Ballet Ball is one of my favorite events. I’ve served on a committee for the last five years – either silent auction or public relations, one year it was both. It’s something I always look forward to. So you can imagine my disappointment when they announced the ball was being cancelled for 2021. I did love the news that Nashville Ballet for the first time in the company’s history would present a televised premier of Nashville’s Nutcracker on December 18th on NewsChannel 5.
The evening of the 18th began with a virtual pre-party hosted by Jeanette Barker and Kara. I did dress up from head to toe. To each their own but I have a hard time investing in half of an outfit where you look great from the waist up. The virtual party was fun. Some discovered for the first time that Nashville Ballet artistic director Paul Vasterling reworked The Nutcracker and set it to coincide with the Tennessee Centennial Exposition in 1897. Many guests shared stories of their Nutcracker experiences. I remember my mother taking me for the first time because she thought I would love it. She was right but I threw the tantrum to end all tantrums which was unusual for me but going to see The Nutcracker would have taken away time I was spending with my grandmother who I was very close to. My mother won’t let me live it down and we laugh about it every Christmas. I started taking my oldest niece when she was five years old and her youngers sisters around the same age.
After sharing Nutcracker experiences there was short round of Nutcracker trivia. Question #1 – How many full length ballets did Tchaikovsky write? Answer – Three, Sleeping Beauty, The Nutcracker and Swan Lake. Question #2 – How many pointe shoes do the dancers go through to complete one performance of The Nutcracker? Answer – 24. Question #3 – What year did the Tennessee Centennial Exposition take place? Answer – 1897. Question #4 was multiple choice – Who choreographed the original production of the Nutcracker ? Answer – @ George Balanchine b. Marius Petipa c. Paul Vasterling d. Mikhail Baryshnikov. We ended the pre-party with a champagne toast.
The program was phenomenal! This was a historic performance since it had never been televised before. It was a full-length performance and featured Nashville Ballet company members, NB2 members and trainees, School of Nashville Ballet students, and a special introduction and narration by former Tennessee Titans running back Eddie George.
I’m glad Nashville Ballet was able to present Nashville’s Nutcracker safely this year. This holiday classic was a free event thanks to sponsor Tennessee Titans and it allowed us to continue a beloved holiday tradition. I am thankful it aired again – Christmas Eve, at 7pm on NewsChannel5+ (Comcast/Xfinity Ch. 250, Charter Ch. 182, and Digital (over the air 5.2) and Christmas Day, at 3pm on Channel 5. I watched it again. It was so amazing, it deserved a second look!
