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The Nashville Ballet moves to two haunting tales for Halloween

Paul Bailey
/
nashvilleballet.com

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (OSBORNE)  --  The Nashville Ballet is getting into the Halloween spirit.

The company has scheduled three TPAC performances of a ballet that explores the infamous Lizzie Borden double murders, along with a second piece built around Edgar Allan Poe’s classic “The Raven.”

Artistic Director Paul Vasterling created the Lizzie Borden piece. Borden was tried for, but never convicted of the brutal double ax murder of her father and step mother in the late 1800s.

The Lizzie Borden story has long been a staple of American horror movies, books and music.  Vasterling says lead dancer Mollie Sansone manages to dive deep into her dark character.

“It’s just a sight to behold. It’s just really amazing what she’s able to do and I think people will really enjoy and be amazed by her performance.”

The Nashville Company first performed Lizzie Borden in 2006, but this time around Vasterling has added a newly commissioned score by English composer Philip Feeney.

The show’s second offering is the world premiere of a new work by company dancer Christopher Stuart. It’s based on Poe’s “The Raven” and focuses on a descent into madness.

“This man who loves and mourns his lost love and driven mad, really, by this bird that keeps saying things over and over and you don’t know if that bird is real or just a figment of his imagination.”

The shows are scheduledfor October 26, 27 and 28 in Polk Theater.