Featuring choreography by award-winning creators and live music by MORGXN
The Nashville Ballet continues its 2022-23 season, kicking off the new year with the world premiere of an anthology. Conceived by Emmy Award-winning Artistic Director Paul Vasterling, the anthology sheds light on untold stories from Music City’s past. Inspired by his passion for community, music and movement, the anthology will mark the final world premiere of Vasterling as the company’s artistic director.
“In my 34 years with the Nashville Ballet, I have always been fascinated by the city around us,” says Vasterling. “It’s full of artists, creators, musicians, visionaries. New ideas, collaborations, voices. My hope with the anthology is to give names, faces, and recognition to people whose influence, achievements, and sacrifices are often forgotten.Everyone’s story deserves to be told. ”
The anthology is a poignant exploration of Nashville’s rich cultural tapestry, featuring former slave philanthropist Lucinda Bedford, the first woman to serve in the Nashville Police Department, dance visionary Albertine Maxwell, the First People of Middle Tennessee, etc.
Known for his interdisciplinary collaborations, Vasterling has collaborated with award-winning Sidra Bell, newly appointed resident choreographer Molly Santhorn, and longtime Nashville Ballet teaching artist Shabbas. We brought various choreographers, musicians and composers to the project, such as Ujima, Windship. Boyd, company dancer Aaron Buchanan, MORGXN, Jordan Lehning and local composer Larissa Maestro. An anthology with kaleidoscopic stylistic similarities to his nationally acclaimed ballet, Lucy Negro Redux, which recently premiered as Black Lucy and the Bard on PBS’s Great Performances series, Highlight different art forms on stage, including original songs.
Sheet music, live projection.
The anthology is sponsored in part by Vanderbilt University, DANCE/USA, and the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation, and will premiere February 10-12, 2023 at TPAC’s Polk Theater. For tickets, visit nashvilleballet.com.
About Nashville Ballet
The Nashville Ballet is Tennessee’s largest professional ballet company. The Nashville Ballet presents a diverse repertoire of classical and contemporary works by renowned choreographers, including original works by artistic director Paul Vasterling. Nashville Ballet and its second company, NB2, a pre-professional training company, offer more than 55,000 arts experiences annually to adults and children through virtual and in-person seasonal performances and community engagement programs. Curriculum-based community engagement programs bring dance education to community centers, colleges, public libraries, and public elementary, middle, and high schools across the state. The School of Nashville Ballet offers world-class dance instruction to students ages 2 and up.to learn
For more information on Nashville Ballet, visit nashvilleballet.com.
Nashville Ballet receives public funding from Metro Arts, the Tennessee Arts Commission, and the National Endowment for the Arts. Donations from local, regional and national institutional funders and community partners, as well as hundreds of generous individuals, continue to support the Nashville Ballet’s mission to his critical programs.