Nashville Ballet is returning with our winter contemporary production, Attitude, over Valentine’s Day weekend. This year’s performance features the revival of 2013’s popular …but the flowers have yet to come featuring Matthew Perryman Jones and Gina Patterson. We’re also debuting a piece set to early Bob Dylan music. Through the end of January, everyone can save $5 on their tickets to Attitude with the code ATTWEB. Tickets can be purchased here.
Nashville Ballet spices up Valentine’s Day weekend with Attitude at TPAC’s Polk Theater from February 13-15, by combining contemporary dance from three cutting-edge choreographers with live music and visual art from various local artists.
Choreographer Gina Patterson and Nashville singer-songwriter Matthew Perryman Jones return to Attitude with their wildly popular ballet …but the flowers have yet to come, which premiered in the spring of 2013. Nashville-based visual artist Emily Leonard lends her talent to the collaboration as she paints a large-scale canvas live, during the performance. Portions of the painting will be available for sale following the performance.
“Attitude is the perfect example of how we combine Nashville with ballet, by bringing together fine arts and the contemporary music that makes this Music City,” Nashville Ballet’s Artistic Director & CEO Paul Vasterling said. “This year’s lineup adds another layer with the creation of visual art live on stage.”
Following …but the flowers have yet to come is Fanfare, featuring dance by acclaimed choreographer Graham Lustig, whose energetic, elegant ballet brings dancers to life as they effortlessly float between virtuosity and quiet beauty. This is the second time Lustig’s work has been performed by Nashville Ballet. Four pianists — Bruce Dudley (a jazz pianist and professor at Belmont University), Chris Smallwood (pianist for Beatles imitation group RAIN), Elena Bennett (who has performed with Nashville Ballet multiple times) and Robert Marler (musician with the Nashville Symphony and professor at Belmont University) — will perform Graham Fitkin's composition on two pianos.
The final piece of the production is world-renowned choreographer Christopher Bruce’s Moonshine. Featuring music from acclaimed musician Bob Dylan’s early album Bootleg (1961-1963), this ballet explores the emotional, and sometimes dark, stories of four traveling performers. Bruce’s cutting-edge, and sometimes political, choreography is performed throughout the world at esteemed ballet companies including the English National Ballet, Nederlands Dans Theatre, Houston Ballet and Boston Ballet, to name a few. This is Nashville Ballet’s premiere of Bruce’s choreography.
Attitude is presented by SunTrust and Nashville Scene. Tickets start at $28 and can be purchased in person at the TPAC box office in downtown Nashville, by phone at (615) 782-4040 or at www.nashvilleballet.com.
For more information and a complete schedule of Nashville Ballet performances, please visit www.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 60,000 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 by Ingram Charitable Trust, Metropolitan Nashville Arts Commission, Tennessee Arts Commission, Bridgestone Americas Trust Fund, The Shubert Foundation, Caterpillar Financial, The Memorial Foundation, Publix Super Market Charities, The HCA Foundation, The Mall at Green Hills, Gateway Tire and Service Centers and thousands of individuals who contribute to our annual operating fund.