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The 2020 Ballet Ball is bringing a Versailles inspired, black-tie evening filled with music, dancing, and entertainment to celebrate its 31st anniversary as Nashville Ballet’s largest fundraising event.
The event, held on February 29 at Schermerhorn Symphony Center, includes a cocktail hour, a seated dinner catered by Kristen Winston, and a highly anticipated performance by the Nashville Ballet with Maren Morris and Rayland Baxter. The evening will conclude with dancing until 1 a.m. to entertainment by Sing a Song Dance Band.
This year’s Ballet Ball will be chaired by Allison Cotton and Emily Humphreys, along with honorary co-chair Suann Davis.
“We chose to honor Suann as our honorary co-chair because of her many years of commitment to the Ballet through service on the Board, as a Ballet Ball Chair, and as a true fan and supporter of the Ballet. She is also a great friend to both of us,” says Cotton.
The Ballet Ball is by invitation only; however, there are several ways for the public to get involved and enjoy an evening of arts and entertainment. The Ballet Ball Late Party allows the younger crowd to join in the festivities with cocktails and light bites in the grand Schermerhorn Symphony Center main lobby, before joining the main Ball guests in the Concert Hall to enjoy the performance and stay for late night dancing.
Throughout the Ballet Ball’s 31 years, the event has raised over $5 million for Nashville Ballet, an organization committed to bringing art and music to the community through its Community Engagement Program. With the Ballet Ball exclusively funding the Ballet’s outreach program, this dream becomes a reality as programming reaches 20,000 people annually.
“The community engagement initiative strives to expose children, teens, and adults to the artistry, beauty, and athleticism of dance by providing unique experiences that cultivate an interest in the art form of ballet,” says Cotton.
This year’s Ballet Ball, inspired by Versailles, isn’t just about glamour—it’s also about Louis VIX. Not only did he build and live in Versailles, he was also a ballet dancer who largely contributed to the popularity of ballet. Before his reign, ballet was exclusive only to the highest class and performed in royal courts; but thanks to Louis VIX, Versailles became a place where ballet could be appreciated in public theaters by everyone. The theme is a perfect homage to the Nashville Ballet’s outreach mission.
“It is that accomplishment that fits so perfectly with the Ballet Ball mission, which is to bring ballet and the performing arts to low income or disadvantaged communities that can experience its beauty for free,” says Cotton.
One of the most unique elements of the Ballet Ball are the musical guests and their collaboration with Nashville Ballet making this event stand out from any other event in the city. Once recording artists Maren Morris and Rayland Baxter signed on to perform, collaboration began to combine beautiful choreography and acoustic arrangements to highlight dance as well as their own vocals. The entertainers worked closely with the Ballet to create a breathtaking performance pairing dance and music that could only come to life in Nashville.
“We live in a city unique for its diverse artistic community, and Ballet Ball allows the opportunity to showcase that trait,” says Cotton. “Nashville has a world-class ballet company, and partnering with names like Maren Morris and Rayland Baxter shines a spotlight on Nashville Ballet’s range and talent to a broader audience.”