Inside the Ballet

Inside the Ballet

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Go Inside the Ballet with artists, creatives, and cultural experts in this podcast series from Nashville Ballet. Whether you’re looking to increase your dance IQ, gain understanding of social and cultural themes surrounding a work, or simply want to learn more about how a ballet is brought to the stage, this podcast series is perfect for balletomanes and ballet beginners alike.

Nashville Ballet


    • Feb 12, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • monthly NEW EPISODES
    • 36m AVG DURATION
    • 47 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Inside the Ballet

    Paul Vasterling's Sleeping Beauty with Ming Luke

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 12, 2025 35:58


    Inside Paul Vasterling's Sleeping Beauty with Nashville Ballet Music Director and Principal Conductor, Ming Luke. Listen as we discuss the collaboration between music and movement as intended by Petipa and Tchaikovsky. 

    Paul Vasterling's Nashville's Nutcracker 2024 with Youth Cast

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 21, 2024 14:10


    This episode goes inside Paul Vasterling's Nashville's Nutcracker with Youth Cast members Kambria Ayers and Sam Leventis. 

    Nashville's Nutcracker with Company Artist - Sarah Pierce and Kennedy Brown

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 6, 2024 37:18


    Inside Paul Vasterling's, Nashville's Nutcracker with seasoned Company Artist Sarah Pierce and Kennedy Brown as they debut new roles this holiday season. 

    2024 Open House

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 3, 2024 59:38


    It's Open House at Nashville Ballet! Listen in to our live recording of this event, where we talk with new School of Nashville Ballet Directors- Dmitri and Jennifer Kulev, new Technical Director - Savannah Gunton and Company Artist - Nicholas Scheuer and NB2 (Nashville Ballet's official second company) Company Artist - Gwen Smith. Also, hear from Artistic Director - Nick Mullikin about the upcoming season. 

    Inside George Balanchine's, Serenade, with Repetiteur- Eve Lawson and Rehearsal Director - Kate Linsley

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 20, 2024 39:14


    Today we go inside George Balanchine's Serenade with Repetiteur for the George Balanchine Trust, Eve Lawson and Nashville Ballet Rehearsal Director, Kate Linsley. We talk about the brilliance of Balanchine's choreographic ability to get to the essence of what it needs to be. Making Serenade the iconic ballet that it is. 

    5 Short Stories w/ Imani Sailers and Anneliese Guerin

    Play Episode Listen Later May 14, 2024 34:36


    Inside 5 Short Stories with, 2 of 5 choreographers, Nashville Ballet Company Artist - Imani Sailers and Anneliese Guerin. 

    5 Short Stories w/ Nick Mullikin

    Play Episode Listen Later May 10, 2024 30:30


    Go inside 5 Short Stories with Nashville Ballet Artistic Director, Nick Mullikin. 

    5 Short Stories w/ Julia Eisen and Aeron Buchanan

    Play Episode Listen Later May 9, 2024 46:06


    Go inside 5 Short Stories with, 2 of 5 choreographers, former Nashville Ballet Company Artist - Julia Eisen and current Nashville Ballet Company Artist-  Aeron Buchanan. 

    Paul Vasterling's Romeo and Juliet with Fight Director, Tim Klotz

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 17, 2024 43:13


    Today, Nick and I go inside Paul Vasterling's Romeo and Juliet with Fight Director, Tim Klotz.  We also learn Tim's top 3 ultimate favorite fight sequences in theater, tv and film. 

    Attitude with Jermaine Spivey

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 7, 2024 39:01


    Today we go inside Attitude with Choreographer, Jermaine Spivey. Jermaine talks about his choreographic process of creating, organizing and reducing the material to order. His path to becoming a choreographer, with a shout out to his alma mater, BSA- Baltimore School of the Arts. 

    Attitude with Yusha-Marie Sorzano and Kate Linsley

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 1, 2024 39:21


    Today we go inside Attitude with choreographer Yusha-Marie Sorzano and, Nashville Ballet Rehearsal Director, Kate Linsley. Yusha's inspiration behind her new work, titled "Weep" began with her questioning the monuments in our country. Through this work, she hopes audiences become curious and examine the same. 

    Attitude: Mollie Sansone's "Speak" with Jordan Lehning

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 11, 2024 33:49


    This episode goes inside Attitude with Nashville Ballet's Resident Choreographer, Mollie Sansone and Composer, Jordan Lehning. Mollie talks about the world premiere of her latest ballet titled, "Speak" featuring new music by Jordan. Mollie also shares of her transition from role of dancer to her new role of Resident Choreographer. 

    Nashville Ballet & Gateway Chamber Orchestra (Clarksvillle, TN)

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 24, 2023 29:52


    Today we go inside a special partnership between Nashville Ballet and Gateway Chamber Orchestra (of Clarksville, TN) to talk about our Nutcracker collaboration that combines the classical music of Nutcracker with jazz legend, Duke Ellington's Nutcracker Suite. 

    Nashville's Nutcracker w/ Youth Cast and Company Artist James Lankford

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 12, 2023 37:57


    This episode goes Inside Nashville's Nutcracker with Youth Cast members, and you know they do not hold back. Listen as they share their behind the scenes experience of the magic that is Paul Vasterling's, Nashville's Nutcracker. 

    Inside Firebird with Paul Vasterling

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 19, 2023 29:42


    Today, he's back in the building, Nick and I go inside Firebird with choreographer Paul Vasterling. We find out what his first few months of retirement look like and how the original Start Treck inspired his version of Firebird. 

    Inside Un Ballo with Shirley Esseboom

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 19, 2023 30:16


    Today we go inside Jiri Kylian's ballet Un Ballo with stager Shirley Esseboom. Shirley talks about the special place Un Ballo holds in her career and how dancing with no fear and full dedication is the magic of a dancer. 

    Inside Year of the Rabbit w/ Michael Breeden

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 6, 2023 44:18


    This episode goes Inside Justin Peck's, Year of the Rabbit with Stager, Michael Breeden.  Michael talks about his career, Year of the Rabbit and, as a stager, how he helps dancers reach their full potential. 

    24 Season Overview

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 24, 2023 30:46


    A look at the 23/24 Season with new Artistic Director, Nick Mullikin. Nick takes us through the season and what it means to carry on the traditions of Nashville Ballet, while creating new work that is uniquely Nashville. 

    Inside New in Nashville with Donald Byrd

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 18, 2023 55:15


    Join Nashville Ballet's Community Engagement Manager, Briona, and Artistic Director, Paul Vasterling, as they go Inside New in Nashville with legendary, and award-winning choreographer Donald Byrd. 

    Inside Snowblind with Cathy Marston

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 6, 2023 28:22


    Join Nashville Ballet's Community Engagement Manager, Briona Richardson, as she goes inside Snowblind with award-winning choreographer Cathy Marston.

    Inside the Ballet with Matthew Neenan Encore

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 27, 2023 27:20


    Join Nashville Ballet's Artistic Director, Paul Vasterling, as he dives behind the curtain with choreographer, Matthew Neenan.

    Inside Anthology Part III with Windship Boyd and Paul Vasterling

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 9, 2023 18:27


    Join Nashville Ballet's Community Engagement Manager, Briona Richardson and Artistic Director, Paul Vasterling as they speak with Anthology collaborator Windship Boyd for a riveting conversation on her journey with dance and how it lead her from taking ballet class with Albertine Maxwell to dancing with African dance troupes in France.

    Inside Anthology Part II with Sidra Bell and Shabaz Ujima

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 30, 2023 36:57


    Join Nashville Ballet's Community Engagement Manager Briona Richardson as she speaks with collaborators Sidra Bell and Nashville Ballet's own, Shabaz Ujima on the making of their Episodes within Anthology.

    Inside Anthology with Paul Vasterling and Jeff Sellers

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 26, 2023 39:38


    Join Nashville Ballet's Community Engagement Manager Briona Richardson and Artistic Director Paul Vasterling as they sit down with Jeff Sellers, Director of Education at the Tennessee State Museum and Past President of the Nashville City Cemetery Association. 

    Inside Nashville's Nutcracker with Paul Vasterling

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 25, 2022 41:59


    Join Nashville Ballet's Community Engagement Manager Briona Richardson and Artistic Director Paul Vasterling  as they dive behind the curtain to discuss the beginnings of Nashville's Nutcracker, Paul's favorite moments, and all about the new Snow scene.

    Inside the Ballet with Ming Luke and Yvette Kraft

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 26, 2022 53:44


    Join Nashville Ballet's Artist and Company Manager, Katie Vasilopoulos and Campaign Manager, Kathryn Bennett as they sit down with Nashville Ballet Music Director and Principal Conductor, Ming Luke and international violin sensation, Yvette Kraft.

    Inside the Ballet with Diana White

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 25, 2022 44:27


    Join Nashville Ballet's Community Engagement Manager Briona Richardson and Artistic Director, Paul Vasterling, as they dive behind the curtain with Repetiteur of the George Balanchine Trust, Diana White. 

    Gender Diversity In Ballet

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 11, 2022 40:15


    Join Nashville Ballet's Community Engagement Manager, Briona Richardson and Artistic Director, Paul Vasterling, as they dive behind the curtain with  Artistic Director of Pacific Northwest Ballet, Peter Boal, and Chief Diversity Officer of San Francisco Ballet, Rob Sanchez Nelson.

    Inside the Ballet with Cinderella, Jamie Kopit

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 30, 2022 21:33


    Join Nashville Ballet's Community Engagement Manager Briona Richardson and Artistic Director, Paul Vasterling, as they dive behind the curtain with Nashville Ballet Company Dancer, Jamie Kopit.

    Inside the Ballet with Cinderella's Wicked Stepsisters, Michael Burfield and Owen Thorne

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 30, 2022 26:14


    Join Nashville Ballet's Community Engagement Manager Briona Richardson and Artistic Director, Paul Vasterling, as they dive behind the curtain with Nashville Ballet Company Dancers Michael Burfield and Owen Thorne.

    Inside the 2022-2023 Season!

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 27, 2022 34:08


    Join Nashville Ballet's Community Engagement Manager Briona Richardson and Artistic Director, Paul Vasterling, as they dive behind the curtain with newly appointed CEO and Associate Artistic Director Nick Mullikin on the upcoming 2022-2023 Season!

    Inside the Ballet with Nick Mullikin

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 1, 2022 13:13


    Join Nashville Ballet's Community Engagement Manager, Briona Richardson and Artistic Director, Paul Vasterling, as they dive behind the curtain with Nashville Ballet's Associate Artistic Director, Nick Mullikin. 

    Inside the Ballet with Matthew Neenan

    Play Episode Listen Later May 23, 2022 27:20


    Join Nashville Ballet's Community Engagement Manager, Briona Richardson and Artistic Director, Paul Vasterling, as they dive behind the curtain with choreographer, Matthew Neenan.

    Inside the Ballet with Giancarlo Guerrero

    Play Episode Play 60 sec Highlight Listen Later May 3, 2022 42:37


    Join Nashville Ballet's Community Engagement Manager, Briona Richardson and Artistic Director, Paul Vasterling, as they dive behind the curtain with The Nashville Symphony's Music Director, Giancarlo Guerrero. 

    Inside the Ballet with Diana Paredes and Alan Gutierrez

    Play Episode Listen Later May 3, 2022 26:59


    Join Nashville Ballet's Community Engagement Manager, Briona Richardson and Artistic Director, Paul Vasterling, as they dive behind the curtain with NB2 Dancer and Choreographer, Diana Paredes and Composer, Alan Gutierrez.Listen to the score of Duelo, here. 

    Inside the Ballet with Holly Hynes

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 27, 2022 36:01


    Join Nashville Ballet's Community Engagement Manager, Briona Richardson and Artistic Director, Paul Vasterling, as they dive behind the curtain with award-winning international costume designer, Holly Hynes.

    Inside the Ballet with Maiqui Mañosa

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 11, 2022 29:10


    Join Nashville Ballet's Community Engagement Manager, Briona Richardson and Artistic Director, Paul Vasterling, as they dive behind the curtain of ballet stager, Maiqui Mañosa . 

    Inside the Ballet with Mollie Sansone

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 11, 2022 30:54


    Join Nashville Ballet's Community Engagement Manager, Briona Richardson and Artistic Director, Paul Vasterling, as they dive behind the curtain of Nashville Ballet company dancer and choreographer, Mollie Sansone. 

    Inside the Ballet with Val Caniparoli

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 11, 2022 17:46


    Join Nashville Ballet's Community Engagement Manager, Briona Richardson and Artistic Director, Paul Vasterling, as they dive behind the curtain of choreographer, Val Caniparoli. 

    Inside the Ballet with Alia Kache

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 1, 2022 33:54


    Join Nashville Ballet's Community Engagement Manager, Briona Richardson and Artistic Director, Paul Vasterling, as they dive behind the curtain of choreographer, Alia Kache. 

    Inside the Ballet with Shelley Washington

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 1, 2022 30:39


    Join Nashville Ballet's Community Engagement Manager, Briona Richardson and Artistic Director, Paul Vasterling, as they dive behind the curtain of choreographer, with Shelley Washington. 

    Inside the Ballet with Kevin Thomas

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 24, 2021 26:58


    Join Nashville Ballet's Community Engagement Manager, Briona Richardson and Artistic Director, Paul Vasterling, as they dive behind the curtain of choreographer, Kevin Thomas. 

    Inside the Ballet: Dancing with Pride

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 28, 2021 66:14


    “Coming out isn't losing out on anything, it's joining a family. It's becoming a part of something bigger where we can work together to make OUR voices heard.”In honor of Pride Month, we are so excited to release our newest Inside the Ballet podcast titled Dancing with Pride. Join our host and Community Engagement Manager Briona Richardson as she sits down with Nashville Ballet Company Dancers Sarah Pierce and Owen Thorne, choreographer, teacher, and dancer Lauren Flower, and Rob Sánchez Nelson, Interim Director of LGBTQI Life at Vanderbilt University as they discuss what it means to be an LGBTQ+ dancer, lack of representation in our industry, and how we can all work together to create a more inclusive environment for the performing arts.

    Inside the Ballet with Artistic Director Paul Vasterling and Senior Lecturer of Music Mitchell Korn

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 2, 2021 52:28


    Join Nashville Ballet's Community Engagement Manager Briona Richardson as she dives behind the scenes of the upcoming performance of Seasons with Artistic Direcor Paul Vasterling and Senior Lecturer of Music and Educational Outreach at Vanderbilt University, Mitchell Korn. Please note, due to music licensing restrictions, music samples of Max Richter's music have been removed from this episode. 

    Inside the Ballet with Rehearsal Director Allison Zamorski and Company Dancer Nicolas Scheuer

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 30, 2021 53:22


    Join Nashville Ballet's Community Engagement Manager Briona Richardson as she dives behind the scenes of the upcoming performance of Seasons with Rehearsal Director Allison Zamorski and Company Dancer Nicolas Scheuer. 

    dancer ballet scheuer rehearsal director
    Inside the Ballet with Composer Cristina Spinei

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 5, 2021 37:54


    Join Nashville Ballet's Community Engagement Manager Briona Richardson as she dives behind the scenes of the music of our upcoming performance of Superstitions  with Composer Cristina Spinei. 

    Inside the Ballet with Choreographer Christopher Stuart

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 1, 2021 52:36


    Join Nashville Ballet's Community Engagement Manager Briona Richardson as she dives behind the scenes of our upcoming performance of Under the Lights with Choreographer Christopher Stuart. 

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