# Nashville Ballet

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Ballet company in Tennessee, United States

Nashville Ballet

**Nashville Ballet** is a professional ballet company in Tennessee. Founded in 1986 and based in [Nashville, Tennessee](/source/Nashville%2C_Tennessee), it presents a repertoire of classic and contemporary works by a variety of choreographers, including Artistic Director Nick Mullikin.

## History

In 1974, a group of dancers and teachers opened the Dancers Studio, which offered ballet and other dance classes. After several productions following their 1981 debut, the group became the Nashville City Ballet,[1] which became a professional performance company in 1986. Dane LaFontsee was the first artistic director.[2] A year later, the company was renamed to Nashville Ballet.[1]

After serving as rehearsal director, Paul Vasterling was appointed Nashville Ballet Artistic Director in 1998.[3]

In 1999, the group traveled abroad for the first time to perform in [Basel](/source/Basel), Switzerland.[4] Among other international tours, they went to [Buenos Aires](/source/Buenos_Aires) and other cities across [Argentina](/source/Argentina).[5]

In 2000, the company purchased and renovated its current home on 3630 Redmon Street.[4]

Nashville Ballet reimagined [The Nutcracker](/source/The_Nutcracker) as *Nashville’s Nutcracker* by Paul Vasterling in 2008.[6]

In 2009, the Company debuted their first original production of *Carmina Burana*.[7]

In 2014, Nashville Ballet launched its ELEVATE Capital Campaign to help expand their facilities.[8] Following a large fundraising initiative, Nashville Ballet completed $5.2 million worth of expansions to the Martin Center.[8] Following the initiative, Nashville Ballet completed $5.2 million worth of expansions to the Martin Center.[8]

Created by the male company members and staff, Nashville Ballet launched a tuition free Young Men’s Scholarship Program in 2016.[9]

In 2017, the group performed at The [Kennedy Center](/source/Kennedy_Center),[10] In 2019, Paul Vasterling's debuted Lucy Negro Redux on the Company and was featured in the New York Times.[11]

In 2020, For the first time in the company's history, Nashville Ballet staged and filmed *Nashville’s Nutcracker* for television. The performance made its televised premiere on NewsChannel 5 [WTVF](/source/WTVF),[12] which received two TELLY Awards and an Emmy Award.[13]

## Performances

Nashville Ballet presents five to seven mainstage performances each year.[14] The company performs at and is the resident ballet company at the [Tennessee Performing Arts Center](/source/Tennessee_Performing_Arts_Center) in downtown [Nashville](/source/Nashville).

Nashville Ballet has performed at The [Kennedy Center](/source/Kennedy_Center) in [Washington, D.C.](/source/Washington%2C_D.C.) in 2017[10] and at the [Chautauqua Institution](/source/Chautauqua_Institution) in [Chautauqua, NY](/source/Chautauqua%2C_NY) in 2018.[15] The company has performed internationally in [Basel](/source/Basel), Switzerland,[4] and [Buenos Aires](/source/Buenos_Aires), Argentina.[5] In the spring of 2022, the company will tour Paul Vasterling’s *Lucy Negro Redux* to [Denver, Colorado](/source/Denver%2C_Colorado), [Santa Fe, New Mexico](/source/Santa_Fe%2C_New_Mexico), [Kansas City, Missouri](/source/Kansas_City%2C_Missouri), and [Norfolk, Virginia](/source/Norfolk%2C_Virginia).[14]

Vasterling’s 2019 *Lucy Negro Redux* in collaboration with [Rhiannon Giddens](/source/Rhiannon_Giddens) examined themes of otherness, equality, and self-worth; it was dubbed a “Nashville miracle” by [The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times).[11]

## Music director

In 2022, Nashville Ballet named frequent guest conductor [Ming Luke](/source/Ming_Luke) as music director and principal conductor.

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-barres_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-barres_1-1) ["Life behind barres: Dancing into the hearts of Middle Tennessee with the Nashville Ballet"](https://web.archive.org/web/20220113183056/https://whnt.com/news/life-behind-barres-dancing-into-the-hearts-of-middle-tennessee-with-the-nashville-ballet/). WHNT. Archived from [the original](https://whnt.com/news/life-behind-barres-dancing-into-the-hearts-of-middle-tennessee-with-the-nashville-ballet/) on 13 January 2022. Retrieved 20 December 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Dance Companies"](https://web.archive.org/web/20220115062618/https://tennesseeencyclopedia.net/entries/dance-companies/). Tennessee Encyclopedia. Archived from [the original](https://tennesseeencyclopedia.net/entries/dance-companies/) on 15 January 2022. Retrieved 20 December 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Paul_Vasterling_3-0)** ["Paul Vasterling"](https://web.archive.org/web/20211215092354/https://balletcenter.nyu.edu/fellows/paul-vasterling/). The Center for Ballet and the Arts. Archived from [the original](https://balletcenter.nyu.edu/fellows/paul-vasterling/) on 15 December 2021. Retrieved 20 December 2021.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-History_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-History_4-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-History_4-2) ["Nashville Ballet History"](https://web.archive.org/web/20220113183116/https://www.nashvilleballet.com/history). Nashville Ballet. Archived from [the original](https://www.nashvilleballet.com/history) on 13 January 2022. Retrieved 20 December 2021.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Salsa_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Salsa_5-1) ["Nashville Ballet Presents Salsa Dreams"](https://web.archive.org/web/20220113193218/http://www.hispanicnashville.com/2012/02/nashville-ballet-presents-salsa-dreams.html). Hispanic Nashville. Archived from [the original](http://www.hispanicnashville.com/2012/02/nashville-ballet-presents-salsa-dreams.html) on 13 January 2022. Retrieved 20 December 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-mixing_6-0)** ["Nashville's Nutcracker Returns, Mixing Young Dancers and Professionals"](https://www.tennessean.com/story/life/entertainment/2021/12/09/nashvilles-nutcracker-tpac-combines-pros-and-young-dancers/6421334001/). Tennessean. Retrieved 20 December 2021.[*[dead link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot)*]

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Carmina Burana"](https://web.archive.org/web/20220113195914/https://nashvillearts.com/2016/04/carmina-burana/). Nashville Arts. Archived from [the original](https://nashvillearts.com/2016/04/carmina-burana/) on 13 January 2022. Retrieved 20 December 2021.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-record_8-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-record_8-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-record_8-2) ["Nashville Ballet Receives Record Setting Gift"](https://www.tennessean.com/get-access/?return=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tennessean.com%2Fstory%2Fmoney%2Findustries%2Fmusic%2F2014%2F11%2F13%2Fnashville-ballet-receives-record-setting-gift%2F18994889%2F). Tennessean. Retrieved 20 December 2021.[*[dead link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot)*]

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Nashville Ballet Launches Men's Scholarship Program"](https://web.archive.org/web/20211204053927/https://pointemagazine.com/nashville-ballet-launches-mens-scholarship-program/). Pointe Magazine. Archived from [the original](https://pointemagazine.com/nashville-ballet-launches-mens-scholarship-program/) on 4 December 2021. Retrieved 20 December 2021.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Kennedy_10-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Kennedy_10-1) ["Nashville Ballet Takes Ben Folds Project to Prestigious Kennedy Center"](https://www.tennessean.com/get-access/?return=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tennessean.com%2Fstory%2Flife%2Farts%2F2017%2F04%2F02%2Fnashville-ballet-takes-ben-folds-project-prestigious-kennedy-center%2F99699504%2F). Tennessean. Retrieved 20 December 2021.[*[dead link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot)*]

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-A_Nashville_Miracle_11-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-A_Nashville_Miracle_11-1) ["A Nashville Miracle"](https://web.archive.org/web/20220113195911/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/18/opinion/lucy-negro-ballet-nashville.html). *The New York Times*. Archived from [the original](https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/18/opinion/lucy-negro-ballet-nashville.html) on 13 January 2022. Retrieved 20 December 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["Nashville Ballet to Present Televised Premiere of Nashville's Nutcracker"](https://www.tennessean.com/get-access/?return=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tennessean.com%2Fstory%2Fnews%2F2020%2F09%2F17%2Fnashville-ballet-to-present-televised-premiere-of-nashvilles-nutcracker%2F3478881001%2F). Tennessean. Retrieved 20 December 2021.[*[dead link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot)*]

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["Emmy Award Nominated Nashville's Nutcracker to Return to NewsChannel 5 this Holiday Season"](https://web.archive.org/web/20211209221359/https://www.visitmusiccity.com/media/press-release/2021/emmy-award-nominated-nashvilles-nutcracker-return-newschannel-5-holiday). Visit Music City. Archived from [the original](https://www.visitmusiccity.com/media/press-release/2021/emmy-award-nominated-nashvilles-nutcracker-return-newschannel-5-holiday) on 9 December 2021. Retrieved 20 December 2021.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-season_14-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-season_14-1) ["Nashville Ballet Schedule 2021-2022 Season"](https://www.tennessean.com/get-access/?return=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tennessean.com%2Fstory%2Fentertainment%2F2021%2F06%2F25%2Fnashville-ballet-schedule-2021-2022-season%2F7766997002%2F). Tennessean. Retrieved 20 December 2021.[*[dead link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot)*]

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** ["Nashville Ballet, Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra Collaboration, Match Made in Amphitheater Heaven"](https://web.archive.org/web/20220113201517/http://chqdaily.com/2018/08/nashville-ballet-chautauqua-symphony-orchestra-collaboration-match-made-in-amphitheater-heaven/). The Chautauquan Daily. Archived from [the original](http://chqdaily.com/2018/08/nashville-ballet-chautauqua-symphony-orchestra-collaboration-match-made-in-amphitheater-heaven/) on 13 January 2022. Retrieved 20 December 2021.

## External links

- [Official website](http://www.nashvilleballet.com)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Nashville Ballet](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nashville_Ballet) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nashville_Ballet?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.