Celebrating the diversity of Music City, Nashville Ballet presents Salsa Dreams at TPAC’s Polk Theater this weekend, February 10-12. The performance includes three pieces—Cryin’ Out, Billy the Kid and Salsa Dreams.
I saw the production February 9, and while I appreciate the American classic-in-the-middle, the pieces that flanked it were Music City at its best.
In Cryin’ Out, Nashville icon, Gary Nicholson, croons his country/Everyman lyrics, quandaries of the human condition that inspired Gina Patterson’s choreography. The dancers deliver a solid and soulful performance, moving the audience to smile at women wagging fingers at wayward men begging for “One More Last Chance” one minute, then wince at the woeful “Bag of Bones” the next. Channeled through strong and beautiful bodies on stage is the message that we are more than the physical. In the cathartic climax, Nicholson begins, “Years cannot age you.” After exploring struggles we all face within and without, Cryin' Out affirms the only answer is to “Choose Love.”
Salsa Dreams’ celebratory spirit and high energy revs the audience with Latin dance and rhythms played by another local legend, Lalo Davila y Amigos. In Salsa Dreams, a ballerina attempts to jump genres when salseros free her to take- a- spin with some new moves. Paul Vasterling, CEO and Artistic Director of Nashville Ballet, received a Fulbright Scholarship in 2004 to study Latin music and dance in Argentina, resulting in the production. The natural is Brazilian Augusto Cezar (interview here), but the entire company’s explosion of spins, lifts and color onstage beckons the audience to join the fun. At the preview, from the first brass blare Lalo beckoned the crowd to move, and by the finale, “Carnaval de Salsa,” everyone was clapping and dancing at their seats.
For tickets to remaining performances below, go here.
Saturday, February 11 at 7:30 p. m.
Sunday, February 12 at 2 p. m.
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