Dance Theatre of Tennessee will present “Latin Heat and other ballets," a celebration of dance, music and love, during the first weekend of March.

Performances will be Saturday, Mar. 3 (8 p.m.) and Sunday, Mar. 4 (2 p.m.) at Father Ryan High School Auditorium, located at 700 Norwood Drive, Nashville, TN 37204. The Saturday night performance will be preceded by a pre-show discussion with the choreographers at 7:30 p.m.

Led by longtime Nashville Principal Dancer and Artistic Director Christopher Mohnani, Dance Theatre of Tennessee (DTT) is Middle Tennessee’s newest force in dance and theater entertainment. With its mission of “bringing ballet to the people,” DTT continues to offer cutting edge choreography while honoring time-tested classics. 

A follow up to last season’s successful “Aspects of Love,” DTT’s “Latin Heat and other ballets” will offer four premieres that will give every dance lover all they desire – wonderful dancing and choreography together with memorable and familiar music that will leave audiences wanting more.

Included in the evening is DTT’s premiere of a George Balanchine piece to music by Glinka. “Valse Fantaisie” is a spirited charmer of a dance in which a myriad of steps and jumps are packed within a compressed time frame. A perfect introduction to a Balanchine ballet and a great honor for DTT as companies are evaluated by the George Balanchine Trust and Foundation to make sure they are up to the standard set by the choreographer before being allowed to perform. “Valse Fantaisie” is being restaged by former New York City ballet soloist and ballerina Stacey Calvert. 

Other pieces in the evening include “Inclined To Be That Way,” choreographed by MTSU Dance Department Chair Kim Neal Nofsinger and set to music by country music legend Patsy Cline and “Ecole de Ballet,” choreographed by Ballet Manila Artistic Associate Osias Barroso and set to Czerny’s dramatic and powerful music.

Anchoring the evening is a premiere by Hubbard Street’s Ron De Jesus to Latin infused music and movements. Ron de Jesus is an in demand choreographer in the ballet, concert and Broadway world. A leading dancer with Hubbard Street Dance Chicago and Twyla Tharp for 17 years, he brings his trademark sexy and energetic style to DTT.

Tickets are available by visiting www.ticketsnashville.com. General admission tickets are $20 ($15 for students with valid ID) if bought online and are $25 ($20 for students with valid ID) at the door. A pre-show discussion will be held 30 minutes before theater doors open.

This series is presented in part by Metro Nashville Arts Commission, Nashville Scene and Hotel Preston.

Tickets are available at www.ticketsnashville.com. For more information, please visit our website at www.dancetheatretn.org, www.facebook.com/dancetheatretn., call 615-391-5500 or email dance@dancetheatretn.org.