Following a year and a half of successfully navigating the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic to share virtual and in-person performances, classes, and programming with Middle Tennessee audiences, Nashville Ballet company artists were set to make their big return to the stage at Andrew Jackson Hall at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center this weekend with Paul Vasterling’s Peter Pan. Unfortunately, in the early hours of Friday morning, just hours before opening night, a mechanical failure with the fire suppression system in the James K. Polk Cultural Center caused significant water damage to TPAC’s Andrew Jackson Hall stage as well as to Nashville Ballet’s sets and production equipment. The amount of water released has created complications that would prevent Nashville Ballet from ensuring the safety of patrons, dancers, crew, staff, and musicians. With the health and safety of these groups in mind, Nashville Ballet is left with no choice but to cancel this weekend’s performances of Peter Pan.

Fresh off their in-person performances at Ascend Amphitheater as the first performing arts organization in Nashville to return to live events, Nashville Ballet is thrilled to announce their 2021-22 season, featuring a sensational lineup of in-theater performances and new digital releases that will appeal to a variety of audiences.

Nashville Ballet will kick off their 36th season with a magical journey to Neverland in Paul Vasterling’s Peter Pan! The highly-anticipated return will open at TPAC for a weekend-long run on October 8, 2021. Inspired by the boy who never wanted to grow up, Nashville Ballet’s performance of Peter Pan will include all the characters audiences have grown to love from this classic tale, plus on-stage flying and a newly arranged musical score featuring works by Debussy, Faure, Ravel, and Bizet.

Fresh off their in-person performances at Ascend Amphitheater as the first performing arts organization in Nashville to return to live events, Nashville Ballet is thrilled to announce their 2021-22 season, featuring a sensational lineup of in-theater performances and new digital releases that will appeal to a variety of audiences.

Nashville Ballet will make their triumphant return to in-person performances this spring. May 14 and 15, Nashville Ballet company dancers will perform live and outdoors at Nashville’s acclaimed Ascend Amphitheater. Following a successful virtual season, featuring newly-filmed releases and a televised premiere of Nashville’s Nutcracker, this will be the company’s first in-person performance of the 2020-21 season.

Following the success of the televised premiere of Nashville’s Nutcracker, Nashville Ballet presents its next installment of virtual content with Attitude, a two-part series set to release digitally March 5 through 7 and April 2 through 4. Due to the evolving situation surrounding COVID-19, this will replace the previously scheduled performances of Attitude: New Works by Women. Featuring three unique works in a two-part virtual series, Attitude Part I and Part II will focus on presenting audience favorites that highlight the wealth of artistry native to Nashville.

Nashville Ballet and the Tennessee Titans will be partnering to present a televised performance of Nashville’s Nutcracker on NewsChannel 5. The full-length, televised performance will replace the previously scheduled in-theater production at TPAC’s Jackson Hall out of an abundance of caution amid COVID-19.

The senseless murder of George Floyd highlights the systemic racism and continued disrespect for black lives that permeates our society. The ballet world is not immune to this racism and prejudice, and silence on this issue will no longer be tolerated.