“I am profoundly grateful to have found a home in such a vibrant artistic community.”

Nashville Ballet company dancer Kayla Rowser (Photo by Chad Driver)

The Sugar Plum Fairy and Snow Queen in Nashville’s Nutcracker, Juliet in Romeo and Juliet and Cinderella in Cinderella — few have kept Music City on its toes more than Nashville Ballet company dancer Kayla Rowser.

She now hangs up her slippers for the last time at the end of the 2019-20 performance season after over a decade with the award-winning dance company.

“Nashville Ballet has been a wonderful and rewarding place to grow as an artist,” Rowser says. “I am profoundly grateful to have found a home in such a vibrant artistic community.”

Perhaps a perfect example of someone “rising through the ranks,” Rowser has performed with the organization since 2007, first as a trainee in Nashville Ballet’s second company, NB2, before eventually being promoted an apprentice.

Since being promoted to company member in 2010, Rowser has performed other notable roles such as Odette and Odile in Swan Lake, Fortuna in Carmina Burana, Aurora in The Sleeping Beauty and Layla in Layla and the Majnun.

But for Rowser, her time with Nashville Ballet is less about the pirouettes she’s done, and more about the friendships and relationships she’s made.

Kayla Rowser as Odile in ‘Swan Lake.’ (Photo courtesy of Nashville Ballet)

“I will always treasure this time of my life and the bonds I’ve made along the way,” Rowser continues.

Rowser was also featured in Christopher Bruce’s Sergeant Early’s Dream, as the Russian Girl in Balanchine’s Serenade and danced the title role in Nashville Ballet Artistic Director Paul Vasterling’s Firebird. In 2018, Rowser performed as the third movement principal in Balanchine’s Western Symphony, in addition to dancing in Jiří Kylián’s Sechs Tanze and as a principal in Christopher Wheeldon’s Ghosts.

In 2019, Rowser premiered the role of Lucy in Vasterling’s internationally-acclaimed Lucy Negro Redux. For Vasterling, he’s just proud to have been a part of this talented dancer’s blooming career.

“Kayla represents everything that Nashville Ballet stands for-she exemplifies strong technique, grace, and professionalism, and throughout her career she’s always shown a passion for connecting with our audience and sharing her craft with others,” Vasterling says. “She’s given us so many superb performances, and we’re all grateful to have been a part of her career.”

Nashville Ballet’s Kayla Rowser and artistic director Paul Vasterling work on ‘Lucy Negro Redux.’ (Photo by Heather Thorne)

During her tenure with Nashville Ballet, Rowser has been named one of Dance Magazine’s “Top 25 to Watch” and has been featured in Pointe Magazine, The Washington Post and Huffington Post. She has performed in the Kansas City Dance Festival, Spoleto Dance Festival and Spring to Dance in St. Louis.

In 2015, Rowser was awarded the Individual Artist Fellowship by the Tennessee Arts Commission in 2015 for her artistic achievements. When not rehearsing or performing, she enjoys teaching ballet to young students and accepted an invitation to teach master classes at Yale University.

Rowser is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Communications. Upon retirement, she plans to remain in Nashville with her husband, Nick Tazik, while focusing on her studies.

Kayla Rowser in ‘Nashville’s Nutcracker.’ (Photo courtesy of Nashville Ballet)

“I am excited to see what the next chapter of life holds,” she says.

Fans are encouraged to send Rowser their well wishes with the hashtag #FarewellKayla on social media; they can also tag her on Instagram @kaylarowser.

Two opportunities remain to see Rowser on the main stage. She will perform in Attitude: Other Voices, Feb. 14-16 and in Modern Masters, April 24-26. Additionally, Rowser will perform during Nashville Ballet’s choreographic workshop series, Emergence, May 14-17.

To purchase tickets to see Rowser before she retires, visit NashvilleBallet.com or call 615-782-4040.

Nashville’s Nutcracker and Swan Lake photos courtesy of Nashville Ballet.

Reach Michael Aldrich on LinkedIn or follow him on Twitter @michaelwaldrich.

Kayla Rowser on Lucy Negro Redux (2019)

Nashville’s Nutcracker: Kayla Rowser as the Snow Queen

Becoming a Swan – Kayla Rowser – Nashville Ballet’s Swan Lake (2014)

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 Paul Vasterling. Nashville Ballet and the second company, NB2 (a pre-professional training company), provide more than 55,000 arts experiences to adults and children annually through season performances and its Community Engagement programming.

Curriculum-based Community Engagement programs bring dance education to community centers, colleges, public libraries, and public elementary, middle, and high schools across the state. School of Nashville Ballet brings world-class dance instruction to students age 2 and up.

Nashville Ballet receives public funding from Metro Arts, Tennessee Arts Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts. Contributions from local, regional, and national institutional funders and community partners, as well as hundreds of generous individuals, provide ongoing support of Nashville Ballet’s mission-critical programs.