Since moving to Nashville a couple of years ago, I've attended three ballets performed by the Nashville Ballet. And I've been blown away by all three. I know that ballet probably sounds old and stuffy and traditional to people, but let me go out on a limb here and say that the Nashville Ballet is pushing boundaries of what ballet is and can be and that their performances are among the best performance art experiences I've had in this city. Don't believe me? Let me try to convince you! My first ballet was Cinderella. It's a traditional ballet with music composed by Sergei Prokofiev. So what did Nashville Ballet's amazing artistic director Paul Vasterling do with it? He showcased men in the roles of the evil stepsisters - all three male dancers had to dance in pointe shoes for the first times in their careers. He made sure that the Cinderella in his version of the ballet was a strong character (not a damsel in distress). The ballet was a joy to watch. My second ballet was The Raven followed by Lizzie Borden (a double feature just time for Halloween). The Raven was a world premiere of a piece inspired by the Edgar Allen Poe poem, and Lizzie Borden examines (you guessed it) the double-murder case in Fall River, Massachusetts, in 1892. These probably aren't the ballets you picture when you hear "ballet." They were bold and original and interesting, and I was glued to my seat. Just this past weekend, I attended the Friday night performance of Superstitions and Seven Deadly Sins. Superstitions was a piece composed by a local composer, and the choreography was inspired by both ballet and hip hop/contemporary dance. It was powerful and beautiful. I can't begin to say enough about Seven Deadly Sins. Nashville singer-songwriter collective Ten Out of Tenn composed seven songs inspired by each of the seven deadly sins and performed them live on stage as the ballet was performed. Not only was the music amazing, it was a perfect accompaniment to the ballet's choreography. This is what art in Nashville can be when artists aren't kept in their boxes of classical music, country music, performance art, etc. This was Nashville's talent being used to its fullest potential: great dancers, great choreographer, amazing artistic director, great writers, great musicians. This was inspiring and amazing - and, I'm not kidding, I loved it so much I went again Saturday night. Next year I have tickets to attend Lucy Negro Redux - a world premiere and another performance made possible by talents that might not necessarily collaborate in a city without Paul Vasterling as the ballet's artistic director. Based on a book by a local poet about the "Dark Lady" in Shakespeare's sonnets and featuring an original score by Rhiannon Giddens with spoken word performed by the poet? I'm there. Even if ballet isn't your thing, maybe scroll through their season overview and see if anything strikes you as interesting. Nashville Ballet is always pushing boundaries and experimenting with ballet (but they do keep a few classics - The Nutcracker, for example - on the books for traditional ballet fans), and there might be something that inspires you to give ballet a second chance. The tickets are reasonably priced (less than many concerts in Nashville), and it's a fun night on the town/date night/girls' night to grab a fancy dinner and go to the ballet. I've loved each and every performance of the Nashville Ballet I've seen, so I'll definitely be keeping my eyes out for what they're up to for the 2019-2020 season! read more

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The traditional offerings, such as The Nutcracker, are delightful and well-done. But what sets the Nashville Ballet, and makes it world-class, are the commissioned, original works. Last year I experienced "Lucy Negro Redux," an amazing performance of the spoken word, original music, and amazing dance. This year it was "Attitude: Other Voice," an inventive beautiful work that explored gender and sexuality and gender roles. Nashville is not just "Music City." the Nashville Ballet is helping us become a city that celebrates dance as well. read more

Nashville Ballet has the greatest staff for adult dance classes. I had not done ballet or modern dance in years. I began attending classes while in college and it was truly one of the greatest things I've ever done. It is by far what I miss most about Nashville. The instructors were so kind, knowledgable, helpful, and uplifting. The facility is incredible. I always felt welcomed there and I had an incredible time. It was truly a life-changing experience and I haven't been able to find anything like it since I moved.I cannot even begin to truly describe how amazing the classes are. read more

Caught a wonderful performance by the Nashville Ballet last night at the Kennedy Center. But trying to learn more about the company or buy tickets is impossible. None of the websites work, noone is manning the ticket line, not even a message to say what the hours are, and a call to the company to report this was dismissed. Sad to see them losing an opportunity to pull in more fans. Hope this gets fixed soon. read more

Even arriving at the majestic modern building of Nashville Ballet never seizes to amaze me. Yet, their hip hop classes are phenomenal. At the start of the lesson, the teacher Dorse switches to sneakers after just having taught contemporary dance. Within one hour he teaches you a whole new routine in any style if hip hop, in a vibrant, encouraging yet patient manner. What I like best about his teaching that his emphasis is always on the one thing which it is all about: the beat of the music. When he demonstrates the moves you simply see a master at work. Highly recommended! read more

This place is inspiring! An amazing organization, from the school to the performances. We are lucky to have this company in our city, I don't think there's another ballet regional company in the country that performs a majority of their shows with LIVE MUSIC. The programming is always entertaining without compromising the artistry... I just can't say enough great things about Nashville Ballet. read more

My daughter loves it here! Everyone is friendly and the performances are just amazing.

There aren't enough amazing things I can say about the Nashville Ballet. This may be the most talented group of dancers assembled. Their ability to flawlessly execute classic ballets and new contemporary styles with equal grace is one of my favorite things about them. The space here in West Nashville also provides dance classes for people of all ages. I took a class here years ago and I can honestly say I looked forward to it with all the excitement of a kid at Christmas. The dancers are patient and enthusiastic in helping you learn their craft. There's something for all levels here. The ballet is also huge in community outreach and arts education, and I feel that is so important for younger generations who should see what magic dance has to offer. They also hold lecture series with their company dancers and guests. I cannot tell you how much you need to see their annual ballet Attitude, which showcases the incredible talent of this troupe. Original choreography and both modern and classic styles make this show one you shouldn't miss. That, and for the past two years, they have incorporated local artists live on stage with the dancers performing to the music. It's so quintessentially Nashville and such a unique and stunning experience. The Nashville Ballet, from their studio space to their moves to their passion for their community, are one of the many reasons I am proud to call this city home. read more