ballet Board President Dan Slipkovich announced this month that at a recent Nashville Ballet executive board meeting, Paul Vasterling was named CEO of Nashville Ballet in addition to his position of Artistic Director.

Nashville Ballet unveils magical surprises in one of Shakespeare's favorite comedies in the World Premiere of Paul Vasterling's original adaptation of A Midsummer Night's Dream, April 23-25, 2010. Bringing the written word to life through Mendelssohn's music and the narrative of dance, audiences will delight as Puck plays tricks on the ill-fated lovers in the enchanted forest and as the antics of the midsummer's night become resolved by the light of the day. Costumes and sets are being designed by Campbell Baird, the talented designer who created costumes for our new Nutcracker. Each performance will be accompanied by the Nashville Symphony, directed by Nashville Ballet Music Director Paul Gambill, vocalists Julie Cox and Amy Jarman and the sixty-eight voice Nashville Children's Choir, directed by Dr. Madeline Bridges.

The resulting production that comes from Vasterling's unerringly skillful choreography and his clearly developed vision for the piece - exquisitely expressed through Baird's costume and scenic design, Scott Leathers' stunningly evocative lighting design and the beautiful music of Felix Mendelssohn performed by members of the Nashville Symphony under the baton of Nashville Ballet music director Paul Gambill - is a rousing and fitting conclusion to the company's 24th season, clearly paving the way to a stellar silver anniversary season that will open next fall with a full production of Swan Lake.

Nashville Ballet unveils magical surprises in one of Shakespeare's favorite comedies in the World Premiere of Paul Vasterling's original adaptation of A Midsummer Night's Dream, April 23-25, 2010. Bringing the written word to life through Mendelssohn's music and the narrative of dance, audiences will delight as Puck plays tricks on the ill-fated lovers in the enchanted forest and as the antics of the midsummer's night become resolved by the light of the day. Costumes and sets are being designed by Campbell Baird, the talented designer who created costumes for our new Nutcracker. Each performance will be accompanied by the Nashville Symphony, directed by Nashville Ballet Music Director Paul Gambill, vocalists Julie Cox and Amy Jarman and the sixty-eight voice Nashville Children's Choir, directed by Dr. Madeline Bridges.

Nashville Ballet unveils magical surprises in one of Shakespeare's favorite comedies in the World Premiere of Paul Vasterling's original adaptation of A Midsummer Night's Dream, April 23-25, 2010. Bringing the written word to life through Mendelssohn's music and the narrative of dance, audiences will delight as Puck plays tricks on the ill-fated lovers in the enchanted forest and as the antics of the midsummer's night become resolved by the light of the day. Costumes and sets are being designed by Campbell Baird, the talented designer who created costumes for our new Nutcracker. Each performance will be accompanied by the Nashville Symphony, directed by Nashville Ballet Music Director Paul Gambill, vocalists Julie Cox and Amy Jarman and the sixty-eight voice Nashville Children's Choir, directed by Dr. Madeline Bridges.

Nashville Ballet and the Nashville Opera offer a Saturday morning alternative to cartoons with charming, back-to-back performances of The Three Little Pigs and The Singing Tortoise, Saturday, March 20, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. at their studios in Sylvan Park.

Nashville Ballet will host Jacques d'Amboise Saturday, March 6, 2010 at 10:30 a.m. for "An Encounter With Dance". Local youth have been invited to meet this ballet legend and have the opportunity to learn more about dance movement. Jacques has touched the lives of two million children across the globe and Nashville Ballet is honored to have him here in Nashville. He will also be honored at Ballet Ball (at the Hutton Hotel) Saturday evening.

Nashville Ballet and the Nashville Opera offer a Saturday morning alternative to cartoons with charming, back-to-back performances of The Three Little Pigs and The Singing Tortoise, Saturday, March 20, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. at their studios in Sylvan Park.

With each passing year and with each new offering, Vasterling and the other powers-that-be at Nashville Ballet gain new admirers for their troupe, whose skills are confidently and expertly highlighted by the choices made in regard to the company's repertoire. Clearly, Nashville Ballet has gained stature with its beautiful and much-lauded treatment of the classics, but it may well be contemporary offerings, such as those included in American Originals, that more assuredly showcase the company's extraordinary depth. Quite honestly, the panache with which each performance is delivered is awe-inspiring - and certain to lift the collective spirit and ward off even the most frigid temperatures.

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.

Nashville Ballet Artist Director Paul Vasterling will speak briefly about the correlation of pairing dance technique with emotion, creating authentic characters, and connecting emotionally with the audience through movement, as a prelude to the premiere of La Danse at the Belcourt Theatre Friday, January 22, 2010 before the 7:10 film opens (tentative time, please check Belcourt website for exact show times).

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.

With the strains of 'Auld Lang Syne' mere moments away, minds are apt to be caught up in reflection, remembering the year now ending as a new one awaits just over the horizon. Certainly that's what I've been doing lately, looking back over the past year in Nashville theatre as I pencil in dates in my new 2010 (Here's a question to ponder: Is it 'two thousand ten' or 'twenty ten'...think about it and get back to me) calendar for the shows set to open in the months ahead.

Nashville Ballet presents the encore season of the acclaimed Nashville-based Nutcracker December 11-20, 2009.

Nashville Ballet ushers in the holiday season in glorious style with its revival of artistic director Paul Vasterling's visionary re-interpretation of The Nutcracker, onstage at TPAC's Andrew Jackson Hall through December 20. More accurately referred to as Nashville's Nutcracker, Vasterling's epic work is a joyous, colorful Christmas card to the people of Music City who have embraced it with their customary warmth and rewarded it with their own glowing accolades.

Nashville Ballet presents the encore season of the acclaimed Nashville-based Nutcracker December 11-20, 2009.

Nashville Ballet presents the encore season of the acclaimed Nashville-based Nutcracker December 11-20, 2009.

As a special bonus to this impressive season, Nashville Ballet will present Emergence: The Studio Series, at the Nashville Ballet Martin Center for Dance November 13 - 14 at 7:30 pm. A fresh take on Nashville Ballet's previously successful Emergence performances, the innovative new Emergence: The Studio Series allows audience members to select a 'dance list' of performances to watch, much like one puts together a play list of songs on their MP3 players.

As a special bonus to this impressive season, Nashville Ballet will present Emergence: The Studio Series, at the Nashville Ballet Martin Center for Dance November 13 - 14 at 7:30 pm. A fresh take on Nashville Ballet's previously successful Emergence performances, the innovative new Emergence: The Studio Series allows audience members to select a 'dance list' of performances to watch, much like one puts together a play list of songs on their MP3 players.

As a special bonus to this impressive season, Nashville Ballet will present Emergence: The Studio Series, at the Nashville Ballet Martin Center for Dance November 13 - 14 at 7:30 pm. A fresh take on Nashville Ballet's previously successful Emergence performances, the innovative new Emergence: The Studio Series allows audience members to select a 'dance list' of performances to watch, much like one puts together a play list of songs on their MP3 players.