On March 1, the beloved black-tie gala, Ballet Ball, will take center stage at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center.
The theme of the 2025 gala is Italian Renaissance, and guests can expect an unforgettable evening that includes a seated dinner and outstanding performances by Nashville Ballet company artists and special guests.
It’s all for a worthy cause, as the event serves as Nashville Ballet’s largest fundraiser, raising more than $500,000 annually for the mission of Nashville Ballet’s community engagement and education initiatives. Since its inception in 1989, Ballet Ball has been the single largest supporter of Nashville Ballet’s free educational arts programming that reaches more than 16,000 individuals each year. We chatted with the 2025 Ballet Ball chairs Ana Cristina Cash and Angela Bostelman-Kaczmarek to learn more about the gala and its significance. (nashvilleballet.com)
Nashville Lifestyles: What made you want to chair the Ballet Ball?
Ana Cristina Cash: I have always been passionate about ballet as an art form and believe in the Nashville Ballet and their programs. The Nashville Ballet has done a fantastic job of creating new progressive and innovative pieces as well as executing the classics and more traditional ballet performances with mastery. My husband, John Carter Cash, and I have also supported the Nashville Ballet for many years. My daughter, Grace June, has attended the School of Nashville Ballet since she was two, and I had taken ballet classes as a young girl. I am passionate about bringing more arts programs to the community and for them to be accessible to as many people as possible. I am a professional musician and entertainer, and I see how connected the art of dance is with music, the visual arts, fashion, theatre, and all creative mediums.
Angela Bostelman-Kaczmarek: When asked to chair, my mind immediately went to the memories I have of many beautiful evenings spent at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center celebrating Ballet Ball. Upon further consideration, the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of so many amazingly talented individuals who have, over the past 35 years, made this event into one of the most well-attended and creatively expressive nights of the year is what drove me to say yes to the challenge.
NL: Why do you think supporting the Ballet Ball is important to our community and why is the Nashville Ballet vital to our community?
ACC: Supporting the Ballet Ball is vital to the Middle Tennessee community because each year, Ballet Ball gifts to community engagement programs that reach thousands. This includes bringing free performances, training, and programs to locations such as public libraries, schools, and beyond, regardless of socioeconomic status or ability to pay. Last season, the ballet’s community engagement programming reached more than 16,146 individuals in 28 zip codes throughout our Middle Tennessee Community.
ABK: The funds raised leading up to and during the ball are far-reaching and support community engagement and education that touches thousands. Whether it’s books being delivered, story time at local libraries, live performances at schools, or tickets being gifted to community members, the numbers are simply staggering. It’s hard not to feel passionate about helping to ensure that the arts are more accessible to everyone throughout Middle Tennessee.
NL: What inspires you to utilize your time, talents, and treasure for nonprofits?
ACC: I know there are thousands of people in my community who would not have a chance to fulfill their dreams if it were not for programs such as these. As a little girl growing up in Miami, I was fortunate that my parents were in the position to put me in singing, piano, and ballet lessons, but I know that other parents in the community do not have the ability to do that for their children. Everyone deserves to have access to the training they need and arts programs. When my father needed to escape Cuba because of the onset of communism and move to the United States as a young immigrant child, it was a nonprofit community program that enabled both he and my uncle to make the move and help set them up with housing and educational resources. Programs such as the ones funded by Ballet Ball are not only incredibly important, they are crucial.
ABK: The desire to play a role in positive change. I often ask myself, “What am I doing to make a difference in the world?” but more importantly, in the community in which we live. We are surrounded by people in Nashville who truly want to give. If there is a need, they want to help. I’m not only motivated by the positive effect that fundraising has in our communities, I am also inspired by the people around me who show up day after day, year after year, to do the work necessary to support. It makes me want to try harder and always strive to raise more.