Nashville Ballet announced at last night’s Ballet Ball 2013 Committee Kick-off Event, that it will collaborate with two nationally acclaimed, Nashville-based musicians – cerebral singer/songwriter Matthew Perryman Jonesand Americana music royalty Holly Williams– to create original works of art as part of its upcoming performance season and for its annual fundraising gala, Ballet Ball.
After recent collaborations with Ben Folds and The Civil Wars, Nashville Ballet will partner with Williams and Jones to create original performances that combine music and dance from Nashville Ballet company dancers. Williams’ performance will be an exclusive, one-time-only opportunity at Ballet Ball, while Jones’ performance will be a preview of his larger collaboration with Nashville Ballet to debut February 15, 2013, at TPAC as part of its winter contemporary series, Attitude.
“Collaborating with musicians like Matthew Perryman Jones and Holly Williams illustrates how dedicated Nashville Ballet is to working with other talented Nashville-based artists across genres,” Nashville Ballet Artistic Director and CEO Paul Vasterling said. “This kind of collaboration also illustrates how artists can inspire each other to create new and innovative works by working together.”
Matthew Perryman Jones and Gina Patterson
An original member of the collaborative group of individual artists, Ten out of Tenn, Jonesis one of the most sought-after songwriters in Nashville. With music featured on favorite TV programs One Tree Hill, Bones and Grey’s Anatomy, Jones’ popularity has fueled the success of his literary-inspired album Land of the Living released in June 2012. He will promote his new album in an upcoming U.S. tour, during which he will stop in Nashville on Sunday, Oct. 21 at 3rdand Lindsley.
Jones will collaborate with frequent Nashville Ballet guest choreographer Gina Pattersonto create an original dance work set mostly to music from Land of the Living and his break-out hit “Save You” from the 2008 album Swallow the Sea. The entire work will be performed during Nashville Ballet’s performance of Attitude, but an excerpt of the piece will be featured during Ballet Ball.
Patterson’s credentials as a choreographer extend across the globe, including two recent collaborations with Nashville Ballet – Cryin’ Out set to the music of Gary Nicholson, and Anne Frank, part of the repertory of Outreach performances designed to expose young people to the art of ballet.
Holly Williams
The daughter of Hank Williams, Jr., and granddaughter of the iconic Hank Williams, critically acclaimed singer/songwriter in her own rite Holly Williamswill perform music from her forthcoming album alongside Nashville Ballet dancers at Ballet Ball in an original work choreographed by Vasterling.
Williams has teamed up with veteran producer Charlie Peacock(Barton Hollow, from The Civil Wars) on her current album and wrote or co-wrote every song on the record, which she will perform during a U.S. tour in early 2013.
VIDEO LINK: Alone, by Holly Williams
“I am beyond thrilled to be playing at Ballet Ball in February,” Williams said. “The event has become such a symbol of the creative expression coming out of our vibrant city and I’m honored to be a part of it.”
Ballet Ball – Friday, Feb. 1, 2013
Ballet Ball is Nashville Ballet’s most elegant annual fundraiser, bringing together over 400 of the city’s most prominent philanthropists and patrons of the arts for an elaborate black-tie affair.
It provides critical funding for Nashville Ballet’s community outreach and education initiatives that provide inspirational dance experiences for thousands of underserved and at-risk youth, teens and adults.
Event co-chairs Kindy K. Hensler and Susan Short Jones bring together their passion for Nashville Ballet, dedicated leadership in the community and unique talents to plan the event, to be held on Friday, Feb. 1, 2013, at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center in downtown Nashville.
Younger arts patrons will also have the privilege of attending the dance and live music performances by purchasing a ticket to the Ballet Ball Late Party. A limited number of Late Party tickets will be available for sale to the public at a later date. Ticket sale date will be announced on Nashvilleballet.com.
About Nashville Ballet
Nashville Ballet is the largest professional ballet company in Tennessee. Nashville Ballet presents a varied repertoire of classical ballet and contemporary works by noted choreographers, including original works by Artistic Director & CEO Paul Vasterling. Nashville Ballet and the second company NB2 (a pre-professional training company) serve nearly 70,000 adults and children annually through performances and our outreach and community engagement programming. Curriculum-based outreach 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 provides world-class instruction in ballet and other forms of dance for dancers of all ages.
Nashville Ballet is funded in part from grants made available through the Metropolitan Nashville Arts Commission, the Tennessee Arts Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts, as well as the Ingram Charitable Fund. Additional funding is also provided by Bridgestone Americas Trust Fund, Caterpillar Financial, ELAN, The Memorial Foundation and Publix Super Markets Charities.