Nashville Ballet is excited to start its 2023-24 Season with the inaugural Nashville Dance Festival, featuring exceptional talent from across the country. This celebration will showcase classical and contemporary pieces performed by renowned guest artists from Dance Theatre of Harlem, Collage Dance Collective, Nashville Ballet company dancers, NB2, Nashville Ballet’s official second company, and Nashville Ballet’s Summer Intensive students. The festival will commence on Friday, July 21, at Belmont University’s state-of-the-art Fisher Center for the Performing Arts at 7 p.m. Nashville Ballet Artistic Director Nick Mullikin believes this festival is a step in the right direction toward establishing Nashville as a destination for dance.
“The Nashville Dance Festival is a celebration of creativity in Nashville and the dance community,” said Nashville Ballet Artistic Director and CEO Nick Mullikin. “Festival attendees have an opportunity to witness the festival’s inception and growth into an essential event. It was important to demonstrate the national reach of our collaborators, and to show the city of Nashville new work by some of today’s leading artists. Our objective is to promote more interaction and provide a wider perspective of Nashville Ballet to the community. The return of Alexandra Hutchinson, former NB2 dancer and current Dance Theatre of Harlem company artist, highlights how the NB2 program is providing opportunities for growth. We are fusing the classical foundation of ballet with new contemporary concepts in this production that is sure to captivate audiences.”
The inaugural celebration will kick off the 2023-24 season with unforgettable performances from a grand slate of talented artists. Audiences are invited to witness the incredible skills of the nationally acclaimed Dance Theatre of Harlem and Collage Dance Collective. Led by Artistic Director Robert Garland, Dance Theatre of Harlem, based in New York City, is known for promoting excellence, innovation, and creativity through inclusivity. This prestigious institution boasts a history of star ballet prodigies such as co-founder Arthur Miller. Memphis-based Collage Dance Collective, known for its diversity, advocacy, and evocative performances, is led by Artistic Director Kevin Thomas.
Festival visitors will experience a preview of Nashville Ballet’s upcoming 2023-24 Season through the performances on stage, a pre-performance conversation with Artistic Director Nick Mullikin, and a stunning display of costumes and accessories in the lobby. Nashville Ballet Company Dancers Jamie Kopit and Nicolas Scheuer will showcase the Romeo and Juliet Balcony Pas De Deux choreographed by Artistic Director Emeritus Paul Vasterling, set to return in full to the Tennessee Performing Arts Center in April 2024. Audiences can also enjoy extraordinary performances by members of NB2, and pre-professional dancers from the prestigious School of Nashville Ballet’s Summer Intensive Program, all masterfully choreographed by Gabrielle Lamb, Norbert De La Cruz III, Yury Yanowsky, Penny Saunders, and Nashville Ballet Rehearsal Director Travis Bradley.
The Nashville Dance Festival is sponsored in part by Polsinelli Law Firm and the Fisher Center for the Performing Arts at Belmont University. Tickets for the inaugural event are on sale now and can be purchased here. To reserve seats or to learn more, visit nashvilleballet.com.
