A VISION uniquely Nashville
For nearly 40 years, Nashville Ballet has been creating experiences that are inspiring, accessible, and uniquely Nashville. As a proud member of Nashville’s thriving arts scene, we collaborate with a wide array of artists to create a ballet that can only emerge from the rich culture of the city we call home. That’s why we will always invest in the next generations of talent and create spaces for them to express their artistry and thrive as dancers and Nashvillians.
ARTISTIC STAFF
Nick Mullikin
Artistic Director & CEO
Nick Mullikin joined Nashville Ballet in 2015, was promoted to Associate Artistic Director in 2018, and was named Artistic Director and CEO in 2023. Passionate about supporting the creation of new works, Mullikin has been integral to the expansion of repertoire performed by Nashville Ballet’s professional company and has commissioned over 20 new works for NB2, Nashville Ballet’s official second company. Under his leadership, the School of Nashville Ballet and NB2 have flourished, with a stronger connection between the School and professional opportunities. Mullikin was the producer and assistant to the director on the regional Emmy award-winning broadcast of Nashville's Nutcracker in 2020, as well as Black Lucy and The Bard which aired on PBS’s Great Performances series in 2022.
In his performing career, Mullikin danced with the Houston Ballet and Ballet West, performing works by William Forsythe, George Balanchine, Anthony Tudor, and many more. He toured nationally and internationally including at the Edinburgh International Festival in 2004.
Mullikin is a highly sought-after guest teacher and teaches regularly at summer programs, festivals, and schools across the United States. He is a judge on the international panel for the Youth America Grand Prix finals, coaches students for multiple ballet competitions, and acts as a consultant for schools and festivals across the country.
Mullikin is a University of Texas at Austin graduate in Government with a Communications minor and a McCombs Business Foundations Program Certificate.
KATIE VASILOPOULOS
Director of Operations
Now in her 18th season with Nashville Ballet, Katie Vasilopoulos brings a rare combination of institutional knowledge, artistic insight, and strategic leadership. She joined the administrative team in 2021 following a 13-year career as a professional dancer with the company. Her first role offstage was Events Coordinator, where she led Ballet Ball 2022 yielding a record-breaking $486,000. She was later promoted to Director of Artistic Operations and Strategy before stepping into her current role as Director of Operations. In this position, she supports the Artistic Director & CEO and leads the management and execution of artistic and educational programs, institutional planning, and cross-departmental strategy. A visible leader within both the organization and the Nashville arts community, she plays an active role in fundraising, communications, and advancing the company’s long-term vision.
As a dancer, Vasilopoulos joined NB2 in 2008 and progressed to the company in 2011. She originated roles in Paul Vasterling’s Something Wicked, Peter Pan, and Appalachian Spring, and performed notable roles such as the Swan in Carmina Burana, the Sugar Plum Fairy and Snow Queen in Nashville’s Nutcracker, Lilac Fairy in The Sleeping Beauty, and the Fairy Godmother in Cinderella. She also danced in masterworks by George Balanchine, Jiří Kylián, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, Christopher Wheeldon, and other celebrated choreographers.
Vasilopoulos graduated Summa Cum Laude from Belmont University with a degree in Business Administration through the ongoing Nashville Ballet/Belmont partnership. She received the Kathleen B. Horrell Scholarship Award at graduation for being the undergraduate with the highest scholastic record.
KATE LINSLEY
Rehearsal Director
Kate Crews Linsley is a current Rehearsal Director for Nashville Ballet, formerly School of Nashville Ballet Academy Principal. Linsley enjoyed a successful dance career as a soloist with Ballet West for 10 seasons and danced with Kansas City Ballet from 1995–2000. From her time with Ballet West and Kansas City Ballet, Linsley’s resume contains many works from Tudor, Balanchine, Forsythe, Cranko, Morris, Tharp, and Ashton, to name a few.
TRAVIS BRADLEY
Rehearsal Director
Travis Bradley is a current Rehearsal Director for Nashville Ballet. Previously, he was the rehearsal assistant for Nashville Ballet 2, Ballet Memphis, and Julia Adam Dance. He has danced for Ballet Memphis, Houston Ballet, Richmond Ballet, and Julia Adam Dance. He has performed many memorable roles and originated multiple works with choreographers from around the globe such as Trey McIntyre, Stanton Welch, Ben Stevenson, Mark Godden, Mathew Neenan, Julia Adam and many others.
MARIA KONRAD
Director of NB2
Maria A. Konrad, a dynamic choreographer and educator, graduated from A.W. Dreyfoos High School of the Arts and holds a BFA in Performing Arts from The University of the Arts in Philadelphia. Her exceptional work has been showcased worldwide and commissioned for prestigious events. She has a unique Contemporary Ballet syllabus that she is thrilled to bring to Nashville. She has shared her expertise as a guest teacher at esteemed institutions like Colorado Ballet School, Tulsa Ballet, The Joffrey, and more.
NOEL LI
Company Manager
Noel Li, a company manager and executive producer, has a background in Economics and Arts. With extensive experience in musical theater, animation, film, and television, Li’s career includes producing successful original musicals in China and internationally, along with acclaimed work in animation. Now based in Nashville, Noel Li applies this expertise to support the growth of the Nashville Ballet.
MING
LUKE
Music Director and Principal Conductor
Ming Luke is a versatile conductor that has excited audiences around the world. His highlights include conducting the Bolshoi Orchestra in Moscow, performances of Romeo and Juliet and Cinderella at the Kennedy Center, his English debut at Sadler’s Wells with Birmingham Royal, conducting Dvorak’s Requiem in Dvorak Hall in Prague, recording scores for a Coppola film, and over a hundred performances at the San Francisco War Memorial with San Francisco Ballet.
PRODUCTION STAFF
Director of Production
Melinda Dobson
Technical Director
Savannah Gunton
Production Stage Manager
Helen Moreau
Resident Assistant Lighting Designer
Kelly Landry
Master Electrician
Kimberly Pukay
Properties Master
Eric Gamez
Costume Shop Director
Mycah Kennedy
Cutter/Draper & Shop Assistant
Alison Taylor
Wardrobe Supervisor
Dani Crosson
Shoe Manager
Julie Aguilar
artists
Nashville Ballet Company
Nashville Ballet’s company is comprised of dancers from around the nation and world who contribute their unique talents, backgrounds, and experiences to the stage. The diversity of the company can be seen in dancer tenures, ranging from the first season to the seventeenth.
NB2
NB2, the official second company of Nashville Ballet, provides exceptional training to dancers who wish to refine their classical and contemporary technique, develop artistry, build strength, and prepare for a career in a professional environment.