Nashville Ballet Invites You To A Community Conversation

Start: Monday, March 24, 2025 6:00PM
End: Monday, March 24, 2025 7:30PM

As part of our annual Attitude series coming this May, Nashville Ballet’s Artistic Director and CEO Nick Mullikin will present his groundbreaking World Premiere of Erase the Night. This emotional production will explore the profound themes of addiction, isolation, and the power of community support, weaving a tale of struggle, hope, and connection through breathtaking and narrative dance.

As a prelude to Erase the Night, Nashville Ballet will host a series of Community Conversation events, which will serve as an opportunity to create inroads in our community. In partnership with state and local addiction and mental health resource organizations, we offer educational programming and community conversations to spread awareness, provide resources, and share a message of hope.

“The purpose of this art is to inspire us, heighten our emotions, and give us a visceral experience,” said Nick Mullikin, Artistic Director and CEO. “Sometimes these stories reach into the depths of struggle, sorrow, and how someone can be lost in the spiraling of addiction. But these stories also bring to light how strength can be discovered, how support can be shared, and how there is grace and profound beauty in the journey of recovery.”

JOIN THE CONVERSATION: Our panelists will be

Lisa Monteggia, PhD, is a neuroscientist, Professor in the Department of Pharmacology, Psychiatry and Psychology and the Barlow Family Director of the Vanderbilt Brain Institute.

Stephan Heckers, MD, MSc, is the Chair of the Department of Psychiatry at Vanderbilt University and a professor of psychiatry, radiology, and radiological sciences.

Stephen Loyd, MD is the Chief Medical Officer for Cedar Recovery and current chair of the Tennessee Board of Medical Examiners.

Kristen Gilliand, PhD, is the Director of Outreach and Advocacy Programs for the Warren Center for Neuroscience and Drug Discovery, and Assistant Professor of Research at Vanderbilt University. She will moderate the panel.

This project is made possible thanks to support from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Sandra Schatten Foundation, and Nashville Ballet’s generous donors. For more information on how to support this project and help bring the vision of Nick Mullikin’s Erase the Night to life on stage, please visit our website.

If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction or mental illness, you are not alone. There are many support services and treatment options that may help. Visit our website for a list of resources.

ABOUT NASHVILLE BALLET:
Nashville Ballet, the largest professional ballet company in Tennessee, presents a varied repertoire of classical ballet and contemporary works by noted choreographers, including original works by Artistic Director Nick Mullikin, and other guest artists.

Nashville Ballet creates, performs, teaches, and promotes dance as an essential and inspiring element of the Nashville community. Season ticket holders' support helps to sustain Nashville Ballet’s artistic and educational excellence, accessible arts education to children and adults throughout the Nashville area and beyond, contributing to the city’s vibrant arts and cultural landscape.

Nashville Ballet and the second company, NB2, provide more than 55,000 arts experiences to adults and children annually through virtual and in-person season performances and Community Engagement programming. Nashville Ballet curriculum-based Community Engagement and Education Programs bring dance education to over 16,000 students in over 25 schools across 21 council districts in Middle Tennessee. School of Nashville Ballet provides exceptional dance training to students ages two and up.

Nashville Ballet receives public funding from the Tennessee Arts Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts. Contributions from local, regional, and national institutional funders, community partners, and hundreds of generous individuals provide ongoing support for Nashville Ballet’s mission-critical programs.

To learn more about Nashville Ballet, please visit NashvilleBallet.com.