Nashville Ballet celebrates 20th anniversary season

Nashville Ballet announces its 2005-2006 Season, complete with southern flare, a tour through South Am eric a , the return of classic favorites and the introduction of a stunning all-new production. From Artistic Director Paul Vasterling’s passionate, Southern-infused The Night of the Iguana and Balanchine’s playful and inventive Square Dance, to Vasterling’s all-new The Velveteen Rabbit, this is one of Nashville Ballet’s most groundbreaking and diverse seasons yet.

“The 20th Anniversary Season builds on where we’ve been in the past and where we’re looking in the future. I try not to be predictable. I want Nashville Ballet to continue to defy and challenge expectations,” said Artistic Director Paul Vasterling.

All 20 Nashville Ballet company members leave for South Am eric a on October 10, 2005 , to perform eight repertories in six cities across Argentina and Uruguay . Vasterling solidified plans for the tour while working under a Fulbright grant at three of Argentina ’s most prestigious ballet organizations during the summer of 2004. With financial support from the Am eric an Embassy, the company will present a varied repertoire of classical and contemporary ballet and music including Vasterling’s Suite Country, a vibrant combination of his original “country” ballets that reflect the city of Nashville . The tour will also feature Salvatore Aiello’s Satto, Vasterling’s Seasons and a selection from Vasterling’s Romeo and Juliet, making for a truly Am eric an ballet experience. This marks Nashville Ballet’s second international tour, yet another milestone for the ever-growing company.

“We really want to show the world the quality of ballet that Nashville has to offer, and the level of our creativity. We are an Am eric an company dancing ballets of Am eric an choreographers,” said Vasterling.

The season includes:

Fall Series: Tennessee Tapestry
October 7-9, 2005 , Polk Theater at TPAC
Square Dance, The Night of the Iguana and Postcards from the Boys

Holiday Series: Nutcracker
December 9-11 and 16-18, 2005, Jackson Hall at TPAC

Winter Series: Sensual. Seductive. Stravinsky.
February 17-19, 2006 , Polk Theater at TPAC
The Rite of Spring and Firebird

Spring Series: Celebrations of Spring
April 7-9, 2006 , Jackson Hall at TPAC
The Velveteen Rabbit and Messiah

Subscriptions to Nashville Ballet’s 2005-2006 season range in price from $60 to $158. Renewals and new subscriptions are currently being accepted. To subscribe, please call TPAC’s Subscriber Services at 615-782-6560. Out-of-town subscribers call 1-800-410-4216. For more information, please call the Ballet at 615-297-2966, ext. 12 or 28. Four-show and three-show subscriptions are offered and are priced at a 20 percent discount from single ticket prices. All single tickets go on sale Saturday, August 27, 2005 , through Ticketmaster at 615-255-ARTS, www.ticketmaster.com, or any Ticketmaster outlets. You may also purchase tickets in person at the TPAC box office downtown (no Ticketmaster fees!) or in Davis-Kidd Booksellers in Green Hills. Group tickets also go on sale August 27. To purchase group tickets, please call TPAC at 615-782-4004.