Our friends at the Nashville Ballet have announced their upcoming 2021-22 season! Featuring a collection of magical classics, iconic contemporary favorites, and brand-new debuts by world-renowned choreographers, this can’t-miss season is guaranteed to bring the joy of dance back to audiences of all ages.

“When planning this season, I really wanted to showcase the strength of our company artists and bring the joy of dance back into our community,” shared Artistic Director Paul Vasterling. “One of our main objectives during the pandemic was to keep our artists and employees working so that when we could resume live performances, we would be able to bounce back as strong as ever. Because our dancers have spent the last year honing their craft, we can present robust and technically challenging works that showcase their artistry but, just as important, also allow our artists to connect with our audiences in a meaningful way.  And that connection is what we’ve all missed the most over the last year.”

The Season Lineup

Season highlights include fantastical family-favorites Peter Pan and Nashville’s Nutcracker at TPAC, iconic contemporary works, Nashville Ballet’s debut performance at the brand new Belmont Performing Arts Center, and the highly-anticipated reprise of Vasterling’s nationally acclaimed Lucy Negro Redux.

Hailed by The New York Times as “absolutely transformative” and “a miracle Nashville has never seen before,” Lucy Negro Redux will open with a multi-weekend run in James K. Polk Theater at TPAC before embarking on a nationwide tour in the spring of 2022. A cross-disciplinary tour de force, Lucy Negro Redux tells the story of Shakespeare and his Dark Lady, the elusive subject of many of his sonnets and a role created for an exceptionally talented woman of color. Based on the book of poetry by local author Caroline Randall Williams, the ballet also features spoken word by Williams and an original score by GRAMMY Award-winner Rhiannon Giddens.

Photo was taken by: Karyn Kipley Photography

Season packages for Nashville Ballet’s 2021-22 season can be purchased online, or through their Box Office at 615-297-2966 x710. Individual tickets will go on sale in July.

Nashville Ballet’s Full 2021-22 Season:

Peter Pan

Oct. 8–10, 2021

TPAC’s Jackson Hall

Choreography by Paul Vasterling

Nashville’s Nutcracker

Dec. 15–24, 2021

TPAC’s Jackson Hall

Concept, story treatment, and choreography by Paul Vasterling

Music composed by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

Live music performed by The Nashville Symphony

Attitude 

Feb. 11–20, 2022

Studio A at The Martin Center for Nashville Ballet

Choreography by Val Caniparoli, Twyla Tharp, and Company Dancer Mollie Sansone

Music by Antonio Vivaldi, Frank Sinatra, and a live performance by Lockeland Strings

Lucy Negro Redux

March 18–26, 2022

TPAC’s Polk Theater

Conceived, written, and choreographed by Paul Vasterling
Based on the book by Caroline Randall Williams
Music written by Rhiannon Giddens
Music performed live by Rhiannon Giddens and Francesco Turrisi

Family Day at The Ballet 

April 24, 2022

The Martin Center for Nashville Ballet

2021-22 Season Add-ons:

In addition to the 2021-22 Season, Nashville Ballet is collaborating with other local organizations to offer innovative and specially curated performances.

Nashville Ballet Virtual Season in collaboration with the National Museum of African American Music 

Available to stream for free Nov. 2021 through June 2022

Ballet Extravaganza with the Nashville Symphony

May 19–22, 2022

Schermerhorn Symphony Center

Choreography by Paul Vasterling

Music by Igor Stravinsky and Aaron Copland, performed live by the Nashville Symphony 

Nashville Ballet at Belmont 

June 3–5, 2022

Belmont Performing Arts Center

Choreography by Val Caniparoli, Nick Mullikin, and Matthew Neenan

Music by Antonio Vivaldi, Sergei Rachmaninov, and more

Learn more about TPAC Resident companies.