Dance Theatre of Tennessee opens new season Sept. 30

The Dance Theatre of Tennessee (DTT) will host a special tribute to celebrate the 75th birthday of former senior soloist of London’s Royal Ballet Company Elaine Thomas on Friday, Sept. 30 and Saturday, Oct. 1. Performances begin at 8 p.m. in Harpeth Hall Auditorium. A special reception will be held prior to the Oct. 1 performance.

Thomas is currently artistic associate and principal coach for DTT. Artistic Directors and Principals Dancers of several ballet companies that Thomas has been associated with or have worked with will be flying in for the event. Some of these companies include Ballet West, Pennsylvania Ballet, Texas Ballet Theater and Australian Ballet. They will present premieres of works by Frederick Ashton, George Balanchine, Ben Stevenson, among others.

The second half of the evening will be Act II of Swan Lake presented by Dance Theatre of Tennessee.

A graduate of the Royal Academy of Dance in London, Thomas received the academy’s highest honor, The Adeline Genee Medal. Upon graduation she joined the Royal Ballet Company, rising to senior soloist and dancing the title roles in ballets such as Giselle, Swan Lake, Coppelia and The Sleeping Beauty. She also distinguished herself as a teacher at the Royal Ballet School and, while touring extensively, conducted master classes throughout England and America. In addition, she served as assistant ballet mistress for the Royal Ballet.

Thomas has worked and shared her talents as a ballet mistress, repetiteur, coach, choreographer and director with several major ballet companies in the United States and have been in the faculty of several major schools where majority of her students are now Artistic Directors, Principal Dancers, Major Choreographers and Artistic Leaders.

Tickets to the performance are $25 for adults and $15 for children and are available at www.ticketsnashville.com. For more information on this special performance and celebration, including tickets to the reception, please call 615-391-5500 or visit DTT’s website at www.dancetheatretn.org.

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